Janis Fishman
Janis Pulsifer Fishman, 89, of Princeton, passed peacefully on Friday, March 29, 2024, in her home with her loving daughter by her side.
Known affectionately as the “turtle lady” in her community, Jan found joy in her lifelong hobby caring for water and land turtles, growing to over 100 of these beloved creatures. Over the years, her reputation also grew for her unique ability to aid injured turtles and her willingness to provide them with a loving home. Local elementary schools invited her as the turtle lady for Show & Tell. Jan hosted students at her home to see her diverse collection too. She leaves behind a small group of turtles, some of whom have been with her for over 40 years. Her passion for the natural world extended to her living room, adorned with freshwater fish tanks. To friends, she would say, “Come over, we can watch fishy vision together.” Jan also had a deep affection for her feline companions, particularly Beaux. To her, they were all beloved family members.
A graduate of Cornell University, Jan paid her way through college working as a waitress for sororities. She pursued a degree in horticulture with the dream of owning her own floral shop one day. Although she did not realize this dream, she found fulfillment in gardening, where she indulged her love for trees, plants, and flowers. After retiring, she worked part-time at Wildflowers of Princeton Junction, finding pride in her creative talents, and treasuring the friendships she formed with the “flower shop guys,” Michael, Eddie, and Riley.
Following graduation, Janis embarked on a career in technology, a bold choice for a woman in the 1950s. Despite the male-dominated nature of the field, she remained steadfast and became a respected computer consultant, spending four decades in the profession. While working full-time and raising a family, Jan’s delight for turtles and gardening also included being an exquisite seamstress from making dresses to ball gowns to a man’s silk suit.
In the 1980s, there was a drastic increase in property taxes affecting many in the community. Jan became an advocate and educator, voicing the concerns of those on fixed incomes at town hall meetings. She only got involved in causes that held deep personal meaning to her.
In her later years, Jan became an active member of the local chapter of P.E.O., finding purpose in its mission and cherishing the friendships she formed with her fellow Sisters. It was a special time for Jan, as she found herself among women of intellect, compassion, and unique talents.
Jan was a kind and gentle listener exhibiting no judgment and sharing advice in the most thoughtful manner, she will be sorely missed.
Janis Fishman is predeceased by her late husband, Herbert Fishman. Janis is survived by her daughter, Sarah Fishman Mertz; granddaughter, Laura Mertz; sister-in-law, Joyce Fishman; nephew, Doron Fishman; niece, Eileen Nalda; her dear friends Brenda, Audrey, Jane and Charles, Elaine, Pedro, and her devoted caregiver, Lida.
A celebration of Jan’s life will take place on Saturday, June 8 at 10am in the communal area of Christ Congregation, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton (ccprinceton.org).
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in memory to Jan to P.E.O., philanthropic organization where women celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College; and motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.
Memorial contributions can be made to the P.E.O. Foundation, c/o P.E.O. International Sisterhood, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 or peointernational.org.
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Roderick B. Anderson
Roderick B. Anderson, 90, of Princeton passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at his home in Princeton.
He was born in Hammer, South Dakota, and raised in Sisseton, South Dakota. Roderick’s parents taught him the values of hard work, ambition, and tenacity, values which Roderick imparted upon his family. Roderick was determined to be the first in his family to attend college and began working odd jobs in the fourth grade to save money. Throughout high school, he worked in construction, poultry processing, house painting, and others. He continued working while attending South Dakota State University, including as a construction worker for the state Highway Department and as the teacher at a one-room elementary schoolhouse. Rod was also able to make money by playing in jazz and swing bands, which Rod recalled as more of a pleasure than a job, as music was Rod’s true passion and was an endeavor he pursued with great joy and discipline until his final day. Roderick received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering.
Upon graduation, he immediately moved to Washington, D.C., to work at the United States Patent and Trademark Office before accepting a position at the prestigious AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. Bell Labs sponsored Rod’s law school education at Seton Hall University. For 38 years, Rod was a Patent Attorney for AT&T. He started his career prosecuting patents for the wide range of inventions at Bell Labs, and later broadened his experience litigating patent disputes and handling international patents for AT&T. He was at the forefront of the solid-state semi-conductor electronics revolution and the expansion of telecommunications technology, including the voice over internet protocol.
