The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 15

Courier-News B3 Tuesday, April 19, 1983 Obituaries es Irene Thorpe Griffin, 82, former state legislator WESTFIELD Irene Thorpe Griffin, 82, a resident of this community and the first woman elected to represent Union County in the state Assembly, died Sunday (April 17, 1983) at Overlook Hospital in Bentley W. Foster Jr. NORTH PLAINFIELD Bentley W. Foster 69, of this community, died Sunday (April 17, 1983) at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield. He was born in Philadelphia, and lived in Lansdowne, before moving to North Plainfield 10 years ago.

He was a insurance underwriter before retiring 14 years ago. He was a member of the American Legion and was an Army veteran of World War II. Surviving are his wife, Gertrude G. Moore Foster, and two sons, Bentley W. IlI of Plainfield and Donald G.

of Gonic, N.H. Arrangements are by C.M. Toppitzer Funeral Home in Drexel Hill. Pa. FUNERAL NOTICES AGURS Myrtle on April 18, 1983 of Plainfield, N.J.

wife of Miller Agurs, mother of Mrs. Patricia Nixon, sister of Mrs. Rose Lewis, Hanah Atkins, and Howard Braxton. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday 11 a.m. SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH.

Friends may call at the church Tuesday 7-9 p.m. Arrangements by JUDKINS 19 FOSTER BENTLEY W. Jr. of North Plainfield, New Jersey formerly of Philadelphia and Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, husband of Gertrude G. (nee Moore) Foster, father of Bentley W.

Foster the 3rd and Donald G. Foster. Funeral services Thursday at 11 a.m., C.M. Toppitzer Funeral Home, Garrett Road at Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Interment, Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19 GRIFFIN Irene.

Westfield, Thorpe New on April 17, beloved 1983 wife of Jersey, of the late Oscar D. Griffin, mother of John T. Griffin and Mrs. Harriet Pendry also survived by 9 grandchildren 11 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 21st at St.

Pauls Episcopal church, Westfield 11 a.m. Friends may call on Wednesday at the GRAY FUNERAL HOME, 318 East Broad Street, Westfield from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Interment, Fairview Cemetery. Donations to the Children's Specialized Hospital, Mountainside or the American Cancer Society would be appreciated. 19 LAPCZYNSKI Walter 64, of Somerset, on April 18, 1983, husband of Ann (Wrona) Lapczynski, father of Walter Joseph, Steven David Loretta Ann Warian, Diane Dorothy Rogers, Barbara Marie and Patricia M.

Lapczynski. Brother of George and Stanley Lapczynski, Catherine Grywalski and also surviving are five grandchildren. FUneral services Wednesday 9 a.m. from the Conroy Funeral Home, 21 East Second Street, Bound Brook, Mass of Christian Burial 9:30 a.m., St. Mary's R.C.

Church, Bound Brook. Interment Resurrection Cemetery, Piscataway. Visitation tomorrow 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Please make donations to the American Cancer Society or Delaware- Raritan Lung Association. 19 MEIKLE Donald K.

of Martinsville, on April 18, 1983. Husband of Jane Frederick Meikle, father of Keith Donald, Meikle and Valerie Meikle Johnson, brother Reginal Meikle and Esther H. Schricker. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 21, at 11 a.m. at the United Mthodist Church, Martinsville, N.J.

Interment Hillside Cemetary, Plainfield. Visitng hours will be held from HIGGINS HOME FOR FUNERALS, 752 Mountain Watchung, Tuesday and Wedsnesay 2-4 and 7-9. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Martinsville United Methodist Church Memorial Fund in his memory. 20 SARAO Michael J. of Middlesex, on Saturday, April 16, 1983, husband of Rose Tampoia.

Sarao, father of Michael J. Sarao and Mary Lynn Cotty, brother of Antoinette Sarao, Anna Giallorenzo and Annie Ponti. Funeral from MIDDLESEX FUNERAL HOME, 528 Bound Brook Middlesex, on Wednesday, 9 a.m. Mass of Christian burial at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church, Middiesex, 10 a.m. Interment Resurrec tion Cemetery.

Visiting Tuesday 2 and 7-9. SHULTS Anna Herbert Warren, on April 17, 1983. Wife of the late Ervin H. Schults, mother of Dorthy Ackerman and Robert Schults, sister of Eva Daugherty and Nell Kenyon. Also surviving are 5 grandchildren and great grandson.

