By:
William A. Nester
William C. Nester, 83, of Lawrenceville, died Sunday at home surrounded by his family.
Born in Philadelphia, he resided in several states, including Washington, D.C., before making his home in Lawrenceville 41 years ago.
His lifelong career in education included teaching; director of admissions for Heidelberg College; district sales manager for Holt, Rinehart and Winston, an educational book publisher; and 23 years with the New Jersey State Department of Education. As executive director of the Higher Education Assistance Authority, he was a key player in developing the Guaranteed Student Loan Program. Mr. Nester served as president of the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs and in doing so was invited to the White House Conference on Educational Loan Programs. He served four New Jersey governors and worked with members of the state Legislature and testified before many congressional committees. He retired from the New Jersey Higher Education Authority as the assistant deputy chancellor in 1986.
As a United States naval officer, Mr. Nester served in the Pacific during World War II and saw action in New Guinea, Borneo and the Philippines.
He attended Miami University and received his bachelor’s degree from Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio, in 1941 and received his master’s degree from Ohio State University in 1951.
As a member of the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church, Mr. Nester served as an elder, was past president of the board of trustees, was a former commissioner to the Presbytery and was a past trustee of the Presbyterian Homes of NJ from 1984 through 1992.
Among his numerous civic activities, Mr. Nester was a member of the Lawrenceville Rotary Club for 25 years and served as president in 1984-85 and became district governor of Rotary District 7510 in 1994-95. He also served as assistant sergeant-at-arms at four Rotary International conventions.
He also served as a board member for Lawrence Township Dollars for Scholars for 17 years and board member for the Lawrence Township Education Foundation for 18 years. He also served on the board of PEI Kids for 16 years, and the Lawrence Township Meals-on-Wheels program, Delaware Valley United Way, board member of Mid-Jersey Bank, Past President of Phi Delta Kappa, Past President of the Torch Club of Trenton and a member of the Lawrence Bicentennial Committee.
In 1989 he was awarded the Lawrence Township Senior Citizen of the Year award and in 1996 received the Lawrence Township American Legion Post 414 Citizen of the Year award.
Son of the late Weber and Florence Bordihn Nester, and uncle of the late Renee Rollins, he is survived by his wife of 60 years, Beverly Story Nester; his children, Vickie Kraus and her husband Dennis of Cincinnati, Ohio, William C. Nester III and Mary Ann Russell of Lawrenceville, Christine Karcher and husband David of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Quentin Bruce Nester and his wife Maryann of Burlington; his grandchildren, Erin Karcher of Salt Lake City, Utah, Jason Kraus and his wife Laurie of Cincinnati, Ohio, Matthew Kraus of Manhattan, N.Y., and Alexandra, Brandon and Andrew Nester of Burlington; a great-grandson, Avery Kraus of Cincinnati, Ohio; a brother, Harry W. Nester, and his wife Mary of Berwyn, Pa; his sisters, Jeanne N. Rollins of Ocean City, and Judy Jackson and her husband Richard of Grafton, Wis.; his nieces and nephews, Scott Rollins and his wife Andrea of Berlin, N.J.; Frank Nester and his wife Jennifer Nester of Easton, Pa.; and Kristin Scott and Trevor Jackson of Grafton, Wis.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church, 2688 Main St., Lawrenceville, with the Rev. Jeffrey Vamos, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the Lawrenceville Cemetery.
Friends may call today from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Poulson and Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrence.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201-3698 or to the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 2688 Main St., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
Carol A. Welsh
Carol A. Welsh, 69, of Lawrenceville, died July 13 at Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center at Hamilton.
Born in Brooklyn, she had formerly resided in Morrisville, Pa., and Flemington.
Mrs. Welsh was a retired supervisor from the New Jersey Psychiatric Hospital in Trenton.
She was a member of the Church of St. Ann in Lawrenceville.
Daughter of the late John and Gizela Zakrzewski Kohm and sister of the late John Kohm, she is survived by three daughters and one son-in-law, Donna and Robert Pickett, Debra A. Kantorski and Denise Welsh; and six grandchildren, Sabrina Welsh, Vicki, Robert and Michael Pickett and Matthew and Jenna Kantorski. Also surviving are a sister, Sandra Fitzgerald, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday in the Church of St. Ann, Lawrence. Burial was private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3076 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
Arrangements were under the direction of Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, Lawrence.