Roderick was an active member of each community he called home throughout his life. He visited his hometown as often as he could and remained connected to many of his schoolmates despite settling on the East Coast. While raising his family in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Roderick became involved in local politics, becoming the first Democratic mayor to be elected in the township and serving his community for about seven years. Since moving to Princeton, Roderick was a patron of the McCarter Theatre Center, and, with his many bands, he performed around the area including at nursing homes.
Roderick is survived by his three daughters, Elizabeth Anderson, Katherine Anderson, Carolyn A. Greene (and son-in-law Gary A. Greene); a son, Terence Lindgren (and daughter-in-law Margie Lindgren); and six grandchildren, Alexandra Miklebost, Emily Choi-Greene (and her husband Joseph Choi-Greene), Alison Greene, Amelia Lindgren, Niels Lindgren (and his wife Emily Morris), and Anders Lindgren.
Predeceased by his parents Ralph Alexander and Mildred Elizabeth (Knight) Anderson, and by his longtime partner Florence Stewart of Hamilton Township, Roderick was loved by many, most especially his family, the folks in his hometown of Sisseton, South Dakota, his fellow tennis players and his fellow band members and musicians. He will be remembered for his hardy laugh, jovial attitude, unyielding support of his family, perseverance in spirit, and the inspirational discipline and diligent approach that he took to all of his endeavors.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Roderick to South Dakota State University (Highest Priorities Fund, The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band Fund, or Electrical Engineering Fund) at sdstatefoundation.org or SDSU Foundation, 815 Medary Avenue, PO Box 525, Brookings, SD 57007 or to McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ.
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Dallas Caskey
Dallas Caskey, a beloved father, husband, and brother; a treasured chef; and a revered fisherman passed away in Philadelphia, PA, on April 24, 2024 after treatment for blood cancer. Born in New York City on January 18, 1964 and raised in Princeton, NJ, Dallas attended Littlebrook School, John Witherspoon Middle School, Princeton High School, the University of New Orleans, and culminated in culinary school at Johnson & Wales.
His love of cooking began in high school at the Mainline Diner in Princeton where he worked as a cook. His culinary career continued in New Orleans at Arnaud’s and with Susan Spicer at the Bistro at Maison de Ville. Later in NYC, he cooked at Baby Jake’s, The Kitano Hotel, the Grand Hyatt, and finally in Philadelphia at the Canopy Hotel. Dallas called many places home including New Orleans, the East Village, Key West, Brooklyn, Mt. Kisco, and Philadelphia, where his son, Liam has attended Drexel University and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in the music industry this June.
Dallas’ passion for and expertise in fishing was legendary amongst his friends and fishing buddies. He also loved to ski, travel, ride his motorcycle, and enjoy music with his family, longtime friends, and coworkers. Dallas was a devoted and loyal papa to his son Liam, 22, he was the partner of 24 years to Mary Novak Caskey, and a doting pet dad to Knuckles the pitbull and Lorelei the cat.
Dallas is also survived by his sisters Diana Caskey of NY, NY, and Julie Caskey of Piedmont, CA; his uncle and best man, Richard Kirvan; and the village of friends who were like family to him. His memory will be held dear by those fortunate enough to know his kindness, humor, and love.
A celebration of his life will be held at the Valley Green Inn at Wissahickon Creek, 6885 Forbidden Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19118, on June 21 from 12 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center, where he received care.
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Marie (Lill) Maman
Marie (Lill) Maman, 92, of Princeton, NJ, died on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in the house in which she raised her family and tended her garden.
Lill and her twin sister, Lillemor, were born in Åmli, Norway on December 27, 1931. She spent her early days skiing throughout Norway, often going on weekend long trips with her sister and cousins. The German occupation of Norway during WWII shaped her early adolescence. Her father, a local veterinarian, was a leader among the Norwegian resistance and was taken as a prisoner of war for several months. He survived prison and returned to his family when the war ended in 1945. Lill worked in England as an au pair for a year and then earned her degree in chemistry from the Stockholm Technical Institute in Sweden. There she met a Frenchman, André Maman, who she went on to marry in Paris on September 7, 1957. They were married for more than 60 years.
