Martin R. Siegel
Hamilton Jewelers Chairman Passes Away
Martin R. Siegel of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and New Hope, Pennsylvania, passed away on December 17, 2019 at Jupiter, Florida. His wife of 63 years, Denise Ulanet Siegel, as well as his four sons were at his side to comfort him.
Born in Trenton, N.J., to Irving and Alice (Novros) Siegel, he attended lower schools in Trenton, the Milford Academy in Connecticut, and Duke University before serving in the US Army Artillery in Germany in 1953-54. Upon his return from the armed services, he joined his father as the second generation of his family to work at the heritage fine jeweler, Hamilton Jewelers.
He was elected President of Hamilton in 1968, and was instrumental in
growing the Hamilton brand and business through his creative and innovative merchandising and marketing initiatives throughout his tenure, laying the groundwork for successive generations of the Siegel family to continue his vision. His business philosophy was based around superior quality, friendly relationship-based business practices, and community leadership, a philosophy that enabled the Hamilton brand to grow from a local store to a nationally recognized industry leader with clients from all 50 states and around the world. He continued to serve the firm as Chairman from 1994 until his death, a role that allowed him to mentor hundreds of Hamilton employees, never hesitating to share his experience and knowledge. He was also eager to share his stories and experiences with others in the fine jewelry industry, particularly enjoying the chance to attend industry trade shows and events in his later years.
Mr. Siegel had a merchant’s eye and a keen sense for design and value. He loved finding the unusual jewel or timepiece for the Hamilton clientele, and could not keep himself from choosing the most beautiful and finest quality, and was a pioneer in launching new products to the local market. He was among the first in the United States to order special Rolex timepieces from Switzerland with rare gem-set cases, bezels, and stone dials for the clientele in Palm Beach. And he discovered and launched many fledgling designers before “designer jewelry” was in fashion, and before they became nationally recognized. He believed in the wonderful and special power of a gift of fine jewelry to commemorate a special occasion in one’s life, and loved helping clients celebrate life’s moments. In keeping with the ways of his father, it was not uncommon for Mr. Siegel to assist a young person looking for an engagement ring, accept no payment, and with a handshake, allow the purchaser to leave the store with the ring and make subsequent payments “whenever they could do so.” Inevitably, he would gain a customer for life.
Mr. Siegel remained in the Mercer County area his entire life, living in Trenton, NJ, and Yardley, Pa., for 26 years, Princeton for 33 years, and New Hope, Pa., as well as Palm Beach Gardens. A passionate advocate for all things local, he served and supported hundreds of Mercer, Bucks, and Palm Beach County organizations throughout his life, along with his wife, Denise. He was an active athlete as well, being an avid soccer and tennis player as a youngster, continuing his passion for tennis and, in later years, golf, which he enjoyed playing with friends and celebrities alike. As a young man, he particularly excelled in tennis, having won the Trenton Junior tennis title in 1951 at age 18, played on the Duke University team, and later served as the chair of the Tennis Committee at Greenacres Country Club for many years.
More than sports and the jewelry trade, perhaps Mr. Siegel’s greatest passion was giving back to his communities. He was a Trustee for 18 years at Helene Fuld Medical Center in Trenton, and a board member of The United Savings and Loan Company for 12 years. In 1982 Mr. Siegel received the Crusade Citation from the American Cancer Society for his leadership. In 1984 he worked to found the Diabetes educational and informational center at Princeton Hospital, and was recognized for his contributions to the field of diabetes education. Mr. Siegel received a citation from Trenton’s City Council for his dedication to the Trenton Little League, which he supported for over 50 years. Unbeknownst to anyone except close family, he sponsored foster children in Latin America for over 20 years, and was particularly proud when they graduated from upper school.
In 2003 the Greenwood House Home for the Aged recognized Mr. and Mrs. Siegel for their multi–generational leadership at a gala where President Bill Clinton spoke, and honored them for their long standing involvement with the home.