Joseph B. Zicha
Joseph Bernard Zicha, 79, of Lawrenceville, and a former longtime Princeton resident and engineer, died Sunday at Capital Health System Fuld Campus, Trenton.
Born in Prague, Mr. Zicha was a resident of Princeton for 30 years before moving to Lawrenceville a short while ago. He was a veteran of the Czech army and then the Russian army. He was schooled in Prague and attended college in Prague for engineering.
He was employed locally as an engineer, and his work also took him out of town.
He enjoyed flying radio-controlled model airplanes, was an accomplished water colorist, played the violin, and traveled the country with his wife.
The son of the late Joseph and Hedvika Zicha, he is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Margaret Kautzky Zicha, of Lawrenceville; one son, Joseph, of Hawaii; one brother and sister-in-law, Mirek and Otta, of Prague; one sister and brother-in-law, Jindra and Ondra Pavelova, of Slovakia; one nephew, Peter; and one niece, Hedvika.
Services were held privately at the Greenwood Mausoleum. Chapel cremation at Mr. Zicha’s request immediately followed.
Arrangements were under the direction of Chiacchio Southview Funeral Home, Trenton.
Mary Y. Feldman
LITTLE EGG HARBOR Mary Y. Feldman, 86, died July 10 at Arcadia Nursing and Rehabilitation, Little Egg Harbor.
Born in Plainsboro, she lived in Lawrenceville before moving to Little Egg Harbor 32 years ago.
She was a communicant of St. Theresa Church, Little Egg Harbor.
She is survived by her husband, Irving; son Irving, of Little Egg Harbor; daughters Judith A. DiDonato and Mary E. McGreevy, both of Lawrenceville; and grandchildren Drew A. DiDonato, Dawn L. DiDonato, and Danielle M. Duva. She is also survived by one niece, three nephews, and several great-nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Friday at St. Theresa Church, Little Egg Harbor.
Interment was in the New Jersey Veteran Cemetery, Arneytown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Arcadia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Resident Fund, 151 Ninth Ave., Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087.
Arrangements were under the direction of Maxwell Funeral Home, 160 Mathistown Road, Little Egg Harbor.
Margaret E. (Dolly) Combs
Margaret E. (Dolly) Combs, 88, died Saturday at Alterra Clarebridge of Hamilton.
Born in Trenton, she was a lifelong area resident.
Mrs. Combs was a retired custodian with the City of Trenton Public Works Department with 27 years of service.
She was a former member of St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church and the Mount Carmel Guild.
Daughter of the late William and Mary Beesburg Cook and wife of the late Russell Combs, she is survived by her son, Charles Combs, and his wife, Joan; four sisters, Agnes Sutterly and her husband, Joseph , Mary Kent, Jean Miller, and Nancy Apgar and her husband, Walter; two brothers, Robert Cook and his wife, Harriet, and Louis Cook. Also surviving are two grandsons, Russell Combs and his wife, Michelle, and Michael Combs and his wife, Susannah; and three great-grandchildren, Charles Patrick Combs, Pierce Quincy Combs and Charlotte Veronica Combs.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today at 11:30 a.m. in the Church of St. Ann, 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrence. Burial will be in the Ewing Cemetery.
Friends may call today from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, Lawrence.
Brian E. Trainor
BROWNS MILLS Brian E. Trainor, 55, of Browns Mills, died July 8 at Simi Valley Hospital in California.
Born and raised in Trenton, Mr. Trainor resided in Browns Mills for most of his life. He was a jazz pianist, composer and internationally acclaimed artist who played and recorded with a "who’s who" of jazz artists. In addition to several award-winning CDs, he wrote numerous articles on jazz, lectured in universities in the United States, Spain, Portugal, France and England, and reviewed records for leading jazz publications. He was a solid fixture at the Cape May, Somers Point and Rehoboth Beach jazz festivals.
He was not only in the forefront with his performing and teaching, but he was also behind the scenes in recording studios producing his own material, and that of various artists from different genres.
He also mentored and encouraged young artists. He stated, "I stand on the shoulders of giants, so I continue to practice. It is the least I can do."