Friends may visit at HIGGINS HOME FOR FUNERALS, 752 Mountain Watchung, on Tuesday evening 7-9 p.m. 19 FUEL OIL PER GALLON (MIN. 150 GALLONS C.O.D) Weller's 354-2840 Walter S. Lapczynski FRANKLIN (Somerset) Walter S. Lapezynski, 64, of this community, died yesterday (April 18, 1983) at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville.

He was born in Dunglen, Ohio, and lived in Piscataway before moving here 37 years ago. Prior to his retirement five years ago, he worked 44 years for Union Carbide as a chief still operator. He was a World War II Navy veteran and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Manville. He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in Bound Brook.

Surviving are his wife. Ann Wrona Lapczynski; three sons, Walter Joseph of High Bridge and Steven A. and David both of Somerset; four daughters, Loretta Ann Warian of Bound Brook, Barbara Marie Lapezynski and 1 Diane Dorothy Rogers, both of Tempe, and Patricia M. Lapezynski of Stamford, two brothers, George of Piscataway and Stanley of Manville; two sisters, Catherine Grywalski and Mary Gavula, both of Piscataway; and five grandchildren. Arrangements are by Conroy Funeral Home in Bound Brook.

William H. Gordon WESTFIELD William H. Gordon, 71, of 426 Washington died Friday (April 15, 1983) at his home. He was born in Paterson and was a lifelong resident of Westfield. He was a graduate of Colgate University and was associated with The Home Insurance Co.

of New York, where he was director of manpower development, for 40 years. During World War II, he was a lieutenant commander. Mr. Gordon was a member of the board of trustees of the Westfield Historical Society and served as its membership chairman. He also was an elder of Presbyterian Church of Westfield and sang in the church choir for many years.

He was a member of the Westfield Boys Wrestling League and was an active member of the Westfield Old Guard. Surviving are his wife, Ruthanne Gordon: a brother, Ralph of Westfield: and four sons, Kit of Chicago, William of Westfield. Jon of Charlotte, N.C., and Gus of Westfieldemorial services were held at Presbyterian Church of Westfield. 'Tubba' Martinoli BOSTON (AP) Octavius "Tubba" Martinoli, a man credited with saving the lives of more than 20 people by leading them into a walk-in refrigerator during the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire in 1942, has died of lung cancer. He was 66.

Martinoli, of the city's East Boston section. died Sunday. He was a trombone player in Mickey Albert's Orchestra at the club on Nov. 28, 1942, when the fire erupted that killed 491 people. Piscataway inn owner Memorial Hospital in Hollywood, Fla.

She was born in New York and lived in Piscataway before moving to Florida five years ago. She and her husband, Sam, formerly owned Arbor Inn on West Seventh Street in Piscataway. It is now known as Schooner Inn. She was a member of the Brandeis University Auxiliary, the City of Hope, Hadassah and Deborah Hospital. In addition to her husband, surviving are two daughters, Judith of Edison and Barbara of Arizona; a sister, Helen of New York: two brothers, Henry of Hallandale and Morty of Miami Beach, and two grandchildren.

Arrangements are by LevittWeinstein Funeral Home in Hollywood. Donald K. Meikle BRIDGEWATER Donald K. Meikle, 65, of the Martinsville section, died yesterday (April 18, 1983) at Somerset Medical Center in Som- erville. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived in Martinsville for 19 years.

He formerly lived in South Plainfield. He was the owner and founder of D.K. Meikle Inc. of South Plainfield, a company that serves the printing trade. He was an active member of United Methodist Church in Martinsville, was a choir member for more than 20 years and served as a soloist.

Surviving are his wife, Jane Frederick Meikle: a son, Keith Donald, at home; a daughter, Valerie Meikle Johnson of Raritan; a brother, Reginal of Los Gatos, and a sister, Esther H. Schricker of Cincinnati, Ohio. Arrangements are by Higgins Home for Funerals in Watchung. Myrtle I. Agurs PLAINFIELD Myrtle I.

Agurs, 65, of East Second Street, died yesterday (April 18, 1983) at Muhlenberg Hospital here. She was born in Middlesex County, and lived in Plainfield for 45 years. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield. She was employed at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Bernards. Surviving are her husband, Miller Agurs; a daughter, Patricia Nixon of Philadelphia, two sisters, Rose Lewis of Philadelphia and Hannah Atkins of Whittaker, N.C.; a brother, Howard Braxton of Philadelphia; and three grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Judkins' Colonial Home in Plainfield. Congressman visits toxic dump bogged down in mud, red tape By TOM KEHOE Courier-News Staff Writer Summit after a brief illness. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived in Westfield for the last 50 years. She was a graduate of Kent State University in Ohio and Columbia University in New York City. She did graduate work at the New York School of Finance and Rutgers University.