Also in 2003, the State of New Jersey Senate and General Assembly passed a joint legislative resolution honoring Martin for his “meritorious record of service and leadership,” citing that “by his deeds and by his example, he has earned the respect and admiration of all who know him as a man of remarkable character and exceptional determination.”
In 2005, the Martin Siegel Community Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation was established to commemorate Martin’s 50th year at Hamilton Jewelers, in order to benefit local educational, medical, and arts organizations in the region.
In 2011, National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton, an organization which creates opportunities for success by enriching the lives of under-resourced youth by combining tennis and education, dedicated a tennis court located at Cadwalader Park in Trenton in Martin’s honor. Earlier this year, Greenwood House once again honored Martin and Denise Siegel for their community leadership at a gala in May.
Martin Siegel was an eternal optimist, and his optimism was contagious. Anyone who knew Martin surely experienced his giant personality, passion for life, and regular practical jokes. Ten years ago, he was diagnosed with advanced squamous cell cancer and given a grim prognosis. He remained unfailingly optimistic, keeping the cancer at bay and relishing in the 10 additional years he lived after his victory over the disease. Martin was able to touch so many more lives as a result. He was able to enjoy the birth of his youngest grandchild, the wedding of his oldest, and so many shared experiences with those he loved, those he met at the Hamilton Jewelers stores, and those whose random interactions with Martin occurred while waiting in line at the deli or the hardware store. Along with Denise, he was also able to continue to be a part of the communities he loved in Mercer County and Palm Beach Gardens, regularly remarking that “I truly can’t believe how fortunate I am to be able to live in such a fantastic community with so many wonderful friends.”
And friends he certainly had. He enjoyed the company of people from all cultures and backgrounds, and created an atmosphere around him of warmth, care, and concern. One of his favorite pastimes was to walk around town or the community and meet new people, and he always relished having even a small connection with a stranger. He loved new ideas and innovation, which he encouraged with everyone he met.
With all of his life’s accomplishments, and the people he cherished along the way, he loved and cherished his family most of all. The patriarch of the Siegel family, he was the happiest, proudest, and most loving husband, father, and grandfather.
Martin Siegel was predeceased by his sister, Rita Goodman, and is survived by his wife Denise (Ulanet), sons Hank (Lisette), Jeffrey (Heidi), Scott (Lucy), and Peter (Kari), as well as grandchildren Andrew (Betsey), Benjamin, Emily, Ellie, Hannah, Jake, and Abigail.
A service was held on Friday, December 20 at Adath Israel Congregation, 1958 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ.
The family respectfully conveys Martin’s wishes that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may donate to The Martin Siegel Community Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation, or to Greenwood House in Ewing, New Jersey.
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Peter Radford Rossmassler
Peter Radford Rossmassler, 87, of Hatfield, MA, and Grindstone Island, Clayton, NY, died peacefully at home on the 16th of October 2019. Born in Philadelphia in 1931, his family moved to Princeton, NJ, in l932. He was the son of William Ryle Rossmassler and Eleanor Radford Rossmassler. He graduated from Princeton Country Day School, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Princeton University, Class of 1954 with a degree in English, and was a member of Charter Club. After a year of graduate work at Columbia University, he was drafted and served in the Army.
Peter married Frances Branch Scott in 1962 and lived in New York City until they moved to Princeton in 1965 after the birth of their first child. In 2009, they moved to Pennswood Village in Newtown, PA, from Princeton, and then Peter moved to Hatfield, MA, in 2018 after the passing of his wife Frances in 2015.
Peter spent summers in the 1000 Islands in the St. Lawrence River on Grindstone Island ever since he was nine months old. The camp has been in the family since 1895, and he called it heaven.
He was an Investment Banker and Venture Capitalist for 16 years at Hayden Stone Inc. in New York. Later, he formed Princeton Montrose Partners, a venture capital group focused on groundbreaking agricultural and renewable energy advances. Lastly, he had his own consulting business, Grindstone Associates, which assisted small companies with valuation and strategic planning.
He served on the Boards of Trinity – All Saints’ Nursery School, Princeton Day School, Princeton Area Community Foundation, and SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals. He also served on the Board of Grindstone Island Research & Heritage Center, raising funds for programs and scholarships for island children. He was a member of the Nassau Club and attended Trinity Church.