He was a graduate of Ewing High School, Class of 1968, and was a member of Al-An Club.
The son of the late Eleanora M. Trainor, he is survived by his wife, Melody L. Ying Trainor, of Browns Mills; one daughter, Stefanie R. Trainor, of Browns Mills; one son and daughter-in-law, Brian F. and Denise Trainor, of Sicklerville; his father, Francis J. Trainor and his wife, Delores, of Lawrenceville; one brother and sister-in-law, Francis J. and Elizabeth Trainor; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Maureen R. and Mark J. Nestor and Maureen and Michael Adams; four grandchildren, Melody Briana Diaz, Ana Marie Therese Diaz, Jessica Lynn Trainor and Matthew Brian Trainor; two aunts, Kathleen A. Trainor and Ann Steffen; several nieces; and one nephew.
Funeral services were held Friday at the M. William Murphy Funeral Home in Ewing.
Donations in his memory may be made to Al-An Club, PO Box 4567, Trenton, NJ 08611.
Edward D. Davis
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP Edward D. Davis, 87, of Robbinsville, died July 10 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton
Born in Fall River, Mass., Mr. Davis had been a Trenton area resident for over 57 years and a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church, where he was an usher and served on the board of trustees. He was also a member of the former Greenwood Avenue United Methodist Church and graduated B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River, Mass.
Mr. Davis was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in World War II in the European and Southwest Pacific theaters.
He retired as a supervisor from the Fire Control and Instrument Shop, and an equipment specialist, Communication and Electronics for Readiness Group Dix, both in Fort Dix.
He was a member of the Jersey Valley Model Railroad Club and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Chapter 127. He was a former member of the Hamilton Kiwanis Club.
Son of the late Sherman and Doris Davis and brother of the late Roscoe and Harold Davis, Lottie Hoskins and Muriel Parent, he is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy E. Davis; two daughters, Mary Ann (Polly) Stetler and her husband Stephen, of York, Pa., and Jane E. Davis, of Lawrenceville; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas S. and Leslie A. Davis, of Valley Forge, Pa.; five grandchildren, Graham Stetler, of Boston, Mass., Catherine Stetler, of Harrisburg, Pa., Scott Davis, of West Chester, Pa., Abigail and Adam Davis, of Valley Forge, Pa.; six sisters, Lucy Hollifield, of McIntyre, Ga., Rita Tharrett, of Swansea, Mass., Elsie Reed, of North Dartmouth, Mass., Lillian Van Martin, of Lantana, Fla., Barbara Kiem, of Warwick, R.I., and Beverly Raposa, of Fall River, Mass.; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held Friday from St. Mark United Methodist Church, Hamilton Square.
Interment followed in Princeton Memorial Park, Robbinsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund, 465 Paxson Ave., Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 or the Francis Asbury Manor, The Methodist Home, 70 Stockton Ave., Ocean Grove, NJ 07756.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Saul Colonial Home, Hamilton Square.
Helen M. Furman
HAMILTON Helen M. Furman, 83, of Mercerville, died July 10 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton.
Born in Trenton, Mrs. Furman was raised in Washington Crossing, N.J., and had been a resident of Hamilton for 60 years.
She was a graduate of Pennington High School and a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church in Mercerville.
She had a great love for her family and friends, a passion for nature and celebrated each day to the fullest.
Predeceased by her husband, Harman W. Furman, her son, Richard A. Furman and her brother, Stephen Wolfsgruber, she is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Ron Nusse, of Lawrenceville; two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas W. and Linda Furman, of Richmond, Va., and Gary J. and Barbara Furman, of Manahawkin; 11 grandchildren, Michelle Shelderfer and her husband Chris, Christina Olaff and her husband Dennis, Jennifer Ullberg and her husband Scott, Tracy, Stacy and Amy Furman, Gary J. Furman Jr. and his wife Jennifer, Dana Furman, Thomas H. Furman, Ronnie Nusse, Jason Nusse and his wife Sandra; three great-grandchildren, Hannah, Jayden and Ryan; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Friday from Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Mercerville. Interment followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hamilton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3076 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
Arrangements were under the direction of Saul Colonial Home, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square.