F. Mary Mason, Anna Kasmarek, Fred R. Sheldon.
F. Mary Mason
Founder of school
F. Mary Mason died June 3 at Tenacre in Princeton. She was one day shy of her 91st birthday.
Born in Glens Falls, N.Y., she was a graduate of Wheelock College in Boston.
She moved to Princeton and founded Miss Mason’s School, which opened in 1935. As headmistress, Miss Mason said she developed curriculum programs "to take advantage of her students’ desire to learn in ways that the children were comfortable with, harnessing their cooperation and joy."
Begun in Rose Cottage, Miss Mason’s School moved to the Bower’s Building at Nassau and Harrison streets.
In 1946, Ms. Mason formed Miss Mason’s School Foundation, which bought the stone building at 53 Bayard Lane for the school’s new home. The building currently houses The Lewis School.
After closing the school in 1982, the foundation board of directors sold the building on Bayard Lane and donated the proceeds to the New Grange School and the school equipment to Princeton Junior School, both in Princeton. Her foundation became the Mason Early Education Foundation and continued to develop curriculum, selling the programs throughout the United States.
Miss Mason resided at Tenacre during the last years of her life.
She said of her years as a headmistress that she "loved, more than anything, having the chance to help children learn and grow."
Daughter of the late Florence Batchelor and James Orley Mason and sister of the late Orley Mason, Cora Mason and M. Elizabeth Brigham, she is survived by niece Denise Morocco of Connecticut and nephews Dr. Peter Brigham of Boston, Bruce Brigham of Seattle, and Steve Mason of Dayton, Ohio.
A memorial service was held June 9.
Arrangements were by Kimble Funeral Home in Princeton.
Anna Kasmarek
Skillman resident
MONTGOMERY Anna Kasmarek died Thursday at Morris Hall in Lawrence Township. She was 86.
Born in Great Meadows, she lived most of her life in the Skillman section of the township, where she and her husband operated a Christmas tree nursery for many years.
She was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Skillman and donated the church Christmas tree for many years.
Wife of the late John Kasmarek, she is survived by many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church.
Burial will follow at Pequest Union Cemetery, Great Meadows.
Arrangements are by Cromwell Memorial Home in Hopewell.
Fred R. Sheldon
Service planned
A celebration of the life of the late Fred R. Sheldon of Montgomery Township, who died May 21, will be held 2 p.m. Monday at the Princeton Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton Township.