He is survived by three sons, William R. Rossmassler, III and his wife, Wendy, of Middlesex, VT, Thomas B. S. Rossmassler and his wife, Sarah, of Hatfield, MA, Richard R. Rossmassler and his wife, Julia, of Williamsburg, Brooklyn; and five grandchildren, Colby, Louisa, Branch, Tae, and Eva. His wife of over 50 years, Frances Branch Scott, and two brothers, Richard Rossmassler and William R. Rossmassler Jr., predeceased him.
Services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals, 900 Herrontown Road, Princeton, NJ 08540; Phillips Exeter Academy for the Richard Rossmassler Memorial Fund, 20 Main Street, Exeter, NH 03833; Save The River, 409 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624; Grindstone Island Research & Heritage Center, PO Box 95, Clayton, NY 13624.
Peter spent the last 10+ years of his life coping with dementia and throughout and right up to the end he was still the kindest, most polite, and patient person we have ever known. He did not like needing help, but always accepted it with grace and warmth. His life and his inspirational character will be dearly missed.
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Barbara Prentice Broad
Barbara Prentice Broad, 99, of Princeton, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at home on December 15, 2019. Barbara was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, on March 3, 1920, the daughter of Donald Bishop Prentice and Louise Farnham Prentice. She was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Henry Sawyer Broad. She is survived by her daughter Louise Lavine (Michael) of Durham, North Carolina, and her sons Richard Broad (Patti Mantell Broad) of West Hartford, Connecticut, and Dr. William Broad (Mari Yamashiro Broad) of Los Gatos, California. She is also survived by grandchildren Kathryn Broad (Chris Otness), Benjamin Broad (Ashley Yonan), Noah Lavine (Katherine), Alex Broad (Emie George), Isaac Lavine (Deanna Rubin), and Nicholas Broad, and great-grandchildren Henry Lavine and Simon Lavine.
One of the formative events of Barbara’s childhood was an around-the-world trip with her parents to the World Engineering Congress in Osaka, Japan, in 1929, where they made lifelong friends with a family from Sweden. Barbara moved with her parents to Terre Haute, Indiana, when her father became president of Rose Polytechnic Institute in 1931. She graduated from Tudor Hall School (now Park Tudor School) in Indianapolis, where she was president of student government in her senior year, and then followed her two older sisters to Wellesley College, of which she was a devoted alumna. Barbara’s love of music was evident at Wellesley where she sang in the choir. During the summers of 1940 and 1941, she sang with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus under Serge Koussevitsky.
Following graduation from college, Barbara joined the WAVES as an ensign, later serving as lieutenant at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Pearl Harbor. After the war, she moved to Boston, where she was legal secretary for Judge Charles Wyzanski for several years. Marriage to Henry Broad brought her to the Washington, D.C. area, where Louise and Richard were born. Then Princeton University called on Henry Broad (Class of 1938) to be their first in-house counsel in 1956.
Barbara was a resident of Princeton, New Jersey, for over 60 years. She was a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church, sang in the choir, and served as a deacon and elder. For many years she served as a volunteer bookkeeper for the John Street Nursery School in Princeton. She remained active with the Wellesley Antique Show, the Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale and served on the national board of Young Audiences. She was a long-time member of the Present Day Club where she enjoyed bridge and other activities, and of Pretty Brook Country Club, where she played tennis until she was 90. In the late 1970s and 1980s, she worked part-time as a real estate agent with Stockton Realty.
In addition to Princeton, the Prentice family summer home in South Brooksville, Maine, on Cape Rosier, was a special place for Barbara throughout her life. With limited exception during the war years, Barbara was able to spend some part of almost every summer at Cape Rosier, where she sailed, swam, hiked, and played tennis. She loved being surrounded by her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and their families from the broader Prentice clan.
The family would particularly like to recognize Pat Freda and Jane Atonga for the considerate and loving care they provided, especially during Barbara’s last weeks, as well as Guiselle Dickson, for two years of devoted care.