They moved to Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, where they lived for a year. And then in 1958 they moved to Princeton, New Jersey. While raising four children, she also managed to attend night school at Rutgers. She received an undergraduate degree in English, and a master’s degree in library science. She worked as a librarian at Mobil Oil, Rutgers’ Center for Alcohol Studies, and the Mabel Smith Douglass Library at Rutgers.
She spent many years tending her garden, turning both her front and back yards into flower sanctuaries. People often stopped to smell the lavender and the lilac, or to admire the peonies and the roses. But there was nothing that she enjoyed more than preparing a good homemade meal for her family and having everyone around the table eating, talking, and laughing together for hours.
She and her husband often traveled to France and Norway. From 1992 to 2018 they maintained an apartment in Paris. While living in Paris she enjoyed the museums, the public gardens, and the weekly markets.
In 1996 she published her first book, Women in Agriculture: A Guide to Research. And in 2000 she published Sigrid Undset in America: An Annotated Bibliography and Research Guide.
She was predeceased by her husband André, her parents Sigurd and Asta Dalane, and her twin sister Lillemor Furulund.
Lill is survived by her four children, Jean-Paul, Anne-Marie, Pierre (and his wife Gail), and Suzanne (and her husband Massai); and 10 grandchildren, Mazie Stephens Sweet (Brandon), Paul Stephens, Caz Maman (Cailey), Pierre Maman, Henri Maman, Philippe Maman, André Maman, Emile Charles, Miles Charles, and Marie Charles.
A family burial will be held in Princeton Cemetery.
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Rosanna Webster Jaffin
Longtime resident of Princeton and Greensboro, Vermont, Rosanna Webster Jaffin died on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at home in Princeton. She was 98.
Rosanna was born on September 19, 1925 in Columbus, Ohio, to Chauncey Wilson Webster and Eleanor Litschauer Webster. When she was small, her family moved to Loda, Illinois, where she grew up with her four siblings. After graduating Phi Beta Kapa and first in her class at 19 from the University of Illinois in 1946, Rosanna headed to New York City, ultimately becoming the administrative assistant to the Sunday editor of the New York Times. On one fateful day, when her date fell ill and couldn’t escort her to a tea dance, he asked a Princeton classmate, Charlie Jaffin, to fill in. Charlie’s famous words were, “Okay, but I’ll only commit to 7 p.m.” He committed a lot longer than that, as Charlie and Rosanna were married for 60 years until his death in 2011.
In 1952 Rosanna was given the opportunity to work for physicist Robert Oppenheimer at the Institute for Advanced Study, which brought the young couple to Princeton. Rosanna spent the rest of her life in Princeton and summered in her beloved Greensboro, Vermont.
Rosanna raised her five children in Princeton, and took a leadership role in many community organizations, including Princeton Hospital (trustee), The Garden Club of Princeton (President), McCosh Infirmary of Princeton University, The Institute for Advanced Study, and numerous others. She was a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church for 70 years.
A wonderful gardener, pianist, hostess, and mother, Rosanna was greatly admired for her warmth and kindness.
She is survived by her sister, Eleanor Winsor, and her children: David Jaffin (spouse Elizabeth Allen), Jonathan Jaffin (spouse Dianna Purvis), Rhoda Jaffin Murphy, Lora Jaffin Peters (spouse Donald Peters), Katherine Jaffin Gibson (spouse Andrew Gibson); and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; as well as her beloved aide Gloria Williams. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles L. Jaffin and grandson David A. Jaffin.
A memorial service will be held May 17 at 11 a.m. at Nassau Presbyterian Church with a reception to follow at The Nassau Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Greensboro Nursing Home of Greensboro, Vermont.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
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Charles F. Mapes Jr.
Charles (Charlie) Francis Mapes Jr., 91, of Princeton and Stone Harbor, NJ, passed away on April 30, 2024. Born on November 26, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY, the only child of Charles Francis and Catherine McMullen Mapes. Charlie spent the majority of his life living in the Princeton area. After attending Miss Fine’s School (now Princeton Day School), Charlie graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy (1951) and Princeton University (1955). In 1956 Charlie married Doris (Dodie) Kleiber. In 1972, he co-founded Mapes & Ross, an advertising research company.
