June 21, 2019

William Bryce Thompson, IV

William Bryce Thompson, IV of Princeton, NJ, peacefully passed away on Friday, June 21, surrounded by the tremendous love of family and friends. Bryce was born on August 18, 1931 in his father’s home in Valley Head, Alabama, but Bryce is well known as a longtime Princetonian, having grown up at 195 Nassau Street in the house his grandfather built, where Bryce later had his office.

Bryce is predeceased by his father William Bryce Thompson, III, his mother Felicita Doris Golden, and his brother John Golden Thompson. Bryce is survived by his wife Grace White Thompson; his children Lise Thompson and William Bryce Thompson, V from his first wife Siri Willits; his son-in-law Robert Brander, his daughter-in-law Kristen Thompson; his children Barton Thompson and Hannah Thompson from his second wife Frances Lippincott; his grandchildren Nina Brander, William Bryce Thompson, VI, and Finley Thompson; and his stepchildren Wilson Weed, Mary Grace Hodgkins, and Morgan Weed.

As Bryce grew up, his family faced significant challenges, so that Bryce clearly understood from early age that, except for their love, he was on his own. Bryce was a man of big ideas, fierce ambition, hard drive, risk-taking, and strong work ethic. Bryce rocketed to success largely through his own wits and determination. Bryce graduated from Princeton High School and then attended seven different colleges for one semester each — as he often recounted. “Seven colleges and no degree!” — his college career having been more to do with tourism than education, and also because Bryce had to pay for college himself, by teaching tennis (he was a self-taught player) in summer and selling Christmas trees out of his front yard in the fall — and sometimes through his poker winnings. As he said, “One semester was all I could afford!”

Bryce volunteered to be drafted and was sent by the Army to occupied Germany, during the last year of Germany’s occupation. He was initially assigned as a typist — but his superiors soon realized Bryce’s skills did not lie there, and Bryce was reassigned to head up the tennis program the Army established to rebuild relationships among the formerly warring nations. In winter, Bryce was assigned to ski for the Army.

Known to many as “the Land Man,” Bryce started his company Thompson Land in 1958, and he quickly became one of the largest landowners in New Jersey. Since the mid-1980s Bryce has been committed to land preservation, and in the living room of his longtime East Amwell home in Ringoes, New Jersey, Bryce held one of the first — if not the first — meetings in the state to launch land preservation. Thanks to Bryce and all the many people who have committed themselves to the hard work and contribution of land preservation, East Amwell is now at least 45% preserved. Bryce himself is regarded as the major individual land preservationist in central New Jersey, if not the entire state — and some sources say beyond.

Bryce has long been known as a singularly savvy, sharp businessman — a “wheeler dealer” — always quick to pass on his lifelong adage of “Buy low, sell high.” Full of life and passion throughout his life, Bryce’s predilection for adventure and risk-taking led him to distinguish himself not only in real estate, but also in sports. Bryce loved tennis and was not only a fine teaching pro, but an award-winning competitive player. Bryce was also an excellent horseman. He took up riding in his 40s and won the Fall Hills Steeplechase, was an award-winning polo player though his mid-70s, and served as Master of Hounds of the Amwell Valley Hounds fox hunting club. He was a member of the St. Moritz Tobogganing Club, in Switzerland, where he raced the skeleton toboggan on the famous Cresta Run and won the World Seniors race. His endeavors included hang gliding, skydiving, scuba diving, fast cars, fast motorcycles — he loved his Triumph motorcycle — and beautiful women.

Bryce will be remembered by his family, friends, and community as someone the likes of which will not likely come again. He was of a time and world that is largely gone. He will always be remembered at his permanent spot at the head of our family table where he prevailed with sharp wit, gentlemanly charm, and always with a twinkle in his eye.

Bryce loved his family dearly. His unique style of tough love, perseverance, and strength will all be truly and sorely missed. The words to describe him are impossible to write but he will forever live on in the countless stories and memories of all those whose lives he touched.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at St. Paul Church, Princeton, with burial at Princeton Cemetery.

We ask that those who wish to honor the legendary life of this extraordinary man and his land preservation legacy to consider a donation to New Jersey Conservation Foundation, 170 Longview Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931 (908) 234-1225; or D & R Greenway Land Trust, 1 Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 924-4646.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimble-FuneralHome.com.

