Albert I. Aronson

Albert I. Aronson passed away on October 8, 2012, after a brief illness.

Born on June 11, 1927, in New York, N.Y., Albert Aronson was a Bronx High School of Science graduate, and he earned an engineering degree from Syracuse University.

An electrical engineer at RCA and GE, Mr. Aronson’s career reached from the opening years of the space age, with his work in the TIROS weather satellite program, through to research that would help form the basis of the Iridium satellite system. He received several patents and awards.

An abstract expressionist painter, Albert Aronson was a vibrant member of the Princeton-area arts community. He was the recipient of several awards, including the Mercer County Artists’ Purchase Award. He received an associate degree in fine art from Mercer County Community College.

Mr. Aronson was an active member of Community Without Walls, and his volunteer work included tutoring in the Trenton After School Program.

Mr. Aronson was predeceased by his wife, Yvonne Aronson, and his eldest daughter, Linda Siler. He is survived by his son, Barry Aronson; daughter, Diane Aronson; and his partner, Trudy Glucksberg. He was the loving grandfather of William, Thomas, and Camille.

A memorial remembrance is planned for November 17, 2012, 2 p.m., at the Arts Council of Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations please be directed to the Arts Council of Princeton.

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Helen P. Marke

Helen P. Marke, 94, of Skillman died Monday, October 8, 2012 at Stonebridge at Montgomery.

Born in Orange, she was a resident of Irvington before moving to Toms River and then to Skillman seven years ago. Helen was a dressmaker and later worked as a bookkeeper at Disbrow Manufacturing in East Orange. She was an avid reader, enjoyed traveling, cooking, and most of all spending time with her family.

Wife of the late Joseph R. Marke, she is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Jeanne M. and Bernard Adler, a son Joseph Marke, seven grandchildren Joshua, Matthew, Seth, Genevieve, Emily, Joseph, Heather, and 12 great grandchildren.

The funeral will be private under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

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Irene Stokes

Irene Stokes, 84, a long time resident of Jefferson Road in Princeton, passed away on September 2, 2012 in Coventry, Rhode Island. Mrs. Stokes had been battling cancer and had moved to Rhode Island less than one year ago to be near family.

Irene Rouba Stokes was raised in and around Rutland, Vermont. She moved to Trenton in the 1950’s where she worked as a secretary at a Trenton bank before marrying and starting a family in Princeton.

During the 1980’s Irene worked for the Princeton Regional School District at both Community Park and John Witherspoon schools. Over the years Irene opened her home to various Mormon missionaries and became a second mother to them while they resided with her.

She was a caring hostess and enjoyed cooking for these young men and offering guidance. They, in turn, cared deeply for her and over the years sent cards and letters thanking her for being such a loving hostess.

Over the past decade, Irene enjoyed serving as a volunteer at the University Medical Center at Princeton. Irene was well known in her neighborhood. She truly enjoyed every person she met and went out of her way to say hello and to bring cheer to those she greeted, whether stranger or friend. She will be remembered for her friendliness, her passion for gardening, and her love of animals, especially her beloved cat, Freddie. She loved her home and her neighborhood and felt a deep connection to Princeton and to Jefferson Road.

Irene is survived by her husband, William D. Stokes, her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William D. Stokes, Jr. and various relatives in Massachusetts. Irene will be dearly missed by her friends in Princeton.

Irene:

I’d pull your weeds

and edge your yard and

fix your television.

You’d pay me more than I deserved

and feed me

and give me vegetables from your garden.

You sure could keep one company

With the things that you would say

But then you moved

and got sick

and I heard you passed away.

You died loved, Irene.

I won’t forget you.

B. Weinstein

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George Robert Wills

George Robert Wills, husband of Derry Light and father of Ylonka, Sylvia, Caleb, Devon, and Rowen, died peacefully on Friday, September 14, 2012 in Princeton, where he resided for over 40 years.

Bob was born on January 15, 1940, and grew up in the Panama Canal Zone, where his father was an engineer. An ardent reader and learner, Bob graduated in 1962 with a BA from Duke University, subsequently earning his MA and PhD.

He taught at Arizona State University, then moved to Princeton in 1966 to work at ETS. Bob attended law school at Rutgers University, was editor of the Law Review, and went to work in the office of the New Jersey Attorney General. In 1973 he became Deputy Public Defender in Trenton, and in 1976 went into private practice in Princeton, where he had maintained an office ever since.

