OBITUARIES

From the July 26 edition

Alan Gaskill Gary
   BORDENTOWN — Alan Gaskill Gary, 85, who championed historic home restoration and historic urban renewal efforts in the late 1960s through the early 1980s in Bordentown, died Saturday after a brief illness.
   His work in Bordentown from 1969 through 1983, helped spur a chain reaction of historic preservation long before it was popular. His family company, The Gary Corporation, began with his brother Frank Gary and restored over 20 homes dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. His work and efforts had been featured in newspapers and on NJ Public Television.
   Before pursuing historic home restoration, Mr. Gary served as a U.S. Navy officer during World War II. He later worked as an air cargo consultant for TWA in New York, N.Y. and as an air terminal manager for the Military Airlift Command at McGuire AFB.
   His varied community service included the Bossert Civic Association, the Bordentown Historical Society, the Bordentown Chamber of Commerce and the Bordentown Township Study Commission. He was also active in the American Legion Bordentown Post 26 and the Bordentown Elks Lodge and served as a chairman of the Bordentown Boy Scouts as well as a trustee of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
   Son of the former and late Chesterfield Township Mayor Frank L. Gary Jr. and Ruth Gaskill Gary, he is survived by his former wife, Lorraine Gary; daughter and son-in-law Susan and Glenn James; son and daughter-in-law Robert and Judith Gary; and son and partner Jonathan Gary and Wayne Geiselman; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
   Services will be held 10 a.m. Today, Thursday, at the Peppler Funeral Home in Bordentown. Interment will follow in North Crosswicks Cemetery, Hamilton Township. Friends may call Thursday at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until time of service.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the Samaritan Hospice at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly, NJ, (800) 229-8183.
Virginia A. Maisto
   HAMILTON — Virginia A. Maisto, 82, died Friday in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton with her family by her side.
   Born in Trenton she was a lifelong area resident. Ms. Maisto was previously employed by Alexander’s Twin Pharmacy. She was a member of St. Raphael/Holy Angels Parish, the Golden Nugget Senior Citizens of Hamilton and the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post No. 3525. She enjoyed playing cards and the slot machines in Atlantic City, being with her granddaughter, Amanda and going places with her niece.
   She was predeceased by her parents, Giuseppe Nuva and Giovanina Cacciapuoti Nuva; her husband, Lester J. Maisto Sr.; brother, Antonio Nuva; and sister, Anne DaBronzo. She is also survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Lester J. Jr. and Donna Maisto of Hamilton and Rick and Debi Maisto of Scotrun, Pa.; her granddaughter, Amanda J. Maisto; sisters, Angelina Pingitore of Hamilton, Mary Povio of Columbus, Josephine Ferrence of Tampa, Fla. and Sister Mary Regis of Denver, Colo.; sister-in-law, Margie Nuva of Yardley, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews.
   The funeral was held from Gruerio Funeral Home, Trenton. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at Holy Angels Roman Catholic Church, Hamilton.
   Interment was in Princeton Memorial Park Cemetery, Washington Township.
Frank J. Barth
   BORDENTOWN — Frank J. Barth, 70, died suddenly July 19 at home.
   Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa., Mr. Barth had been a longtime Bordentown area resident. He was a graduate of LaSalle University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in accounting. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served during the Korean Conflict.
   He was a retired hearings officer with 35 years of service at the State of New Jersey, Division of Taxation. He also retired from Jay Roberts Realtor in Hamilton Square. Mr. Barth enjoyed spending time at the Jersey shore in Wildwood, going to the movies and his poker club. He also loved spending time with his family, friends and cat.
   Son of the late Frank and Philomena Plewinski Barth, he is survived by his wife, Evangelina Barth; his son and daughter-in-law, Frank J. and Patricia L. Barth; his daughter and son-in-law, Lynn Marie and Andrew J. Kondor; his mother-in-law, Celinda Valle; a step-son, Francisco Gonzalez and his wife Sandra L.; his brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Flossie Barth; a sister-in-law, Elba Ortega; a brother-in-law, Paul Valle; his grandchildren, Joseph F. Barth, Brighton G. Kondor, and Kyra, Nicholas and Christopher Gonzalez; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many friends.
