James J. Hughes Jr., Jerry Offredo, John R. Wilmot, Mary J. Jones, Joseph R. Burns.
James J. Hughes Jr.
Headed state authority
MONTGOMERY James J. Hughes Jr. died Monday at The Medical Center at Princeton after a brief illness. He was 73.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., he was a longtime area resident.
He was executive director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and earlier an executive with a number of major investment banking firms in New York.
In 1990, he received the Governor’s Award, the highest honor bestowed by the state government, for his efforts toward economic improvement in the state.
He received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
A retired major in the Marine Corps Reserve, he received a Purple Heart during the Korean War.
Mr. Hughes worked more than 25 years as a senior executive with several Wall Street investment banking firms before entering government service.
While head of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, it became the largest and most diversified state-related financing entity in the United States.
A chartered financial analyst, he was a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research and the New York Society of Security Analysts. He is a former member of the Bond Club of New York and Bond Club of Philadelphia.
He served as president of the Corporation of Business Assistance in New Jersey and was a former board member of the Development Authority for Small Business, Minorities and Women’s Enterprises.
He was a founder and first president of the National Council of Development Finance Agencies. In appreciation for his contributions, the council established the James J. Hughes Jr. Award to recognize members for meritorious service.
He received the New Jersey Alliance for Action Eagle Award, given to a public official for making a significant contribution to New Jersey’s economic growth.
He served as president of the Bedens Brook Club, was a former chairman of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, a former trustee of the Old Barracks Association, an honorary trustee of McCarter Theatre, a board member at Family and Children’s Service of Central New Jersey and a faculty mentor at Thomas Edison State College.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Peggy Hughes, daughters Margaret Bender of Deerfield, Ill., Susan Van Selous of Hopewell, Mary Beth Tevebaugh of Louisville, Ky. and Kathryn Redmond of Princeton; son James J. Hughes III of Naples, Fla.; and 11 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Stuart Road, Princeton Township.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cor Unum Capital Campaign of the Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Stuart Road, Princeton, NJ 08540 or Family and Children’s Service of Central New Jersey, 120 John St., Princeton, NJ 08542.
Jerry Offredo
Retired township police officer
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP Jerry Offredo of Robbinsville died Friday at The Medical Center at Princeton. He was 61.
Born in Trenton, he worked for the Princeton Township Police Department for 26 years. He retired as a police sergeant in May 1993.
He served in the Army as a military police officer.
He was a member of PBA Local 130, Friends of Gettysburg and St. Gregory’s Church. He was a Civil War buff and also enjoyed fishing and bowling.
Son the late Jerry and Doris Offredo, he is survived by his wife, Carol Offredo; sons and daughters-in-law Jeffrey and Lisa and Keith and Barbara, both of Hamilton; stepsons and daughter-in-law Michael and Dawn Cifelli and Robert Cifelli, both of Hamilton; daughter and son-in-law Christine and Wayne Drager of Hamilton; sister and brother-in-law Nancy and David Morris of Rockwell, N.C.; and grandchildren Nicholas, Samantha and Joseph Offredo, Constance Cifelli and Christopher and Alaina Drager.
The funeral will be 9:45 a.m. today at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. at the Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St., Princeton.
Contributions may be made to The Friends of Gettysburg, 304B York St., Gettysburg, PA 17235.
John R. Wilmot
Transportation consultant
John Ryman Wilmot of Princeton died Saturday at Forrestal Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Plainsboro after a long illness. He was 85.
He was a consultant specializing in the economic aspects of transportation.
Born in Birmingham, Mich. and raised in Asheville, N.C., he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in civil engineering. He served in the Army from 1941-1946 in North Africa, Europe and Korea.
He was employed by Coverdale and Colpitts in New York and later was a vice president at Wyer, Dick and Co. in New Jersey. He participated in the reorganization of the nation’s railroads leading to the creation of Amtrak.
He was a 43-year member of Trinity Church in Princeton.
Son of the late William and Alice Wilmot, he is survived by his wife, Nora S. Wilmot of Princeton; daughter Anne Wilmot of Floyd, Va.; and sister Janet Ball of Falls Church, Va.
Memorial contributions may be made to Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 529, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Arrangements were by The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
Mary J. Jones
Secretary at seminary
Mary Jane Jones of Princeton died Wednesday at the Princeton Nursing Home. She was 87.
Born in St. Paul, Minn., she was a resident of Princeton most of her life.
She retired in 1984 from the Princeton Theological Seminary, where she was a secretary.
Her interests included gardening and the care of animals.
Daughter of the late Everett and Mazie Alman, she is survived by daughter Vicktoria Heath Tallmadge of Princeton; son Ronald E. Tyler of Princeton; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a niece; and nephew.
The funeral was private.
Memorial contributions may be made to S.A.V.E., 900 Herrontown Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Arrangements were by The Kimble Funeral Home, Princeton.
Joseph R. Burns
Electrical engineer
EWING Joseph R. Burns of West Trenton died Wednesday at home. He was 63.
Born in Trenton, he was a lifelong area resident.
An electrical engineer, he co-founded Ocean Power Technology in Hopewell Township, which has developed a device that converts the turbulence of waves into electricity.
Mr. Burns graduated from Trenton Central High School in 1955, Princeton University in 1959 and received a master’s degree and doctorate in electrical engineering from Rutgers University.
He had worked at the David Sarnoff research center in West Windsor and was involved in several business ventures including Princeton Research Technology, Princeton Resources and Mikros Systems. He had worked closely with the U.S. Department of Defense, Navy and federal government to develop radar and communications systems for F16 fighter planes and many aircraft carriers and was a vital part of the communication system during Operation Desert Storm.
Mr. Burns taught at Trenton Junior College and La Salle University in Philadelphia. He was an All-State basketball player while at Trenton High and captain of the Princeton University basketball team during its Ivy League championship year of 1959.
Son of the late Joseph F. and Harriet Peet Burns, brother of the late William T., he is survived by his wife, JoAnne Walsh Burns; daughter Jennifer Burns of Scotch Plains; daughter and son-in-law Karen and Nick Candelori of Trenton; stepson Scott Schrenk of West Trenton; brother and sister-in-law Dennis P. and LaVerne of West Trenton; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are by M. William Murphy Funeral Home, Trenton.