Through the years, she taught at Hathaway Brown School in Clevea and was on the faculty of Kent State University. She was a substitute teacher in the Westfield school district. She served as president of the New Jersey Order of Women Legislators. For 1 16 years from 1961 to 1977, she was a Republican state committeewoman. She served on five committees in the Assembly, including the education and public health committees.

She was elected in 1945 to serve one term in the Assembly. She was a member and vice chairman of the Westfield Town Republican Committee for more than 15 years and was an organizer of the Westfield Women's Republican Club. She was a member and past president of the Westfield School Welfare Council, a member and vice president of the Union County Parent Teachers Council for 12 years and was on the state board of managers of the New Jersey Congress of Parents and Teachers for seven years. She was a member of the executive boards of the Westfield YMCA, the Westfield College Women's Club and the League of Women Voters. She served 12 years on the board of the New Jersey Parks and Recreation Association and helped organize the Union County Cancer Field Army and was its commander for four years.

She also was an active member of the National Order of Women Legislators. Her husband, Oscar D. Griffin, died in 1954. Surviving are a son, John T. Griffin of Wilmington, N.C.; a daughter, Harriet Pendry of Pompano Beach, nine grandchildren; and 11 great- grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Westfield. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield. Arrangements are by Gray Funeral Home in Westfield.

Sylvia Solomon, former HALLANDALE, Fla. Sylvia Solomon, a resident of this community, died April 7, 1983, at Hollywood Horace L. Wright LEBANON TOWNSHIP Horace L. Wright, 83, of R.D. 2, Califon, died Sunday (April 17, 1983) at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville.

He was born in Morristown and lived in East Orange before moving here in 1967. He was employed as a painter by the East Orange Board of Education, retiring 16 years ago. He was a member Corinthian-Union Masonic Lodge No. 11 in Union. Surviving are his wife, Anna R.

Vanderwater Wright: a son, Andrew of Oxford; a daughter, Ruth Morepeth of Redlands, a stepson, Raymond Hummer of Colorado Springs, two brothers, J. Clifford of Plantation, and Burton of Orlando, and five grandchildren. Arrangements are by Douglas D. Martin Funeral Home in Clinton Township. Anton Kurz READINGTON Anton Kurz, 90, of Pine Bank Road, R.D.

3. Flemington, died Saturday (April 16, 1983) at Doylestown (Pa.) Hospital. Mr. Kurz was born in Austria and came to the United States in 1923. He moved to Readington nine years ago.

Until his retirement in 1958, he was a butcher. Mr. Kurz was a member of Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America Local 5 in Newark. His wife, Johanna Kurz, died in 1975. Surviving are a son, Edward with whom he lived, a grandson and a great-granddaughter.

Arrangements are by Robert L. Ford Funeral Home in Flemington. Patrick James O'Connell MONTGOMERY Patrick James O'Connell, 33, of this community, died Friday (April 15, 1983) at The Medical Center at Princeton. He was born in Orange and was a resident of Belle Mead for 16 years. He was a graduate of Princeton High School and RCA Institute in New York City.

He was employed by New Brunswick Scientific Inc. in Edison for 11 years. Surviving are his parents, John J. and Patricia Cole O'Connell; two brothers John J. III of Somerset and Terence J.

of Freehold; and his paternal grandmother, Nora O'Connell of Neshanic. Arrangements are by Kimble Funeral Home in Princeton. HILLSBOROUGH Citing the need for reforms in the federal toxic waste Superfund, U.S. Rep. James Courter tramped through the mud yesterday at the Krysowaty farm with a troop of federal and state officials, all eager for a first-hand look at a chemical dump.

And despite what all agreed were "monumental efforts" by township and state officials, the naming of the site the Superfund list has done little to actually clean up the site, much to Courter's dismay. "I think what's needed are amendments to make it responsive to communities like this," Courter said yesterday during a special tour of the Three Bridges Road chemical dump. Courter was joined by Jacqueline Schafer, the regional administrator for the federal Environmental Protection Agency, John Matteo, the EPA's project manager for the Krysowaty farm cleanup project, Somerset County Freeholder Director Vernon Noble, Mayor Candy Kissanis, who limped along on crutches despite a recent foot operation, and about a dozen aides. Courter said his biggest criticism of the program laid out by the Superfund bill is simply that it takes too long to achieve results. "The No.

