OBITUARIES, Dec. 29, 2006

Brigitte O. Sinding, Lawrence L. Dupraz, John M. Steeber, Lucienne Marchand, Frank Katona, Joan Singer

Brigitte O. Sinding

Gallup Poll director, active volunteer
   
MONTGOMERY — Brigitte Ostermann Sinding died Wednesday at Stonebridge at Montgomery. She was 91.
   Born in Berlin, Germany, she learned English as an au pair in England before immigrating to the United States in 1936.
   Following her marriage to Steven Sinding in New York in 1939, she lived in northern New Jersey and Massachusetts before moving to Pennington in 1953. She later lived in West Windsor for 10 years and Princeton for nearly 30 years before moving to Stonebridge in 2003.
   She was employed for many years by the Gallup Organization, serving as field director of the Gallup Poll. She later retired from Opinion Research Corp.
   Known to her friends as Gitti, she was deeply involved in volunteer work. She was a familiar figure on Monday mornings at the information desk of the University Medical Center at Princeton, and a fixture on Tuesdays at Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.
   She helped form the Caring and Sharing Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, and was active for many years in its Women’s Alliance.
   She loved classical music and attended concerts regularly at Richardson Auditorium and other area venues. She was an avid bridge player, enthusiastic traveler and ardent supporter of progressive causes.
   Predeceased by her husband and her sister, Gabrielle, she is survived by sons and daughters-in-law Steve and Monica of Manchester, Vt., and Rick and Arlene of Princeton; granddaughters Kate and her husband, Dave Pollak, of New York City and Jenny and her husband, James Bradbury, of Washington, D.C.; sister Annemarie Maass of Flushing, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.
   A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, Cherry Hill Road, Princeton.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Princeton Hospice, 208 Bunn Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540, or Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, New Jersey Unit, 69 Mapleton Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Lawrence L. Dupraz


Daily Princetonian production manager
   
Lawrence L. Dupraz of Princeton died Sunday in Massachusetts. He was 87.
   Born in Princeton, he was a lifelong Princeton resident.
   He was the longtime production manager at The Daily Princetonian, the Princeton University student newspaper, and an active Princeton volunteer, including more than a half-century at Princeton Engine Company No. 3.
   Mr. Dupraz attended Princeton High School, The Hun School of Princeton and Rutgers University before enlisting in the Army Air Corp.
   He was a lieutenant in the 100th Bomb Group, 351st Squadron, during World War II.
   After completing his military service, he pursued his interest in newspaper production and eventually became the production manager of The Daily Princetonian, an affiliation that spanned six decades prior to his retirement and is chronicled in "The Making of Princeton University." He is an honorary member of Princeton University classes of 1971 and 2000.
   Mr. Dupraz was something of a legend at The Daily Princetonian, bringing down to earth any know-it-all student with thoughts of Ivy League superiority.
   "He was one guy who would never put up with our BS," said Richard K. Rein a former Daily Princetonian staff member and now editor and publisher of U.S. 1, where Mr. Dupraz has an honorary place as production adviser in the list of staff. "He would not let us stand on our laurels," Mr. Rein said, adding that many of his charges developed a respect for Mr. Dupraz that continued years past graduation. He also lauded Mr. Dupraz for a remarkable ability to adapt to new technology from his beginnings as a hot-type Linotype operator.
   Mr. Dupraz was a passionate volunteer. He was an advisor to the Princeton Historical Society’s "Recollector," a periodical of Princeton history, a member of the Republican Committee of Princeton and served on various town government committees.
   For over 50 years he was a member of Mercer Engine Company No. 3 serving as company chief and also fire chief of the Princeton Fire Department. He was also vice president of the New Jersey Fire Fighters Relief Association.
   "He was a dedicated fireman," said Ray Wadsworth, a trustee of Mercer Engine Company No. 3, as was Mr. Dupraz. He said Mr. Dupraz went well beyond the call of duty and was a mainstay at the firehouse, making sure the facility was in good order. He continued to drive a fire truck into his 80s.
   Son of the late Laurent and Augusta Lombard Dupraz, brother of the late Louise D. King and Jeanne D. Krug, he is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nora Enright Dupraz of Princeton; daughter and son-in-law Claudia S. and John W. Greely of Rockport, Mass. and Bethel, Maine; grandsons Sean M. Greely of Chevy Chase, Md., Matthew L. Greely of Providence, R.I., Andrew J. Greely of Northport, Fla., and Timothy G. Greely of Rockport, Mass.; several nieces and nephews including Carl and Judy Dempster Krug of Trenton and Carolyn Hofmeister of South Barrington, Ill.; and close dear friends William Karch and Mr. Wadsworth, both of Princeton, and Robert Mooney of Montgomery.
   The funeral will be 10 a.m. today at Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Ave., Princeton, followed by a 11 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 214 Nassau St., Princeton.
   Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Princeton.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Health Care Ministry of Princeton, P.O. Box 1517, Princeton, NJ 08542.
John M. Steeber

