Voters continue to lose confidence in government. Fed up with government processes and decision makers and overwhelmed by the breakdown of society, the public feels helpless to tackle the problems that face their communities and lives. Is democracy in the sickbed?
If you are tired of "business as usual" in Washington, consider joining the League of Women Voters now. The League is mounting a campaign to revive and renew democracy.
LWVUS President Becky Cain asks, "Is there another organization in this country better equipped or able to offer citizens the basic understanding of citizen rights and responsibilities, . . . to return civility back to the public debate? Or is this a challenge unique to the League of Women Voters?"
Membership open to women and men of voting age.
Princeton Area League welcomes members from
- Princeton
- Montgomery
- Rocky Hill
- West Windsor
- Plainsboro
- South Brunswick
- Kendall Park
To join the League, or if you would like more information about the League before you join,
go to the Membership Form
Membership Notes
Recent Books by Princeton Area League Members:
June 2009
Lucy Mackenzie
Lucy Mackenzie, 82, of Princeton died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, in the Princeton Care Center, Princeton. Born in New Rochelle, NY, Ms. Mackenzie was a resident of Princeton for over 39 years. She retired in 1993 with over 27 years of service as a lobbyist with the New Jersey Association of School Boards. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in romance languages from the University of Michigan in 1947 and received a master's degree in urban studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, in 1986.
Lucy was passionate about public service and demonstrated that passion by her service in many local and statewide organizations. Among them are the League of Women Voters, the Criminal Justice-Alcoholism Coalition of New Jersey, the Consumers League of New Jersey, the Advisory Board of the Middlesex County Migrant Health Program, the Regional Planning Board, the Regional Health Commission, and the Princeton Township Board of Adjustment. She was a candidate for the New Jersey Assembly in 1975 and served as a Princeton Borough councilwoman from 1989 to 1992. Her real love, however, was the Princeton Public Library, on whose board she served for 17 years. She even tended to the flowers around the library building.
Having grown up on the Mexican border, she had a particular passion to protect the rights of migrant workers and worked tirelessly to pass state legislation to that end. Locally, she founded the Latin-American Task Force.
Daughter of the late Douglas and Jessie Wood Fraser, she is survived by a son, Douglas Mackenzie of Florida; her former husband, Dr. James Mackenzie of Princeton, and good friends, Marian Bakoulis, Kay McGrath and Rosemary O'Brien.
A memorial service was held on Monday, June 29, 2009. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Princeton Public Library or to a charity of the donor's choice.
January 2009
Bettie C. Schrader
Bettie C. Schrader, 92, longtime resident of Princeton, died on January 4, 2009 in Philadelphia. She grew up in Columbus, OH and received her undergraduate degree from Ohio State University in 1938 as well as a Masters in Political Science in 1940. In 1940 she married W. Benton Schrader; they moved to Princeton in 1949 where he was a psychologist with Education Testing Service. She received a Master of Social Work Degree from Rutgers University in 1959. She was employed by the Childrens Home Society of Trenton for several years. She was active in Democratic politics and the Princeton League of Women Voters.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1994. Survived by her daughter and son-in-law Bonnie and Gene Laumer of Philadelphia, a grandson Eric Laumer and a granddaughter Rebecca Maki, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Services and interment were private. Contributions may be made to the Peace Action Education Fund, 40 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ 08542. Koller Funeral Home, 6835 Ridge Ave. Phila.PA 19128.
December 2008
Barbara Schwarzschild
Barbara Cherry Schwarzschild, 94, of Pennswood Village, Newtown, Pa., formerly of Princeton, died December 22 at home. She was the widow of Martin Schwarzschild, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Princeton University.
Born in Boston, the daughter of Martin and Evelyn Cherry, she graduated from Radcliffe College where she majored in astronomy. She was employed for brief periods at the Hayden Planetarium and Harvard College Observatory, where she met her future husband.