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William Carnachan Slack

William Carnachan Slack passed away on Sunday, June 16th, at Kimball Farms Nursing Home, Lenox, MA. He was 84.

Bill was born on March 15, 1935 in New York City to Catherine and Beekman Slack. His parents’ bold first encounter on a New York trolley foreshadowed Bill as an adventurous romantic. After attending the Kent School and Columbia, he took an abrupt turn, making his way through the ranks of the auto industry, specializing in British cars. At the height of his career, Bill managed much of the American market for Jaguar.

Bill was renowned for never missing a day of work, but his personal life offers a truer reflection of his joie de vivre. He was a great lover of animals, regularly rescuing strays who became his devoted companions. He celebrated life by attending concerts and theater, enjoying good food, traveling, and spending time with loved ones and friends. It seemed nothing could stop him from attending choice iterations of Wagner’s The Ring Cycle. He was a talented photographer and artist, and we are grateful that much of his passion remains with us, reflected in his works.

Bill finally found the lifelong partner he’d yearned for in Meg, his third wife. He is survived by two previous wives, Francine and Susan; his children Babiche, Katya, and Nicholas; their spouses; and four grandchildren. His family remembers him as warm, non-judgmental, fun, and inclusive. We are lucky that he helped shape the course of our lives.

There will be a private celebration of Bill’s life on July 7th in Lenox, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Berkshire Humane Society.

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Jyothi Thomas

Jyothi Thomas, 32, died on June 15, 2019 at her home in Skillman, NJ, located near the Montgomery schools her daughter attends. The cause of death was complications from Stage 4 breast cancer. Her funeral service was held on June 24, 2019 at St. Paul’s Church in Princeton.

Jyothi was born on November 29, 1986 in Kerala, India. Her precise birthplace was Kattappana, a small village near Kumili where her parents and brother currently reside. In these beautiful and temperate mountains, Jyothi had a warm and supportive childhood. Her early life was closely tied to her family, including her brother, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Jyothi received her early education at St. Anne’s Higher Secondary School in Kottayam and St. Thomas High School in Kumili. In high school, she achieved the Mar Ivanios Memorial Award and Scholarship for higher studies. She also achieved first rank in a Sunday School exam in Thiruvalla Dioceses, in Kerala. She was a talented singer and participated in dramas and other school functions. Additionally, she was a leader in Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM). She did well in all levels of school, engaging in some friendly rivalry with her cousins of similar age.

Jyothi studied nursing at St. Joseph College of Nursing, Dharmagiri, Kothamangalam. She chose the specialty Labor & Delivery because of her love of baby children and her desire to focus on mothers. After moving to the U.S., Jyothi worked in nursing education and subsequently as a labor nurse for Trinitas Hospital (Elizabeth, NJ), Hunterdon Hospital (Flemington, NJ), and Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center (Princeton, NJ). She considered nursing, especially L&D, as her calling. She was beloved by her fellow nursing students and professional co-workers.

Jyothi is survived by her husband, Jose Thomas, and her daughter, Elina Thomas. Over the years, Jyothi made many sacrifices for her family, including supporting Jose’s graduate studies and spending sleepless days caring for her daughter. Her family salutes her memory and spirit.

If you would like to make a donation in Jyothi’s name, Elina and Jose suggest the Nature Conservancy at https://www.nature.org/en-us/.

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Heinz Kahlbrock

Heinz Kahlbrock, 92, of Skillman died Thursday, June 20, 2019 at Stonebridge at Montgomery Health Care Center. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, he resided in Holmdel before moving to Princeton. He retired after many years of service as an Electrical Engineer with Bell Labs.

Son of the late Heinrich and Charlotte (Kramaroff) Kahlbrock, he is survived by his wife Joanna (Baran) Kahlbrock, his sister Margaret Edelson, and sister-in-law Irene Alexander.

The Funeral Service will be held 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at the Mather Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. Burial will follow in the Princeton Cemetery.

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Memorial Service

Kam Williams

A Memorial Service for Kam Williams, prolific film and literary critic, longtime Town Topics contributor, will be held on Saturday, June 29 at 11 a.m. (doors open at 10 a.m.) at the Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street. A party will follow at Chancellor Green Hall, Princeton University, from 1 to 3 p.m.

