Deaths
Margaret M. James, 90, of Plainsboro died January 25 at home from complications following a fractured hip. Born in Rigby, Idaho, she was raised in Oakland, California and lived in Chile, Maryland, and Connecticut.
A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, she began her education career in 1935 as the head of the drama department and English teacher in Centerville, California. She then taught American literature at the University of Chile and worked at the American embassy in various capacities before returning to the United States in 1944.
While in Connecticut, she was president of the Girl Scouts, the Women’s Club of Greenwich, and the Greenwich branch of the AAUW.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Anne M. and Richard Henry of Pottstown, Pennsylvania; sons and daughters-in-law, John K. and Anne E. Marshall of Addison, Maine, and James C. and Cynthia C. Marshall of Shaftsbury, Vermont; stepdaughters Mary J. Staehelin of Brugg, Switzerland, Meg J. Rapp of Doylestown, Pennsylvania; and Lila J. Staples of Pacific Grove, California; brother Bruce Fisher of Castro Valley, California; five grandchildren; eight step grandchildren; and 12 step great-grandchildren.
Donations may be made to the Margaret F. Marshall Scholarship fund at the Choate Rosemary Hall, 333 Christian Street, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492.
John J. Weilandics Jr., of Linden, died January 30. Survivors include his sister, Virginia Fullerton of West Windsor. Donations to a favorite charity would be appreciated.
William H. Bleacher, 82, a former West Windsor resident, died Thursday at the Merwick Unit of the University Medical Center of Princeton. Born in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, he lived in West Windsor before moving to Lawrenceville. Mr. Bleacher retired after 40 years as a chemical technician with RCA of Princeton.
A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served with the 148 Infantry, 37th Division in the South Pacific and was a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. A member of American Legion Post 76, DAV Chapter 41 and life member VFW of Hamilton Township, he was involved in the Boy Scout Troop Council 88 of Princeton, and was past president of the West Windsor Lions.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Shirley U. Bleacher of Lawrenceville; two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Judith Bleacher of Springfield, Virginia, and Gary and Diane Bleacher of Lambertville; a daughter and son-in-law, Sheri and Chris Coleman of Burke, Virginia; five brothers, Benjamin Bleacher of Willingboro, Robert Bleacher of Lakeland, Florida, Grant Bleacher of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, Harry Bleacher of Quarryville, Pennsylvania, and Christopher Bleacher of Corpus Christi, Texas; seven grandchildren, Michael, Tonya, Jarret, and Jamie Bleacher, William Joseph, Jake, and Thomas Coleman; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 26, at 10 a.m. at Princeton United Methodist Church, 7 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. The Rev. Dr. Gregory G. Young will officiate.
Donations may be made to Princeton United Methodist Church Building Fund, 7 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton 08542.
Albert S. Toto Sr., 91, of Princeton died February 3 at the University Medical Center at Princeton. Born in Princeton, and a lifelong area resident, Toto was the owner and operator of Toto’s Market of Princeton, which was established in 1912 by his father and mother.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Ida DiGueseppantonio Toto of Princeton; a daughter and son-in-law Lucille T. and David Rosendorf of West Windsor; a son and daughter-in-law, Albert S. Jr. and Beverley Toto of Pennington; a sister and brother-in-law Pearl and Dominick Tamasi of Princeton; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Toto of Princeton; two grandchildren.
Donations may be made to Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, Box 529, Princeton, 08540 or St. Paul’s Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton 08542, or Health Care Ministry of St. Paul’s, Box 1517, Princeton 08542.
Michael Slobiski Jr. died February 3 at Halifax Medical Center, Daytona Beach, Florida after a brief illness. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and retired from Trap Rock Industries after more than 28 years of service. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, JoAnne; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Christopher Smith of West Windsor, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Donations may be made to Titusville Presbyterian Church, 48 River Drive, Titusville 08560.
John Marshall Reynolds, 84, died February 4 at the University Medical Center at Princeton. Born in Philadelphia, Reynolds was a resident of the Grovers Mill section of West Windsor.