She was a member of the Radiation Laboratory at M.I.T. from 1942 to 1945 before marrying Mr. Schwarzschild in 1945 after his return from World War II. The couple lived in New York City for two years while Mr. Schwarzschild was at Columbia University, then moved to Princeton in 1947 when he was appointed Professor of Astronomy at Princeton University. Mrs. Schwarzschild worked with him on several astronomy research papers.
She took an active part in the Princeton League of Women Voters, serving as its president.
The Schwarzschilds made numerous car trips to the west coast as a result of Prof. Schwarzschild’s appointments observing at Mt. Wilson Observatory in Pasadena, Calif. They enjoyed travel, the desert, and nature, and developed a strong interest in birds, taking photographs of them in many parts of the world. Mrs. Schwarzschild lectured on birds to school children, and wrote and published a bird book, Guppy Grebe.
She is survived by the children of her husband’s sister, Alison and Bernard Thornton, and many friends.
October 2008
Geraldine Boone
Geraldine Livingston Babcock Boone, 86, of Princeton, died October 8 at home. The cause was leukemia. She was the widow of the late Rowan Boone.
She graduated from The Brearley School in New York City and Bennington College. She attended the University of Pennsylvania for graduate school in social work.
Born in New York City, she made her home in Princeton where she committed her life to civil rights, social justice, and humanitarian concerns. She helped organize the Princeton Association for Human Rights, The Youth Employment Service, The Princeton Study Center, and The Child Placement Review Board for abused and neglected children. She was also active with the Juvenile Conference Center during the 1960s and ‘70s.
She received the Winifred Latimer Norman Award from the Unitarian Universalist New York Metropolitan District and the Frances Riker Davis Alumnae Award from the Brearley School. She also received outstanding service awards from the Princeton Area Council of Community Services and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
She is survived by her children, John Boone of Brooklyn, N.Y., Louise Hanson of Chevy Chase, Md., Serena Constantinides of Potomac, Md., Doug Boone of Providence, R.I., and Roger Boone of San Francisco; a sister, Betsy Moulton of Naples, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at the Unitarian Church in Princeton on Saturday, November 29.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to The Mercer Street Friends in Trenton www.mercerstreetfriends.org.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.
September 2008
Fannie E. Floyd
Fannie E. Floyd, 84, of Princeton, died September 3 at the University Medical Center at Princeton after a short illness. The daughter of the late George and Daisy Reeves, she was the wife of James Floyd Sr., former committeeman and Mayor of Princeton Township.
Born in Princeton, Mrs. Floyd attended the Witherspoon Street School for the Colored and Princeton High School. She went on to Virginia State University and graduated in 1945 with a degree in English. After her return to Princeton, she was employed by the Educational Testing Service for more than 20 years, working in the Test Production/Development Department as a proofreader.
Like her husband, she was involved in many Princeton area civic, social, charitable, and religious organizations for more than 50 years. Once stating that “I do things because I see a need,” she was initially involved in open housing and equal education issues. She served as a Princeton YWCA board member, Planned Parenthood board member, Cub Scout den mother, Churchwomen United member, and Community House Surrogate Parent participant. Her most recent involvements included the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, McCarter Theatre Associates Board, Princeton Nursery School, Princeton Community Democratic Organization, and the Witherspoon/Jackson Neighborhood Association.
She was also a dedicated member of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, serving as elder and deacon, and on many committees over the years.
In June 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd were honored for their lifelong commitment to the local community by the funding by Princeton philanthropist William H. and Judy Scheide of an endowment in the Floyds’ name to help the University Medical Center at Princeton to provide healthcare to the uninsured and underinsured.
Mrs. Floyd is survived by her husband of 62 years, James Floyd Sr.; two sons, James Jr. and Michael of Princeton; a sister, Catherine Reeves of Princeton; and a granddaughter.
A graveside service was held September 10 at Princeton Cemetery. A memorial service was held on Sunday, September 21 at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Fannie E. Floyd Charitable Fund, c/o Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, 112 Witherspoon Street, Princeton 08542.