A memorial service will be held for Barbara at 2 p.m. on January 5, 2020 at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street in Princeton, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Young Audiences of New Jersey (Princeton, NJ) or Blue Hill Heritage Trust (Blue Hill, ME). Photos from Barbara’s life may be seen on the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home website, www.matherhodge.com.
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Delia T. Drake
Delia T. Drake (nee Keane), 77, of Skillman, New Jersey, passed away on December 20, 2019, surrounded by her loving family.
Delia, daughter of Luke and Nora Keane, was born in the Bronx, NY, and lived in Rockaway Beach, NY, until relocating to New Jersey in 1976. After 30 years of dedicated service, she retired from Western Electric International Patent Organization and then continued on as a contract employee at several offices in the Princeton Area.
Delia (or Aunt Dee as she was affectionately called by her many nieces and nephews) was known for her friendliness, helpfulness, and welcoming spirit to strangers and family alike. Delia was a woman of service as evidenced by her volunteerism beginning at the New York Foundling Hospital and continuing at the Telephone Pioneers, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Crawford House, St. Charles Borromeo Church, Merwick Rehabilitation Center, and Hospice to name just a few. Delia was given the Somerset County STAR award for her volunteer work at Crawford House.
Delia was predeceased by her brother Luke Keane, her brother-in-law Bernard D. Lynch, her brother-in-law James Mulroy, and her niece Jeanne Marie Mulroy.
Delia will be deeply missed by her loving family. She is survived by her husband, David, of Skillman, NJ; her stepchildren, David Drake and his wife Katherine of Doylestown, PA.; Janice Lewis and her husband David of Lambertville, NJ.; and Julie Harris and her husband Todd of Rocky Hill, NJ. Delia is also survived by her sister, Nora Lynch of Rockville Centre, NY; her brother, Jeremiah Keane of Vero Beach, FL; and her sister, Mary Ann Mulroy of East Rockaway, NY. Aunt Dee is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Bernard Lynch, Jr. and his wife Dawn of Lynbrook, NY; Kevin Lynch and his wife Teresa of Belle Mead, NJ; Mary Ann Lynch of Lynbrook, NY; Brian Lynch and his wife Cindy of Lynbrook, NY; Sean Lynch and his wife AnnMarie of Lynbrook, NY; Christopher Lynch and his wife Meghan of Long Beach, NY.; and James Mulroy and his wife Eileen of Lynbrook, NY. In addition, Delia enjoyed visits from her 23 grand nieces and nephews, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on December 28 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Skillman, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Delia to the Montgomery EMS, P.O. Box 105, Belle Mead, NJ 08502.
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Franz Josef Moehn
Franz Josef Moehn died on December 15. The day before, he had celebrated his 88th birthday in much the same way that he celebrated many days of his life: surrounded by love and drinking wine — in this case, with his daughter Juliette, her family, and some friends.
Franz will be remembered as a first-rate entertainer, opening his home to visitors and serving exquisitely tasteful meals with expertly paired wines. He had the ability to hold court for hours with a gift for storytelling, a brilliant memory for details of history, music, literature, and soccer, as well as a fantastic ability to laugh at life’s curveballs, here and there slipping a joke in without letting on that he was pulling your leg. He did not suffer tedious company; neither did he pay much mind to the wishes of vegetarians, it must be said, until his granddaughter became one at a young age, and she loved everything he cooked for her.
He was born on December 14, 1931 and grew up during World War II in Wittlich, Germany, where many of his family members and childhood friends still reside. In the mid-1950s he emigrated to Milwaukee. Shortly after naturalizing, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed back in Germany as an American soldier for two years. When he returned to the U.S., he went on to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison, with the help of the G.I. Bill, where he met Jeanette Krueger (1941-2016), whom he later married. He graduated with honors in Comparative Literature and in 1964 was admitted to Princeton University for graduate school on a Woodrow Wilson fellowship, bringing his young family to the East Coast.