June 5, 2019

Kam Williams

Prolific Film and Literary Critic Dies

Over the past two decades, film and literary critic Kam Williams published nearly ten thousand articles and reviews.
Throughout his nearly 22-year career as a writer, he was most known for his film reviews and celebrity interviews for websites such as RottenTomatoes.com and over 100 publications around the world, ranging from local papers like Princeton, NJ’s Town Topics to international news chain Metro.

A prolific journalist, he also wrote countless book reviews, editorials, and a novel that will be published posthumously later this year.

Mr. Williams, who was a resident of Princeton, NJ, died Thursday, May 30 from prostate cancer. He was 66 years old.
Born Lloyd Joseph Williams in New York City and raised in St. Albans, Queens, Mr. Williams was commonly referred to as “Kam,” a nickname short for “Kamau,” a name given to him while he was a student at Brown University, by famed Jazz musician Sun Ra.

Mr. Williams’ path to a career in writing was circuitous. He was a graduate of Brooklyn Tech High School in New York City and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Black Literature in 1974. While receiving his Master’s in English from Brown University in 1975, he first attempted a career in screenwriting at Chicago’s WTTW, a PBS affiliate TV station.

However, Mr. Williams had a diverse set of interests and diverted his attention from writing for business and entertainment law, receiving his J.D. from Boston University in 1978 (along with Bar membership in MA, PA, CT, NY, and NJ) followed by an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1980.

Mr. Williams’ first wife, the late Kristina Barbara Johnson (who had previously been married to sculptor J. Seward Johnson II, the grandson of Johnson & Johnson Co-Founder Robert Wood Johnson I), introduced him to art dealing and the antique business in which he subsequently deployed his corporate and legal knowledge for over a decade.

Mr. Williams had a colorful personality and a commanding presence, according to friends and family. He was a tall African American man with freckles and wore his bright-red hair in a large Afro hairstyle that was immediately noticeable in a crowd.

His diverse life experiences and base of knowledge (he was a polymath who read a book a week) made him a compelling conversationalist and led to a brief but recurring guest appearance on the radio show, The Howard Stern Show.

It was that experience that later sparked his career in journalism when a family friend and writer at the Princeton Packet, a local newspaper in his hometown Princeton, NJ, recommended that Mr. Williams write a film review of Howard Stern’s 1997 biographical film Private Parts.

Mr. Williams’ intense work ethic and glowing journalistic reputation led to extensive work interviewing celebrities associated with upcoming film and book releases, including Quentin Tarantino, Denzel Washington, Mel Brooks, Russell Simmons, LeBron James, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, among many others.

Mr. Williams was also a staunch supporter of civil rights-related causes, publishing countless Op-Eds on the topic and later joined the NAACP Image Awards Nominating Committee.

Outside of his writing career, he had a deep passion for music and boasted a large collection of albums. He enjoyed long daily walks in nature, was an avid sports fan, and a passionate Little League baseball coach. He was also an enthusiastic participant in weekly trivia nights with a large group of friends at a local bar in Princeton, NJ.

He is survived by many friends, four siblings (Lawrence, Daryl, Teresa, and Rod), and his second wife of 25 years, Susan, and stepson, Nicholas.

A memorial service will be held at the Princeton Garden Theatre on June 29.

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Thomas B. Hagadorn Sr.

Thomas B. Hagadorn Sr., 60, of Princeton passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at his home in Seaside Park.

Thomas was born and raised in Princeton. He graduated from Princeton High School in 1977. He served with Princeton Engine Company No. 1 for many years, serving as their Chief In 1985. After joining on with Clean Harbors Environmental Services in 1988, he moved his family to Maine where they lived for 12 years. Clean Harbors brought him back to New Jersey where he became Director of Health and Safety and eventually Vice President of Health and Safety. He and his team took part in the clean-up of some major disasters including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Deepwater Horizon, just to mention a few.