May 2006
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
We would like to extend a warm welcome to two new board members
Beverly Kestenis (Membership)
was born in New York State and educated at SUNY Oswego. For thirty-two years she taught in public schools, the last years as a high school English teacher. Attracted to Princeton by the University and the many cultural activities, she retired here eleven years ago. Since then, she has been a volunteer at McCarter Theatre Center, the YWCA, the Princeton Historical society and the local branch of AAUW. If she has free time, she likes to curl up with a good book, which can be anything from a best seller to history or the classics.
Linda Mills Sipprelle (Program)
has led an amazingly eventful life. Born in Bucharest, where her father was posted as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, she attended schools in Latin America, returned to the U.S. for high school at the Sanford School in Delaware, spent a year traveling in India before getting a B.A. at University of Redlands and a Teaching Fellowship at UCLA and marrying Dudley Sipprelle, another Foreign Service Officer. There followed four sons, posts in Latin America, Europe and Turkey, teaching in international schools abroad, and finally joining the U.S. Foreign Service herself, with subsequent posts to Rome, Mexico City and Vienna before she and Dudley retired to Princeton during the summer of 2005. Not to mention U.S. track and road-running records, gold, silver and bronze medals at world championships, and the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Sanford School. Here in Princeton, Linda is not only active in the LWV but currently tutors foreign students in English as a member of the Friends of the International Center at Princeton University. True to form, Linda has won her age group in the three races she has participated in since arriving in Princeton.
and to the following new members:
Elizabeth Fillo
Eva Gossman
Carole Krauthamer
Judith M. Marks
Edith Palmer
Joan S. Parry
October 2004
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Ellen Kemp (right) presents awards to 50-year League members Louise Morse (left), Marion Epstein, and Esther Dresner at Back to League meeting, September 29, 2004.
Unable to attend were other 50-year members Helen Fairbanks, Virginia Lockwood, Margaret Peel, Bettie Schrader, and Barbara Schwarzchild.
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September 2004
Rev. Carol S. Haag was born in Princeton in 1939 to a family of educators. She has lived numerous places, including Rochester, New York, and Kansas City, Missouri. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College in 1961, Carol married Carl H. Haag in 1965. They have two children: Cindy, a midwife, and Ken, a businessman. Carol has been a Unitarian Universalist minister since 1990. She has been an activist volunteer and employee in the peace movement since the 1980s. In addition, she raised 2 puppies for The Seeing Eye, is a lover of nature, birds, horses, walking, cross-country skiing, and tennis. Carol is passionately concerned about direction the country is taking under the current administration.
August 2004
Celia Lidz, a 19-year resident of West Windsor, is a native of New York City. A graduate of Brandeis with a Ph.D. in government from Harvard, Celia was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at Boston University and at Yale University. She served as Director of Staff Development at the NYC Department of Correction during an era of prison and jail reform; led projects to redesign NYC jails, including "The Tombs"; introduced psychological screening of correction officer candidates; revised selection and training; introduced substance abuse counseling and psychological services for jail staff. Celia was one of the 'founding mothers' of Metro-North Railroad. As its Director of Human Resources, she managed employment, benefits, employee assistance programs, occupational health medical department, affirmative action program.
Celia is interested in health care system reform, health care system access and delivery systems for underserved groups including the elderly, public transportation, and workforce literacy. Her recent community activities include the West Windsor Branch Library task force; Princeton Senior Resource Center volunteer; Princeton Friends of Opera project volunteer; occasional human resources (pro bono) consulting including for American Repertory Ballet and Sanctuary for Families. Celia is busy, too, organizing our voter service initiatives.