Daughter lives in West Windsor
   
MONROE — John M. "Poppy John" Steeber died Sunday at Cranbury Center. He was 97.
   Born in Jerome, Pa., he lived in Shickshinny, Pa., for many years. In his 30s he moved to Levittown, Pa., where he lived for 30 years. In 1991, he moved to West Windsor to live with his daughter and her family.
   Mr. Steeber retired as a foreman in 1974 from Rohm and Haas in Bristol, Pa., after many years of employment.
   He was honorably discharged as an Army sergeant 1st class after serving in World War II, including the Normandy invasion.
   He was a member of VFW Post 6495 and Saint David The King Catholic Church in West Windsor.
   He was a volunteer with the West Windsor Little League and was awarded the "Volunteer of the Year" award in 2001.
   He enjoyed watching his grandsons play football and lacrosse, trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas, and activities at the West Windsor Senior Center.
   Predeceased by his wife, Irene Puchalski Steeber, who died in 1998, and his five brothers, he is survived by daughter and son-in-law Carolyn and Andy Lupo, with whom he resided, and grandsons Jonathan and Ryan Lupo.
   A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30 a.m. today at Saint David the King Catholic Church.
   Burial will be at Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Mocanaqua, Pa.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the Social Concerns Committee at Saint David the King Church, 1 New Village Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550.
   Arrangements are by A.S. Cole Funeral Home, Cranbury.
Lucienne Marchand


Son lives in Princeton
   
EWING — Lucienne Marchand died Thursday at Greenwood House. She was 98.
   Born Olga Lucienne Espir in Paris, Mrs. Marchand spent the last 66 years living in New York.
   Wife of the late Max Marchand, she is survived by sons and daughters-in-law Lucien S. and Phyllis Marchand of Princeton and Daniel and Brenda Marchand of Norwood, Mass.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 or The University Medical Center at Princeton, 253 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08540.
   Arrangements are by Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
Frank Katona

Lifelong Plainsboro farmer
   
PLAINSBORO — Frank Katona died Saturday at home. He was 81.
   Born in Plainsboro, he was a lifelong resident of the township.
   Mr. Katona was a wheat and potato farmer all his life, working his land in Cranbury and Plainsboro.
   In the 1970s he was a Plainsboro Rescue Squad volunteer and trustee.
   Husband of the late Ruth Ziegler Katona, who died in 1974, he is survived by his daughter, Doreen K. Apple; son and daughter-in-law Frank Jr. and Janice Katona; and granddaughter Lauren R. Apple.
   The funeral will be 2 p.m. today at the A.S. Cole Funeral Home, 22 North Main St., Cranbury.
   Interment will follow in Brainerd Cemetery, Cranbury.
   Calling hours are 12:30 to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Joan Singer

Legal secretary
   
WEST WINDSOR — Joan Singer died Saturday. She was 61.
   Born in Philadelphia, she was raised in West Windsor and graduated from Princeton High School.
   She retired in 2005 as a legal secretary after more than 40 years combined service for RCA, GE and Thomson Licensing.
   Known as a compassionate caregiver for people and animals, she was involved in many church activities.
   Daughter of the late A.J. and Alda Hoffman, wife of the late Robert Singer and sister of the late Lloyd Hoffman, she is survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law Charles Hoffman and JoAnn Russell of Florida, and Ronald Hoffman and Jane Arrington of Hopewell; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; and special friend Harold Coyne.
   The funeral service will be 11 a.m. today at the Saul Colonial Home, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton.
   Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to APAW, P.O. Box 162, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550.