John Francis Brinster

John Francis Brinster, 95, died peacefully at home at Stonebridge on Friday September 9, 2016. He was born and raised in Butler, New Jersey, the son of Lorenz and Margaret Brinster. John was president of his class when he graduated from Butler High School in 1939. He was awarded a full scholarship to Drew University to study chemistry. After a summer job in the Princeton University physics lab, the University made him a similar offer. He went on to graduate magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton with the class of 1943, an honor that he was most proud of.

John grew up in rural New Jersey. As a youngster he built amateur chemistry and electronic labs in his basement and was an active ham radio operator with “friends” all over the world. While in high school he was editor of the school newspaper and played both basketball and football.

After college graduation, John stayed on at Princeton doing research and teaching at the graduate level. The War Manpower Commission required him to remain at Princeton to participate in war developments where he created the first multichannel radio telemetry devices for obtaining data from distant moving vehicles. When the American army captured the German V-2 missile, he was appointed a member of the National V-2 Panel to develop similar technology. He was in charge of five missiles to be fired at White Sands Proving Grounds working with Wernher von Braun. John worked with physicists such as Wheeler, Pauli, Feynman, and Wigner, and also enjoyed associations with Einstein and Oppenheimer at the Institute for Advanced Study. His 1946 analytical report that was requested by the government was the first to recommend data transmission and manipulation in the form of binary code well before the availability of solid-state devices. Later, John became an entrepreneur and with the help of local investors, he started Applied Science Corporation, known as ASCOP and then General Devices. They were small high tech companies in data acquisition, telemetry, and thermo-electricity. General Devices developed and built the telemetry system used in John Glenn’s capsule to communicate from space to earth.

John’s passion for business led him to take over Allied Boats in the late 60’s, the marine division of a small company owned by his brother Larry. From this, he created Marine Drive Systems where John designed and created stern drives (marine propulsion) for various motor boating applications ranging from pleasure boats to large commercial ferries. This enabled John and Doris, his wife of nearly 71 years, to travel world wide marketing the Marine Drive products. Marine Drive Systems successfully competed with industry giants such as Volvo-Penta, MerCruiser, and Chris Craft. John sold the company in the early 90’s and retired.

During his professional years, John, a scientist and creator at heart, received patents for more than 16 inventions. Once retired, John became extremely interested in, and somewhat of an authority on neuroscience and the human mind. As a Princeton alumnus, John worked to emphasize the study of neuroscience at the University by participating in the national “Decade of the Brain” so designated by George H. W. Bush to enhance public awareness of the benefits of brain research. John donated a prize in perpetuity for the best senior thesis in neuroscience. Work with his class led to the realization of the Princeton Neuroscience Institute. He made similar scholarship contributions to Rutgers and Drew Universities.

In his later years, John was passionate about writing and published nine books both fiction and non-fiction. He recently finished his tenth book that is yet to be edited and published.

Because of John’s love for boating, he and his family enjoyed summers at the New Jersey shore. He ultimately built a family home in Mantoloking on Barnegat Bay that could easily accommodate his growing four-generation family.

John was a longtime active member of The Nassau Club and so enjoyed his weekly “Saturday Lunch Bunch” meetings. He was also a member of The Old Guard and an invited speaker on several occasions.

John leaves behind his wife, Doris Lacy Ayres, whom he met on a bet with his co-workers in the summer of 1942; his daughters Jaye White and Meg; his son John and his son-in-law, Allen White. John had nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Burial will be private and handled by Mather Hodge Funeral Home. A memorial service is being planned for October. For information regarding the memorial service, please contact Meg at Megrit@aol.com.

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John Robert Waltman

John Robert (Bob) Waltman, 94, died on September 8, 2016 surrounded by his loving family at the Stonebridge residence in Skillman.

Bob was born in Steubenville, Ohio to Edwin Guy and Martha Beard Waltman. He attended the Mercersburg Academy before entering Princeton University with the great class of 1945. In the spring of 1943, Bob left Princeton to enlist in the Army. From 1943 to 1946 he served with the Army Corps of Engineers, 1289th Engineer Combat Battalion. Bob served in France, Germany, and the Philippines and attained the rank of First Lieutenant. He returned to Princeton in 1946 to complete his Bachelor of Science in engineering degree. In 1948 he began a long and successful career with the United States Gypsum Company. Retiring from his position as national accounts executive in 1987, Bob was known for his exemplary dedication, integrity, humility, and for his personal touch and wry good humor.

An avid golfer and sailor and a proud member of the Old Guard, Bob enjoyed big band music, jazz and cleverly plotted espionage novels. He traveled frequently, first in the service, then for work, and finally enjoying many trips abroad after his retirement. More than anything, he enjoyed time spent with his family. An exemplary man in every regard, Bob was a gentle soul with a sweetly mischievous twinkle in his eye. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Bob is survived by his wife of 65 years Diana (Didi) Fredericks Waltman; his daughters Susan Waltman Simpson, Sally (Bay) Waltman (and spouse Elizabeth Ries) and Martha O’Connor (and spouse Michael); and by his son James Robert (Jim) Waltman (and spouse Alicia); as well as by his eight adoring grandchildren; Jack, Diana (Annie) and Matthew Simpson; Kelly, Duncan and John Patrick O’Connor; and Emma and James Torrey (Jimmy) Waltman.

Interment will be held privately. Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association or Habitat for Humanity of Trenton.

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Robert Arthur O’Connor

Robert Arthur O’Connor, long-time Princeton resident, died Thursday, September 8, 2016 at age 96 after a long illness.

Mr. O’Connor was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and graduated from the City College of New York in 1942, then served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps 1943-45 in the China-Burma-India theater of operations. He spent most of his career at Columbia Broadcasting System, retiring in 1987 as vice-president, transmission and staff engineering. He was a member of many industry and government committees, including the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR), IEEE Broadcast Technology Society, and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB.)

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marion (nee Azzoni), his three children: Christine, Arthur and wife Linda, and Andrew and wife Kathryn; and his seven grandchildren Matthew, Brett, Madeline, Julia, Emma, Genevieve, and Rhys as well as many nieces and nephews. His father, Arthur; mother, Justina (nee Zeig); brother, William and wife Ellen (nee Boylan) have predeceased him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 16 at 10 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Skillman, with burial following at Princeton Cemetery.

Inspired by his love of classical music, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Princeton Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 250, Princeton, NJ 08542.