In the 1980’s Bob earned an MTS, an MDiv, and a ThM from Harvard Divinity School, Yale Divinity School, and Princeton Theological Seminary, respectively. While at Yale he participated in a pastoral care program that affected him deeply and gave him a new, more compassionate outlook as a lawyer.

Bob was a great supporter of the arts and of his children’s sports interests, as well as of the Princeton Montessori School, which his three younger children attended from early childhood through elementary school. He was a devoted member of Pretty Brook Tennis Club. Bob loved life, Irish songs, and a good round of golf. He will be sorely missed.

In addition to his wife and children, Bob is survived by his brother, Don, and sister-in-law, Marge, his cousin, Jack, and Jack’s wife, Glory, his son-in-law, Didier Dubout, his former wife, Ludmilla Forani, his niece, Talia, and five grandchildren.

A service will be scheduled for January. In lieu of flowers, friends may make a donation to Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center or to the American Cancer Society.

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James H. Bish

James H. Bish, age 81, died early Monday, October 1 2012 following an extended illness. Mr. Bish graduated Cum Laude from Princeton University in 1953 and returned to Princeton as a permanent resident in 1988.

Jim Bish was born on February 28, 1931 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Following his college years at Princeton and a tour of duty in the U.S. Army as an artillery officer, Mr. Bish attended Harvard business school, graduating in 1958 with an MBA degree.

After employment at Texaco and Marathon Oil in their international divisions, Mr. Bish joined the Chase Manhattan Bank in 1966 and remained there in a variety of senior executive positions in international banking until his retirement in 1988. Mr. Bish’s responsibilities at Chase included serving in Hong Kong as regional director for South and Southeast Asia. Mr. Bish then returned to New York City where he served as area director for Asia-Pacific and also for Africa. He subsequently served as executive managing director of Chase Manhattan Capital Markets Corp. He was later appointed to the position of CFO for global affairs at Chase Investment Bank.

Despite suffering a partially disabling stroke shortly after his retirement, Jim Bish remained active in the Princeton community as a member of the Nassau Club, the Springdale Golf Club and the Chase Alumni Association.

Mr. Bish is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elisabeth, his daughter and son-in-law, Sondra and Fred Grant of London, England, his son, Michael Bish of Santa Cruz, California, and his sister-in-law, Verena Siegrist and her two daughters and three grandchildren, all of whom reside in Switzerland.

A private memorial service will he held in the near future. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Princeton Hospice Memorial Fund, 208 Bunn Drive, Princeton, N.J. 08540, and The Lewis School, 53 Bayard Lane, Princeton, N.J. 08540. Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home Princeton.

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Hans-Dietrich Weigmann

Dr. Hans-Dietrich “Dieter” Weigmann, PhD, 82, of Princeton died Sunday, September 30, 2012 at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. Mr. Weigmann had been a resident of Princeton since 1961. Mr. Weigmann was born in Rostock, Germany, and was the son of the late Hans-Theodor and Gertrud (Buschmann). He received his doctorate in organic chemistry from the Technische Hochschule Aachen, Germany. For thirty-four years, he worked at the Textile Research Institute in Princeton, NJ, as a fiber and textile chemist, and was one of the most distinguished scientists in his field, making many contributions to both fundamental sciences and applied technologies. In 1990, he was recipient of the Olney Medal, the highest honor in textile science.

He was a loving husband, wonderful father and grandfather, and true friend to all who knew him. He is survived by his wife of fifty-four years, Christa C. (von Schwind) Weigmann, his brother, Hans-Helmut Weigmann, and his two daughters, Stefanie of Boston, MA and Jessica Weigmann of New York, NY. He is also survived by Stefanie’s daughter Mai Babila-Weigmann, and Jessica’s husband Mark Warren, and their children Ezekiel and Oona Warren-Weigmann. We will all miss him very much, as will the rest of his family in Germany, his many friends in Princeton, in Marathon, Texas, where he spent many happy days, as well as friends he made all over the world.

Dieter was brilliant and passionate, curious, kind, and generous. He loved birds and long walks in the woods. He was a great sailor and sculptor. He told the most beautiful and epic stories to his grandkids, and he made the grandest sandcastles. He left us too soon.

There will be a memorial gathering November 11th at 350 Herrontown Rd., Princeton. The Funeral will be private under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.