As integral members of the Princeton University Class of 1955, Charlie and Dodie never missed a reunion. Charlie served as a Board member for Princeton AlumniCorps (Princeton Project 55) and Co-Chair (along with Dodie) of the Building and Grounds Committee. He was a die-hard Princeton fan, attending numerous Princeton football and basketball games over the years. They made lifelong friendships with so many class members living in Princeton, in other states, and outside the country. These friendships first forged on the campus of Princeton endured for decades, many of whom have also passed and are back together with Charlie and Dodie — yelling “HIP HIP OLE!”
A 50+ year member of the Bedens Brook Club, Charlie was a beloved member of the community. Charlie and Dodie took many domestic and international trips on their own as well as with the class of 1955. In his retirement, he volunteered for Meals on Wheels, for AARP preparing taxes for seniors, as well as tutoring Trenton children in math.
Charlie was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Dodie, who left this earth on February 23. He is survived by his children, Charles F. Mapes III and his wife Maureen, Linda Mapes, and Elizabeth “Libby” Yarnall and her husband Stephen; nine grandchildren, Jeremy, Nicholas (Ashley), Ryan (Alan), Charles IV (Sara), Sidney, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Douglas (Patti), and Donald (Christy); 10 great-grandchildren, Austin, Adalynn, Nicholas, George, Jordan, Dylan, Alli, Sarah, Kayleigh, and Raelynne; his niece Karen Aveyard; and nephew Eric Kleiber.
A private luncheon to celebrate the lives of both Charlie and Dodie will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels.
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Jacqueline (Jackie) Corman Meisel
Jacqueline (Jackie) Corman Meisel of Princeton passed away on May 4, 2024.
She was born in Champaign, Illinois, on February 17, 1927 to Minnie and Julian Corman. She grew up in Champaign-Urbana and graduated from the University of Illinois with a BA in Home Economics in 1946. One week later she married Seymour (Cy) Meisel, who was in the Chemistry PHD program at the university. They met on a blind date, and their marriage lasted 69 years.
When Cy took a position with Mobil Oil Corporation, they moved to Woodbury, NJ, which is near Philadelphia. Jackie became a dedicated mother to her three sons, but she also developed a lifelong passion for art. She graduated from Drexel University with an MA in Fine and Applied Arts, and later she earned her MA in Art History from the University of Delaware.
One of Jackie’s favorite jobs was her part-time position in the education department at the Philadelphia Art Museum, where she worked until Cy was transferred to NYC in 1970. Jackie and Cy enjoyed the cultural richness of Manhattan, attending plays, concerts, opera, and, of course, art museums. Jackie worked part time at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and she gave lectures and walking tours for several senior citizens group. She also taught for a year at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, NJ.
Cy was transferred to Princeton, NJ in 1983, where Jackie became a volunteer docent at the Princeton University Art Museum. She was on the board of Morven, and she was also the board of the Historical Society of Princeton, where she led walking and bus tours. She also taught art history for a year at The College of New Jersey. Jackie belonged to the Present-Day Club. Jackie and Cy were friends of the Institute for Advanced Study and members of the Nassau Club. One of her lunchtime lectures at the Nassau Club broke all previous attendance records.
After Cy died, she moved to Windrows in 2016. Jackie and Cy developed lifelong friendships wherever they went, and they enjoyed traveling immensely, traveling to over 100 countries together. They shared their love of traveling with their family, taking their entire family on numerous vacations.
Jackie’s oldest son Mark recently died from multiple sclerosis complications. She is survived by her two sons, Alan (Barbara) and Neil (Ann), her five grandchildren, and her three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 7 at The Jewish Center of Princeton, with burial at Princeton Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Princeton University Art Museum or to The Jewish Center of Princeton.
Arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For Condolences please visit the obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.
Grace Butler Johnson, a longtime resident of Blawenburg, NJ, died surrounded by family at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center in New Brunswick, NJ, on Saturday, April 6.
By Stuart Mitchner