   The funeral was held from the Saul Colonial Home, Hamilton Square. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Bordentown. Interment was in Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown.
   Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans, 911 Arena Dr., Trenton, NJ 08610 or Animals in Distress, 102 Winding Way, Hamilton, NJ 08620.
Paul D. Bertles
   WEST WINDSOR — Paul D. Bertles, age 77, died July 18 at his residence, surrounded by his family after battling lung cancer.
   Born in Trenton and a lifelong area resident, Mr. Bertles was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War serving on the USS Everglades AD24. As a Pipefitter Class A he earned the Navy occupation service medal and national defense service ribbon.
   Mr. Bertles retired from Mobil Research and Developement in Pennington as a technician. He previously worked for Hydro Carbon Research, RCA Astro during the development of the Space Program and also at McGraw Hill. He was the youngest member at age 15 of the Mercerville Rod & Gun Club when it was formed in 1945. Mr. Bertles was a member of the West Windsor Senior Citzens Club and the Hightstown VFW. He was also the owner of Bertles Antiques in Robbinsville.
   Son of the late Charles D. Jr. and Gertrude Strouse Bertles, and grandfather of the late Denise Lynn Bertles, he is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ramona Mull Berties; a son Timothy Bertles of West Windsor; two sisters, Estelle (Leon) Herman of Chesterfield, and Carol (Robert) Hullfish of Lawrenceville; a sister-in-law, Joan (John) Lup of Bordentown; three grandchildren, Kelly M. Bertles of Hamilton Township and Kevin T. and David J. Bertles with whom he resided; nine nieces and nephews and their spouses.
   Private cremation was held under the direction of the Hartmann Memorial Home. A graveside service was conducted by Mr. Bertles’ nephew, Professor Jack Lup, in the Princeton Memorial Park Cemetery, Robbinsville.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the USS New Jersey Battleship restoration fund, 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103 or the Hospice of Princeton, 25 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ 08540-9914.
Mildred L. Rossell
   FLORENCE — Mildred L. Rossell, 88, died July 18 at Buttonwood Hospital in New Lisbon.
   Born in Griggsville, Ill., she lived in Florence for almost 50 years. She was a graduate of Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Ind. and a graduate of Taylor University with a degree in music. She taught music in private Christian schools in Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina and New Jersey. Ms. Rossell also taught music at a mission school for Navajo Indians in Farmington, N.M.
   She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Florence where she was a former choir director and pianist. She also played the piano for residents at the Samuel Miller Christian Retirement Center in Mount Holly while she resided there.
   Daughter of the late Rev. George and Laura Cobb Burdon and wife of the late Charles H. Rossell, she is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Sarah Elizabeth and George Chrismer of South Hadley, Mass. and their children Amanda and Hugh, and a niece, Laura (Whit) Edmonds. She is also survived by a niece, Blanche Gilbert of Eastampton, several other nieces and nephews on the Rossell side of the family and many friends.
   Funeral services were held at the Dennison Funeral Home in Florence and interment was in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Florence.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, 500 West Front Street, Florence, NJ 08518.
Philomena Smeraldi
   WHITING — Philomena Smeraldi, 79, died July 18 in Southern Ocean County Hospital, Manahawkin.
   Born in Trenton she was a Whiting resident for 14 years. Ms. Smeraldi was employed by the State of New Jersey, Division of Motor Vehicles and was a volunteer for Deborah Heart and Lung Center.
   She was predeceased by her parents, Antonio Daddio and Mary Fraucella Daddio; husband, Thomas R. Smeraldi Sr.; and brothers Frank and John Daddio. She is survived by two sons and their spouses, Thomas Jr. and Janet Smeraldi of Freehold and Ralph and Deborah Smeraldi of Roebling; brother and sister-in-law Pat and Roseann Daddio of Trenton; granddaughter Lisa Smeraldi; special friend, John Carr; and several nieces and nephews.
   The funeral was held from Gruerio Funeral Home, Trenton. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Anthony’s Church, Hamilton.
   Interment was in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Hamilton.