1 problem I have is the time it takes. Courter said as he bounced around in the front seat of a four-wheel-drive truck that slowly ground to the dump site on a mountainous ridge. "It's taken a lot longer just to Man may get $1 million for injuries A Hunterdon County man has accepted an out-of-court settlement that could reach $1 million to compensate him for injuries he suffered in a 1979 traffic accident. James Seguine, 28, of the Pattenburg section of Union Township, was injured in a car-truck accident at the intersection of routes 635 and 173 in Union Township on Nov. 29, 1979.

He accepted the settlement Friday just before his case was to go to trial before state Superior Court Judge Robert Gaynor in Somerville, according to Clinton attorney Richard Cushing. Seguine received head injuries in the accident from which he still is recovering. Cushing said. As a result of the settlement. Seguine will receive $137,000 in cash plus $1,500 a month tax-free for life, with a yearly 2 percent increase guaranteed for 20 years.

Cushing said. City trims Continued from Page B1 Malgran was referring to a $23,000 consultant contract and $2,000 in travel expenses awarded to Oscar King last year to produce an economic master plan for the city. Meeks denounced a for employee conferences and a similar amount budgeted for City Council consultant services. Defending the money for consultants, Merritt charged that the former Republican administration of Mayor Paul J. O'Keeffe "spent more" on the account than the present administration.

"It is sometimes necessary to have experts who are not on our staff," Merritt said. "Sometimes we have to spend this money reluctantly." Democratic Councilman Harold W. Mitchell said that if "further cuts" in spending have to be made, "then so be it." Charging that salary costs for administrative and middle management personnel total almost $1 million, Councilwoman Helen Miller said she has been considering a freeze on jobs and salaries. In addition to opposing manpower reductions in the Fire Division, Meeks said the elimination of two caseworkers in the Welfare Division might impair the verification of residences for clients applying for welfare, causing expenditures to rise. Meeks criticized reducing expenditures affecting "the foot soldiers," urging decreases in spending at other levels.

The city tax rate increased from $5.06 to $5.27 in 1982. Rates for this year, pending adoption of the budget next Monday, would be: municipal, school, Union County, 77 cents; reserve for uncollected taxes, 39 cents; and public school debt, 12 cents. Anna Herbert Shults WARREN Anna Herbert Shults, 68, of this community, died Sunday (April 17, 1983) at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield. She was born in North Plainfield and ived in Warren for 22 years. She formerly lived in Plainfield.

She was employed for many years by Burroughs Corp. in Warren. Her husband, Irvin Shults, died in November 1981. Surviving are a daughter, Dorothy Ackerman of Freehold; a son, Robert of Lakewood; two sisters, Eva Daugherty of Media, and Nell Kenyon of Denver, five grandchildren; and agreat-grandson. Arrangements are by Higgins Home for Funerals in Watchung.

designate sites than was originally Courter said. "And that's just the begining of the Courter said that in certain cases, the problems were simply because of the stigma of having an area branded a "chemical dump. But he also claimed the cleanup at the Krysowaty farm has been delayed because the site differs radically from most dumps, where the chemicals are stored above ground in drums and can be traced back to their source. Officials say about 500 drums of chemicals, mostly industrial solvents, were dumped down a deep ravine on the farm's hillside between 1965 and 1969 by the farm's late owner, William Krysowaty. The drums then were crushed, so they couldn't be traced back to their source, and covered with dirt.

The pollutants weren't discovered until after Krysowaty's death, when nearby homeowners began complaining of a variety of illnesses after drinking water from their wells. A drainage stream flows through the site, leading to the South Branch of the Raritan River, a source of drinking water for some 600,000 Central Jerseyans. "This was really a midnight operation," Courter said. "'The people who dumped the drums didn't take any precautions whatsoever." Officials say that some of the chemicals have been in the ground for almost 18 years, and periodically issue from the underground mass, oozing along cracks in the rock formations when the water table is high. "It's what they call a slug flow of contaminants," Township Health Officer Glen Belnay explained.

"In essence, a chunk breaks off and migrates when the water table is at its Because the site poses what town; ship and state officials see as arr immediate health hazard, federal officials should set aside the paper: work and proceed with the actual cleanup as quickly as possible. But Schafer said the federal agency has to proceed as carefully as possible because the site poses such a potential hazard. "You talk to one expert and he'll say, 'Well the flow of chemicals is moving in this she gesturing toward the South Branch. "But if you talk to another expert, he'll say, 'No, the chemicals are moving in that she added, pointing toward a group of homes located 90 degrees in a different direction. "That's why we need to move slowly and find out exactly what we're dealing with." Just about 100 feet from a monitor; ing well dug by the state, a television antenna towers up above the site.

graphic evidence of the proximity of several homes. "Is there a home right Courter asked in disbelief. There was a chorus of "yes" from area officials. "These poor folks, how are they going to sell their homes?" he asked; partly to himself. "That's just the point, they Belnay replied.