Preceded in death by his parents James Randall and Florence (Swinnerton) Hagadorn, and his brothers Richard and Christopher Hagadorn; he is survived by his son Thomas B. Hagadorn Jr; his daughter Melissa Hagadorn and her husband Devin Feder; his grandchildren Trenton and Hudson Feder; his former wife of 28 years Nancy Hagadorn; his partner of the past seven years Holly Byrne; his brothers Randall and Jeffrey Hagadorn; his sister Suzan Sanders; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Friday, June 7, 2019 from 1-3 and 6-8:30 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 8:30 p.m. at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, NJ 08542.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

May 31, 2017

KIDNAPPING IS NOTHING TO JOKE ABOUT: Rodrick (Charlie Wright, center) and his wimpy brother Greg (Jason Drucker, right) are being dressed down by the police officer who saw the “kidnapped” sign that Rodrick had pasted in the rear window of their car to protest the way his mother was treating him.    (Photo by Daniel McFadden 20th Century Fox, © TM and © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved)

Series’s Fourth Episode Features New Cast Up to Old Tricks

According to Murphy’s Law, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul provides an example of that saying. The comedy describes the escalating misfortunes that plague the Heffley family during their summer road trip.
The film is the fourth in the series that is based on Jeff Kinney’s illustrated children’s novels. It was directed by David Bowers who also made Wimpy Kid 2 and 3.
The movie features an entirely new cast, starting with Jason Drucker as the title character, wimpy Greg Heffley; Alicia Silverstone and Tom Everett Scott are his parents, Susan and Frank; and Charlie Wright and Dylan Walters are Greg’s older and younger brothers, Rodrick and Manny, respectively.
Wimpy Kid 4 is about a family’s cross-country outing to attend their grandma’s 90th birthday party. The mother Susan sees the drive as an opportunity for the family to bond together, so she collects everybody’s cell phones before departing.
This frustrates her children, who find it boring without their electronic devices. Rodrick calls her “the worst mom ever” and sticks a “kidnapped” sign in the rear window that leads to their being pulled over by the police.
Other eventful stops range from an overnight stay in a motel with rats in the pool and a visit to a country fair where Manny wins a live piglet as a prize. The humor flowing from the escalating insanity is mostly of the bodily function variety.
Every skit is designed to keep the target audience of young children in stitches, with only occasional asides for adults, such as the inspired homage to Psycho’s legendary shower scene.
Very Good (HHH). Rated PG for rude humor. Running time: 91 minutes. Distributor: 20th Century Fox.

December 15, 2011
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

PLAYING A DEADLY CHESS GAME: George Smiley (Gary Oldman) has been assigned the task of ferreting out the Soviet double agent who has infiltrated the highest echelon of Britain’s famed MI6 agency. To make the job even more difficult, he must work alone in order to avoid tipping off the mole.

Dateline: Budapest, 1973. It is the height of the Cold War, and British spy Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong) has been sent behind the Iron Curtain on a covert anti-Communist mission. But when the operation is badly botched and blood is shed, there are consequences back in London at MI6 headquarters where both the head of the organization (John Hurt) and his right-hand man, George Smiley (Gary Oldman), are forced to resign in disgrace.

However, it isn’t very long before Smiley is secretly rehired by Undersecretary Oliver Lacon (Simon McBurney), the member of the Prime Minister’s cabinet responsible for overseeing the intelligence agency. It seems that there is good reason to believe that a Soviet mole has infiltrated the “Circus,” the government’s name for MI6’s highest echelon. As it turns out, Prideaux was in Hungary in search of the double agent whose identity has been narrowed down to four suspects referred to by their codenames Tinker (Toby Jones), Tailor (Colin Firth), Soldier (Ciaran Hinds), and Poor Man (David Dencik).

It falls to the wily Smiley to match wits with a savvy and inscrutable adversary. What makes the task particularly perilous is that Smiley dare not risk suspicion by confiding in any of his contacts inside MI6. Instead, as a lone wolf, he must rely on a combination of experience and his finely-tuned personal radar to ensnare his elusive prey.

Is the traitor the ambitious Percy Alleline (Tinker), the unflappable Bill Haydon (Tailor), the rough-edged Roy Bland (Soldier), or the officious Toby Esterhase (Poor Man)? The result is a spellbinding espionage thriller.

It should be no surprise that the multi-layered mystery is so intriguing, because it’s based on the bestseller that many fans of the genre consider to be the best spy novel of all time. Author David John Moore Cornwell, aka John Le Carré, who wrote under a pseudonym as required by MI6 of its former agents, appears in a cameo in the picture as a guest at a Christmas party.

This adaptation is considerably denser compared to the miniseries the BBC shot in 1979 that starred Sir Alec Guinness. Director Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) has distilled the 400-page opus down to its essential elements while remaining faithful to the source material.

Excellent (****). Rated R for violence, profanity, sexuality, and nudity. Running Time: 127 minutes. Distributor: Focus Features.