Justin Lawrence Kodner passed away peacefully on November 24, 2023, in Boynton Beach, FL.
A long-time resident of Grover’s Mill, NJ, he grew up in The Bronx and spent his childhood summers at his family’s hotel in the Catskills. He was a waiter, taught swimming and led walks to the ice caves and to pick huckleberries.
Justin was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in the Signal Corps. He was enroute to Korea when the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed.
In 1956 Justin married the love of his life, Carol. They quickly started a family. He was an attentive and loving father. Justin supported his community coaching Little League, volunteering at election polls, hosting and advocating for AFS exchange students who came to the area, and ushering at McCarter Theatre. He and Carol were founding members of the Princeton Folk Music Society.
He was on the team at Bell Labs that designed and built the first computerized telephone system, and he designed the SWIFT Translator System, which transformed international bank-to-bank transfers and is still in use today.
Justin and Carol were active in Shore Citizens, an advocacy organization that was a leader in the fight to enact the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibited discrimination.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Barb; children Dave (Dawn), Mick, Ruth (Luke), Judi (Mike); three grandchildren Kelly, Kyle, Seth and exchange students Hanne and Cesare (whom he also thought of as family).
Justin and Carol generously supported their community, donating to all sorts of charities. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Homefront NJ, the Princeton Folk Music Society, McCarter Theater, the Alzheimer’s Association, or your favorite charity.