‘Visionary’ Award
Mark S. Wise, social studies supervisor for the WW-P school district, received a 2010 Visionary Leadership award from the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. As district supervisor, Wise is responsible for the curriculum, instruction, and assessment of the social studies content area for grades four to eight. He assisted in developing the state’s 2009 core curriculum content standards in social studies.
In College
Rowan University: Laura Slatas of West Windsor is on the dean’s list. A senior, she is majoring in elementary education. Plainsboro residents on the dean’s list include Katherine I. Lacenere, a sophomore majoring in English; Matthew H. Skepner , a senior majoring in management information systems; and Kristy B. Haar, a senior majoring in elementary education.
Engagement
Shonali Gupta and Joseph Gaudino are planning a summer, 2011 wedding.
The bride-to-be is the daughter of former West Windsor residents, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Gupta, now of Frankfort, Illinois. A graduate of High School North, Class of 2003, she received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and a master’s degree from Boston University. An occupational therapist in Boston, she recently completed an internship at Harvard Medical’s Beth Israel Hospital.
The prospective bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gaudino of Greece, New York. A graduate of the University of Rochester and Northeastern University, he is a CPA for Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Boston.
Births
The University Medical Center at Princeton has announced the following births:
Sons were born to Plainsboro residents Yuki Takatsuka and Kunihiko Taira, January 26; and Vaishali and Satyojit Nalvade, January 31.
Daughters were born to West Windsor residents Jessica and Abhishekh Govind, January 21; Ranjana V. and Vikeam P. Uparkar, January 24; and Bonnie and Justin Tormey, January 29.
Deaths
Sylvia Grueneberg, 92, of Riverdale, New York died January 20. Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, David and Anita Grueneberg of West Windsor. Donations may be made to Schervier Nursing Care, 2975 Independence Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463.
Eileen J. De La Cruz, 70, of Little Egg Harbor, died January 20 at home. Survivors include daughter Janet Mindur of Plainsboro.
Eugene A. Vereb, 80, of North Hanover died January 21 at Samaritan Hospice in Mount Holly. Born in Trenton, he was a resident of North Hanover for 45 years. A Marine veteran, he served from 1946 to 1948 and in 1950. A graduate of Rider College, he retired from the State of New Jersey. Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, John and Jill Vereb of West Windsor. Donations may be made to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton 08053-3101.
Richard Ernest Gagnon, 67, of Woodbridge died January 20 at Cape Regional Medical Center, Cape May Courthouse. An Army veteran, he was a nuclear engineer with the New York Power Authority for 25 years.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Jeannine and Jason Meizenis of Plainsboro; and grandchildren Hope and Noah Meizenis. Donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Avenel, Youth Fellowship, 621 East Woodbridge Avenue, Avenel 07001.
Sophie Kucharski Novatkoski, 91, of West Windsor died January 20 at the Compassionate Care Hospice, Trenton. Born in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, she was raised and educated in Trenton. She lived the rest of her life on the family farm in West Windsor where she worked with her family raising potatoes and tomatoes for the Campbell Soup Company.
Survivors include five daughters and two sons-in-law: Barbara M. Novatkoski of West Windsor, Helen M. and Edward Doan of Lawrenceville, Victoria A. Novatkoski of West Windsor, Carolyn E. and William Baker of Middletown, and Kathryn D. Novatkoski of West Windsor; 19 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
Joan S. Reed, 76, of West Windsor died January 22 at home. Donations may be made to Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, 154 South Mill Road, West Windsor 08550; Second Chance Heart Transplant Support Group, 182 Conover Road, West Windsor 08550-3234, or APAW, Box 162, West Windsor 08550.
Joseph S. Boruta, 100, of Bordentown died January 23 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton. Born and raised in Trenton, Boruta lived in Lawrenceville for 48 years before moving to Bordentown in 1995. An Army Air Corps veteran, he served with the Singal Corps during World War II. He retired in 1976 as principal accountant with the New Jersey Department of Treasury after 40 years of service in 1976. Survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Helen P. and James J. Scheideler of West Windsor.
Dennis A. DeMaio, 91, of Plainsboro, died at home on January 25. Born in New York City, he lived on Staten Island and Columbus, before moving to the Pavilions at Forrestal in Plainsboro nine years ago.
A graduate of Fordham University with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry, he retired as director of research & development of Halcon International, a chemical company. He formulated three new catalysts that earned recognition from the U.S. Patent Office. A corporal in the Army, he served under General Patton with the 414th Armored Field Artillery Battalion in Europe during World War II.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Denise and Ron Weinstein of West Windsor and Maryann and Anthony DiStasio of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; four grandchildren, Amy, Anthony, Rachael, and Jenna; and a great-grandson Alex. Donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org.
Betty Jean Kelley, 81, of West Windsor died January 28, at the Hamilton Continuing Care Center. Born in Ishpeming, Michigan, she lived in New Jersey for more than 50 years. A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, she taught at Ridge Ranch Elementary School in Paramus for 20 years.
Survivors include her sister, Shirley Johnson of Spring Hill, Florida; three sons and daughters-in-law, John and Linda Kelley, Jim and Andrea Kelley , and Jerry and Jackie Kelley; five grandchildren, John and his wife Monica, Brian, David, Greg and Niki; and one great-grandchild, Liam.
Calling hours are Friday, February 5, 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. at the A. S. Cole Funeral Home, 22 North Main Street, Cranbury. A memorial service is at 7 p.m. Donations may be made to American Diabetes Association, Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, or Ridge Ranch Elementary School, 345 Lockwood Drive, Paramus 07652 for a literary project.
Mabel D. Rice, 89, of Golden Living Center, Richland, Pennsylvania, died January 31. Survivors include a daughter, Loretta Rice of West Windsor.
Jennie Joanne “Jaja” Baszczowski, 77, of Ewing, died February 1 at home. Born in Elyria, Ohio, she lived in West Windsor, Robbinsville, and Ewing since 1962. A secretary for Bowers Architecture Company, she retired from Systech Company after years of service.
Survivors include her husband of 32 years, William Baszczowski; her sister, Alice Bencik; her niece, Miriam Macuda and her husband, Jozef; her nephew, Roman Bencik and his wife Dawn. A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 6, at 9:30 a.m. at Saul Colonial Home, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square. Donations may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Donor Services, Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309.
Gloria Smith Fyffe, 81, of Monroe died February 2 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Robin Fyffe of West Windsor.