Joan Bharucha, also from West Windsor, was active in the LWV 25 years ago when she was a stay-at-home mother. When she returned to work, she switched fields: Having receiving bachelor's and master's degrees, Joan had previously worked as a nurse. But when she returned to the workforce, it was in Information Services at Dow Jones. She remained there for 12 years, primarily working on mainframe billing and report systems. Joan started at Dow Jones as a cooperative-education student from Mercer County Community College, where she had taken various computer and science courses. She took an early retirement when it was available 5 1/2 years ago. Joan is widowed and has one son who is married and lives in northern New Jersey. Though she claims that her skills from her various jobs/careers are "prehistoric," she now has extra time and wants to increase her volunteer activities We welcome Joan back to the League as our secretary!
May 2004
We are very grateful to Edith Neimark, who has served as LWV-Princeton Area treasurer for the past two years and this year also jumped in to fill the presidency on a temporary basis. She is Professor Emerita of Rutgers University, was founder and long-time coordinator of the Graduate Program in Developmental Psychology, and before that Chair of the Douglass College Psychology Department. She also taught at Tulane, Goucher, NYU, and the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. She is the author of Adventures in Thinking, several edited books, chapters, and research articles on problem solving, memory, and formal operations thought.
Edith was a past president of the Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey and, in the 1970s, president of the Highland Park LWV.
Since retiring, Edith has returned to art. Her show, "People, Pastels and Produce," pastels and oil pastels, will open at Johnson & Johnson World Headquarters on Albany Street in New Brunswick on May 27. Because of security concerns at J&J, the show is by appointment only.
October 2003
Please welcome new League member Lindsay K. Bunting Eubanks! Lindsay writes, " I am excited to be a member of the League. My husband Peter and I recently moved from Charlottesville, Va., to Princeton where he is pursuing a doctorate in French. I am a full time mom to a beautiful baby boy named Adam. I graduated from the University of Virginia with a double major in Political and Social Thought and French. I have a strong background in writing and in public speaking. I am also passionate about ballet; it is a lifelong hobby. My interest in the League developed from a desire to be a good citizen and to encourage those around to vote and to become involved in civic affairs. I do not want to take for granted those privileges that have been denied so many of our gender."
Margaret Sprout will celebrate her 100th birthday on November 21! Margaret joined the League in 1936, immediately joining the State Foreign Policy Commission. She was president of the Princeton Area League from 1944 to 1946 and has held a multitude of positions supporting the League for many years. Margaret has also been involved in many community activities, including the Princeton Health Department and the Council of Community Service, and worked for Princeton school desegregation. She is the co-author with her husband of nine books on foreign policy. The Princeton Area League is proud to have Margaret as a long-time member and wishes her many happy returns on her 100th birthday!
Congratulations to Katherine and Anthony Filiato on the birth of their daughter Rebecca, born June 2, 2003.
Karen Jezierny, currently director of Princeton University's Policy Research Institute for the Region (PRIOR), will become director of Public Affairs for the University. Karen first worked for Princeton from 1986 to 1989 as director of community and state affairs. She returned in 1992 as the assistant dean for graduate career services and alumni affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Four years later, she was promoted to assistant dean for administration and, in 1999, to associate dean for administration, which gave her responsibility for all administrative functions of the school. Last January she became the director of PRIOR, a new institute in the school that focuses on regional issues. Her appointment as director of public affairs is effective January 1, 2004.
Karen is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Connecticut with a B.A. in urban studies and a master's degree in city and regional planning from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. In addition to her positions at Princeton, she also has served as assistant treasurer for the state of New Jersey, on the staff of the speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, as a founding member of the state's Council on Local Mandates and as associate vice president for public affairs at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her board memberships have included the Princeton YWCA (which she serves as vice president) , Princeton Community Housing Inc., the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce (which she serves as vice chair) and the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area.
The October 1, 2003, issue of Town Topics contains a fascinating portrait of longtime League member Helen Crossley. She describes life in Princeton before World War II, her varied travel and work experience, including her work in survey research at the U.S. Information Agency. If you missed the article, you can access it online at http://www.towntopics.com. Look for the article by Jean Stratton. The diect link is http://www.towntopics.com/oct0103/stratton.html.
