Mildred C. H. Light

Mildred C. H. Light (Pat) died at home on September 29, 2013, a week after suffering a stroke.

Pat was born in Chestnut Hill, Pa., on Oct. 27, 1918, the wedding anniversary of her parents, Mildred Patton and Henry Rogers Cartwright, and her mother’s birthday. She grew up in Hewlett, Long Island, where she attended Lawrence School. After graduating with highest honors from Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Mass., Pat worked in merchandising, public relations, and modeling in New York City. At the time, she was ranked seventh nationally in badminton singles and sang in the venerable St. Celia Choral Society (and, occasionally, at night clubs).

Pat moved to Princeton in 1945, following the death of her first husband, Lt. Commander Thomas C. Hart, USN. After working for several years as assistant director of distribution at the Princeton Film Center, she started the Exchange, a gift and catering shop on Nassau Street. She originated Town Topics’ shopping column, “It’s New to Us,” and, later, wrote its environmental column, “Down to Earth Notes.” She and Karl M. Light, whom she married in 1950, launched K.M. Light Real Estate, where Pat was a partner until their divorce in 1980. She later joined Peyton Real Estate.

Pat was (in her own words) “a founding mother” of MAMI (Mercer Alliance for the Mentally Ill) and AAMH (Association for the Advancement of Mental Health). A fiercely dedicated environmentalist, she served on the boards of both the Princeton Friends of Open Space and the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. Her lifelong involvement in political campaigns began with Wendell Wilkie’s run for president in 1940 and ended with Rush Holt’s campaign for the U.S. Senate last summer. Pat was an ardent birder and dog lover, and she played bridge several times a week until her death. (One daughter would regularly call her for bridge advice and help with the NYT Sunday crossword puzzle.)

Pat is survived by her six children: Penny (Hart) Bragonier of Boston; Derry Light of Princeton; Brita Light of Camden, Me.; Rip Light of Oakland, Calif.; Corey (Light) Miedzinski of Trenton; and Holly Light of Long Beach, Calif. She also leaves eight grandchildren and a great-grandson.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at the Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington, New Jersey 08534.

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 Peter J. Meggitt

Peter J. Meggitt, 51, of Princeton died Wednesday, October 9, 2013. He was born in Winchester, United Kingdom and resided in Rocky Hill and Trenton before moving to Princeton in 1998.

Peter was the much beloved husband of Elizabeth “Liz” (Campbell) Meggitt, beloved father of Hugo C. Meggitt and Sinclair C. Meggitt, and beloved son of John E. and Dorothy (Marsden) Meggitt. Their loss and grief are shared by Peter’s three brothers Adam (Sandy) Meggitt, Daniel Meggitt, Michael (Lara) Meggitt; mother-in-law Diane Campbell; father-in-law Walter (Marlene) Campbell; and sisters-in-law Dianne (Kevin) Hodill, Cecilia Campbell (Deborah Gagnon), and Roxanna (Eugene) Choe. Peter had a special connection with all the children in his life. He was the beloved Uncle Pete (Peep) of Hannah, Derek, Phineas, Dylan, Russell, Kelly, Sierra, Paul, Scott, Matthew, and Daniel. They will miss him dearly.

Peter was founder and president of Eviasoft, a software consulting firm located in Princeton. Prior to that, Peter was chief technology officer for Prophet 21, Inc. of Yardley, Pa. He was loved and admired by all the employees and his enormous talent contributed greatly to the success of the company. He was incredibly generous and giving of his time, talents, and energies to the community. He was an active member of the Princeton United Methodist Church, serving as president of the United Methodist Men and a member of the Church Counsel. He traveled to the Congo to further the mission of the United Front Against Riverblindness (UFAR). Peter also dedicated time to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and Cornerstone Kitchen.

Peter was an avid outdoorsman and adventurer and an enthusiastic squash player. He loved to be active and enjoyed rollerblading, hiking, kayaking, climbing, gardening, and skiing. He could often be seen taking his beloved dog Walker on romps all over town. Peter’s greatest passion, however, was his family: he was a loving and devoted husband, father, son, brother, and uncle.

The funeral service was held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, 2013 at the Princeton United Methodist Church, 7 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, P.O. Box 872, Trenton, N.J. 08605, UFAR or the Princeton United Methodist Church, 7 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, N.J. 08542. Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

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Hartwell Forrest Calcote

Hartwell Forrest Calcote (“Cal”), age 93 years, passed away on October 11 after a brief illness.

Cal lived a long and full life and was known for his generosity and great sense of humor. He was born in Meadville, Pa., the first child of Forrest C. and Amanda Korte Calcote. He grew up in Washington, D.C., where he developed his interests in music and science. Cal played the clarinet and cello, was captain of his high school cadet band, drum major and assistant conductor of the Catholic University Band, and auditioned for the United States Marine Band, a fact of which he was proud.

Cal was awarded a full scholarship to study Chemical Engineering at The Catholic University of America in Washington. In 1943 he married his childhood sweetheart, Marianna Rixey, and was admitted to graduate school at Princeton University as the first married student in the chemistry department. As a graduate student he taught pre-radar electronics to navy officers and received his PhD in 1948. Cal’s thesis, “Electrical Properties of Flames,” led to significant developments in the study of ions in flames.

After working at Experiment Incorporated in Richmond, Va., he returned to Princeton to serve as president and director of research of a new company, AeroChem Research Laboratories. At AeroChem, he continued his research on propulsion and chemical ionization, was awarded numerous patents, and published more than 50 articles and book chapters. He was active in the Combustion Institute, serving on the Board of Directors for many years and as president from 1988 to 1992. He was very proud to receive their highest award for his contributions in the field of combustion.

Cal was an avid hiker, canoeist, and camper. He especially enjoyed canoeing trips with his son Randy. In his later years, while living at Meadow Lakes in Hightstown, he developed the first map of the trails through the woods and was working on a book, with photographs, about the trees of Meadow Lakes. Among his other enthusiasms were tennis, gardening, and competitive chess games with his brother Robert. He and Marianna traveled extensively.

An active member of the United Methodist Church of Princeton, Cal served in many positions and on many committees.

Hartwell and Marianna Rixey were married for 66 years, until her death in 2009. They are survived by their four children: Elaine (Jim Britt; children John and Caroline); Linda (Ken Kayser; son Christopher, his wife Kara, daughters Kaitlyn and Emily); Randy (Judy, daughter Lauren); Donna (Bob Briggs; sons Benjamin, his wife Karen, daughter Emily; and Michael).

A memorial service will be held at Meadow Lakes in Hightstown, New Jersey on Saturday, October 19 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Corner House, One Monument Drive, Princeton, N.J. 08540 or Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 5023, Hagerstown, Md. 21741-5023.

Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

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Patricia Lewis Bonette

Patricia Lewis Bonette, 81, of Princeton died September 28, 2013, after a lengthy illness. She is survived by her two sons Peter, Columbus, Ohio and David, Voorhees, New Jersey, and her brother David Lewis of Texas. She is also survived by five grandchildren. Patricia was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She earned her “Fifty Year” pin volunteering at the University Medical Center of Princeton. Most of all she enjoyed playing her harp and reading. Patricia will be greatly missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Saints Church, Princeton, New Jersey. A memorial service was held on Friday, October, 11, 2013, at the All Saints Church, Princeton, New Jersey.