He was formerly employed with the American Cyanamid Company and retired as maintenance supervisor for McGraw Hill in Hightstown.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and James Gault; a son, Gregory Reynolds; five grandchildren, Shawn Reynolds, Jason Reynolds, Kristen Gault, Dawn Flood and her husband Mark, and Gregg Gault; and many nieces and nephews.
Leonard M. Runko, 80, of Plainsboro died February 6 at home. Born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, he had resided in New York City and more recently in Plainsboro.
A Marine veteran, he served in the Pacific theater during World War II. A union mason with Bricklayers & Allied Craftsworkers Local 5, he retired in 1991 after 41 years.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia, a son Jeffrey, a daughter, Diane Metzger, two granddaughters, Lauren Bird and Susan Metzger, one grandson, Lawrence Metzger, and one great-granddaughter, Taylor Bird, all of Plainsboro; and many nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made to the Sunshine Foundation of Mercer County, Box 55130, Trenton 08638-6130.
Mary H. Barthelson, 77, of Mystic, Connecticut died February 8 in Mystic. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Kristine Barthelson Grabell and Jeffrey S. , of West Windsor; and grandchildren Adam, Benjamin and Erica Grabell.
Donations may be made to the Mystic Arts Center, 9 Water Street, Mystic Connecticut 06355, or to the Mystic Manor Nursing Home Recreational Fund, Mystic Manor, 475 High Street, Mystic, Connecticut 06355.
To send an online condolence, visit www.dinotofuneral.com
Frances Ridolfino, 79, of West Windsor died February 11 at Robert Wood John University Hospital at Hamilton. Born in Bristol, Pennsylvania, she was a long-time Trenton resident and retired from the State of New Jersey, Department of Health and Human Services.
Survivors include her husband Bernard Ridolfino of West Windsor; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Tom Worzalla of Trenton; sons, Ralph Ridolfino and Dave Ridolfino, both of Hamilton; her brother, John and his wife Irene Romano of Levittown; and her sister, Angelina Belviso of Hamilton; and five grandchildren, Robyn, Karen, Anthony, Michael, and Alisa; and several nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made to the St. Anthony’s Church Memorial Fund.
Clinton J. Peake, 72, of Ewing died February 12 at Capital Health System Fuld Campus. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Catherine and Eppley Winant of West Windsor. Donations may be made to Isles, 10 Wood Street, Trenton 08618.
Gerrit L. Johannes, of Plainsboro died February 3 at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York. A memorial service will be Monday, February 21, 8 p.m. at the Gosselin Funeral Home, 660 New Dover Road, Edison.
Born in Soerabaja, Indonesia, he came to the United States in 1962 and moved to Plainsboro five years ago.
Survivors include his wife of 23 years, Angelita Johannes, six sons, Jeffrey, Bruce and Stephen Johannes, Raul, Rudy and Rodger De Los Santos; four daughters, Mady Fischer, Shirley Augustin, Judith McCord, and Angela Perez-Cook; a brother, Jordan Johannes; a sister, Enid Eareneron; 29 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
Henry A. Dawson, Jr. of Orlando, Florida, died on February 12. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Arlene and Robert Banks, and two grandsons, Christopher and Darrien Banks; all of West Windsor.
Barbara Leiting, 43, of West Windsor died February 13. Born in Korbach, Germany, she moved to the United States in 1993.
Leiting completed her undergraduate studies in chemistry at the University of Gottingen, earned her doctorate in biochemistry at the Max-Planck-Institute, Martinsried, and did post doctoral research in biophysics at the ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zurich. She worked in pharmaceutical research, specializing in biochemistry and drug discovery with Merck and Company for the past 10 years.
Survivors include her husband, John F. O’Connell of West Windsor; her children, Elisabeth and Patrick D. O’Connell of West Windsor; her mother Hildegard Leiting of Germany; and her sister Brigette of Germany.
Donations may be made to the Caron Foundation, Development Office, Galen Hall Road, Box 150, Wernersville, Pennsylvania 19565.