Honor Society suit opens today in court By CAROLINE BEYRAU appeal, Froisland said, "I don't Courier-News Staff Writer think there's any way it will be reinstated." BERNARDSVILLE In an ac- "We'd be foolish to do sometion that borough education of- thing that would have us fly in the ficials say will carry statewide face of this thing again," he implications, a state appeals added. court was to begin a hearing this The long -awaited hearing morning on the Board of Educa- began at 10 a.m. this morning tion's fight to bar a stu- before the Appellate Division of dent from the National Honor So- state Superior Court in Trenton, ciety. according to court spokesman The court action comes almost Wesley LaBar. The three-judge two years after the student, Anne panel is expected to hand down a Armstrong, graduated from decision sometime next month.

Bernards High School in Ber- Anne Armstrong's mother, nardsville. Nancy, said yesterday that she Borough school officials have would be present at the hearing consistently maintained that today because, "If you start Armstrong, an A-plus student, something, you see it was personally unfit for member- She said her daughter would not ship, despite rulings by state be at the hearing, however, beeducation officials to the con- cause she would be attending trary. classes at Amherst College in The appeal was filed in part to Massachusetts, where she is enfight a state directive that the rolled as a sophomore. board divulge the reasons why Contacted at her Spring Valley Armstrong was not admitted into home where the family moved the honor society in 1980. School last year, Mrs.

Armstrong also officials said yesterday that the said that if they had to do it all ruling jeopardizes the confiden- over again, her family would tiality of the selection process, make the same decision. and thus the integrity of the Na- "If I believe in justice," she tional Honor Society and the said, "I know we'll be sucteachers involved. cessful." "We feel the courts have taken Armstrong was excluded from any meaningful society away the Bernardsville chapter of the from us, Bernards High Princi- society as a junior in 1980. Her pal Torry Froisland said, charg- parents responded that deing that "very few schools in the cision with legal action, claiming state meet that legal mandate." it was arbitrary and not just Armstrong criminated against their daughshe's long gone," said Catherine ter. Scales, a nine-year member of the What followed was a long and school board who lost her bid for complicated process that evenre-election last week.

"'It's a mat- tually paved the way for ter of whether or not a group of Armstrong's belated entry into teachers acted in an arbitrary or the honor organization in 1981 durcapricious manner or whether ing a private ceremony marking they acted the last induction in nearly two The case also represents years. whether a student has a "legal The induction came after a right to know why he or she is state administrative law judge orgiven an honor or not given it," dered the board to admit she said. Armstrong to the society and reThe future of the Bernards veal the reasons for her rejection. High School National Honor Soci- That decision was upheld later by ety chapter also is on the line. The the state education comselection process was suspended missioner, with the board appealin 1981, and if the school loses the ing the ruling in early 1981.

Park to be rededicated in honor of all veterans By JIM McCOMBE Courier-News Staff Writer SOUTH PLAINFIELD A suggestion by a veterans group that Borough Park be renamed after a deceased prisoner of war has been rejected by the Borough Council. The council indicated last night that the park's new name will be Veterans Memorial Park as the result of a proposal by Mayor Michael English. Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6763 recently asked the Borough Council to rename the Peter Potter RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) Peter Potter, a longtime Los An- geles radio and television personality whose "Jukebox Jury" twice won Emmy awards, died Sunday of a heart attack.

He was 78. Starting in the 1930s, Potter's "Platter Parade" show was broadcast for 26 years on various radio stations in Los Angeles. But it was Potter's "Jukebox Jury" that won Emmy awards for the best entertainment program in 1953 and 1955. park as Edward M. Haines Park in honor of a borough resident who was a Japanese prisoner of war.

for years during World War II. In making his proposal last English said he is against naming park after a specific individual because it could lead to similar requests involving five other parks in the borough. Four of the parks arenamed after streets. The mayor said the name Veter-, ans Memorial Park would serve as tribute to all war veterans. Other council members agreed; with English that the new name willbe formalized prior to Memorial; Day.

A resolution presented to the council by post Cmdr. Otto Sodoma out that Haines fought at Bataan. Peninsula and Corregidor Island un-. der the command of Gen. Jonathan, M.

Wainright. Haines, who survived the famous "Bataan Death March," was: released from a Japanese prison; camp in 1945. His widow, Eleanor, says her hus-: band remained in the Army until 1960. and died in 1982 at the Veterans Administration Medical Centerin. East Orange.

He is buried at the' National Cemetery in Long Island, N. Y..