After earning his M.A. in Germanic Languages and Literatures at Princeton, Franz taught there and at Rider College while continuing as a PhD student. However, he found the academic job market unappealing and decided to change careers, following in his father’s footsteps to work in hospitality. He was a chef and manager at area corporate headquarters and hotels, and also worked as a caterer, but he would leave his mark in the Princeton community as the head chef at the Institute for Advanced Studies, where he worked from 1979 to his retirement in 1996. He kept many a genius well-fed, impressing them with his erudition (the wisest amongst them befriended Franz and accepted invitations to his home for long nights of eating, talking, and drinking there). An anecdote from this time illustrates his keen (and polyglot) sense of humor. One day, the director of the Institute, Harry Woolf gave a group of important visitors a tour. When they came to the kitchen Harry introduced Franz: “Here is the real boss of the Institute.” “No,” replied Franz. “You are the Boss, and I am the Chef.”
When Franz retired, Allen Rowe wrote, “There could not have been a more perfect match of interests and talents than Franz and the Institute.” Franz subsequently split his time between the United States and France — first in the Ardeche, surrounded by sheep and lavender, and then later in the Dordogne region of Bordeaux. His charming one-story house there featured two full kitchens — for winter and summer, he liked to say, as one was closer to the rear patio where he would dine in good weather and chat with his neighbors. Word of Franz’s passing spread quickly among his international network of friends, one of whom sent fitting words of condolence about him from France: “He loved life so much and he was able to see only the good parts of the people around him. Everyone is remembering all the nice moments we spent with him.”
He passed away at home with his daughter Juliette on Bainbridge Island, WA. He is survived by Juliette, his son Frederick, and four grandchildren who laughed at his jokes the hardest. The family is planning a private memorial service.
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Irvin Glassman
Irvin Glassman, 96, died on Saturday, December 14 at his home in Princeton, N.J. A Baltimore native born in 1923, Irvin Glassman was the Robert H. Goddard Professor (Emeritus) of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University. He retired from Princeton in 1999 after 49 years on the faculty.
He was considered one of the world’s leading authorities on combustion as applied to problems in energy production, pollution, propulsion, and fire safety. In 1972, Prof. Glassman, as he preferred to be called, founded Princeton University’s Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. He was editor and founder of the journal Combustion Science and Technology and published more than 250 articles as well as two major books, including Combustion, considered the leading book in his field. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1996, received an honorary Doctorate of Science from Princeton University in 2009, and was awarded the Daniel Guggenheim Medal in 2018, which honors innovators who make notable achievements to aeronautics.
Prof. Glassman was most proud of his legacy as a teacher. His course on combustion engines was voted the most popular in a poll of Princeton University students. More than 20 of his graduate students awarded Ph.D.s are faculty members at major universities. Through his interest in others, kindness, and positive outlook, he became not only a teacher, but a lifelong mentor to many of his academic “children.”
Prof. Glassman served during World War II in the U.S. Army as a research scientist and was honorably discharged in 1945. He received his Bachelors of Engineering (1943) and Doctorate of Engineering (1950) from Johns Hopkins University.
A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Prof. Glassman is survived by his wife of 68 years, Beverly Wolfe Glassman, and his three daughters, Shari Powell, Diane Gienger, and Barbara Glassman; their husbands, Warren Powell, Edwin Gienger, and Arthur Rubin; and six grandchildren, Eddie (Nicole Kennedy) and Megan Gienger, Elyse and Daniel Powell, and Maya and Noah Rubin. His children and grandchildren will remember with love his wisdom, kindness, positive encouragement, and humility.
Prof. Glassman was a true testament to the transformative power of education. Securing a scholarship to Johns Hopkins enabled him to leave his mother’s grocery store, obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, and eventually become a professor at Princeton University. To honor this legacy, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Irvin Glassman Fund at the Trustees of Princeton University to support the next generation of Princeton University engineering students (Princeton University, Alumni and Donor Records, P.O. Box 5357, Princeton, NJ 08543-5357).
Funeral services were held Sunday, December 15, with burial at Floral Park Cemetery in South Brunswick.
Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel.