The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 6

William Lister, 25, from auto accident injuries A6 The Courier-News Saturday, January 28, 1984 Probe continues in supermarket blaze CLINTON TOWNSHIP William J. Lister, 25, of Valley Crest Road, died Thursday (Jan. 26, 1984) from injuries received in an auto accident on Route 31. Mr. Lister was walking on Route 31 near Hunter's Rest when he was hit by a car.

He was taken by the township rescue squad to Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township, where he was pronounced dead about 11:50 p.m. Thursday, according to a hospital spokesman. No details of the accident were available yesterday from police. Born in Elizabeth, he lived in Menlo Park before moving to Clinton Township 20 years ago. He was a 1977 graduate of North Hunterdon Regional High School and also attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.

Surviving him are his parents, Richard T. and Helen J. Schwerdt Lister; two brothers, Richard L. of Somerville and James Eric of Fremont, Calif; a sister, Kathleen Adele; a maternal grandmother, Mary I. Burr of Reading, and a niece and anephew.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bright's Colonial Funeral Home, Lebanon. By CLIFFORD GLICKMAN Courier-News Staff Writer Investigation into a suspicious fire that caused extensive damage at the Foodtown supermarket in Raritan Township is continuing, but police say they are not focusing on the store's involvement in a strike there. Police Chief Alfred Phillips said there are still no suspects and that the matter is being treated as a "typical criminal investigation." Since Jan. 15, members of Local 464A of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represents butchers and delicatessen workers, have been striking the store and 333 other Pathmark, Grand Union, ShopRite and Foodtown supermarkets in central and northern New Jersey and southern New York. The Route 202-31 store sustained extensive smoke and water damage from a fire that began shortly after its 9 p.m.

closing Thursday night. The store will be closed today and it is unknown when it wil according to Mayfair Supermarkets spokeswoman Jackie Keller. May-' fair supervises 33 Foodtown super' markets. -I Asked if she thought the strike had anything to do with the strike, Keller said, "Well, it happened during the strike, didn't it? So did those other three." Since the strike began, three other stores have been hit with fires described as suspicious in origin. Phillips confirmed that the Raritan Township fire was almost cer- tainly arson.

The Hunterdon County; fire marshal, the New Jersey Arson Squad Unit and Foodtown security are assisting police in the investiga-, tion. Joseph Hart, railroad worker for 50 years, at 82 Former charity head denies embezzlement Everett Ackerman ham SOUTH PLAINFIELD Everett Sharp Ackerman a longtime resident and ham radio operator, died Wednesday (Jan. 25, 1984) at home. He was 78. His call sign was W2SMJ.

Born in Plainfield, he moved to South Plainfield 35 years ago. Before it closed, he was employed by Mack Motors of Plainfield in the plant's maintenance department for 25 years. From 1961 to 1969 he worked for Fred Hummel Plumbers in Plain-field, and from 1970 to 1981, he was Willie Lee Harris PLAINFIELD Willie Lee Harris, 61, died Thursday (Jan. 26, 1984) at his home. Born in Jacksonville, he had lived in Plainfield for 42 years.

He was employed by Art Color Printing Co. of Dunellen until its closing and was last employed by ShopRite of Watchung. He was a former member of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Plain-field. Surviving him are his wife, Rose Harris; two daughters, Carol Anita Brown and Marsha Louise Harris, both of Plainfield; a sister, Helen Neal of Crescent City, Fla. Arrangements are by Plinton Funeral Home in Westfield.

NINTH ANNIVERSARY In Memory of CLIFFORD C. COMPTON Who Passed Awoy Jan. 29, 1975 A million times we hove missed you, A million times we have cried, To think we could not be with you, When last you closed your eyes. To your resting place we wander, Flowers we place with care, But no one knows how our hearts break, As we turn and leave you there. Sadly Missed: Your Wife, Helen Daughter, Jacqueline Borg Warner furnace, leader in energy savings features Spark i i fuel wasting pilot light Quiet, dependable, safe Winter warmth at a welcome price.

the as the died son, noon 22 radio operator, at 78 television attendant at Raritan Valley Hosptial in Green Brook. He was a member of the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management, where he served a radio officer for the city of South Plainfield. He also was a member of Air Force Military Affiliate Radio System and the American Radio Relay League Inc. He was the husband of the late Margaret Lawler Ackerman, who in 1970. Surviving him are his Everett S.

at home; three daughters, Margaret Secero of North Plainfield, Dorothy Keiderling of North Plainfield and Evelyn De-Giosafatto of Ellsworth, Maine; eleven grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren. Funeral services will be held at today at Higgins Home for Funerals on West Eighth Street in Plainfield. Mary Henry Powell PLAINFIELD Mary Henry Powell, who established an annual citizenship award, died yesterday (Jan. 27, 1984) at home. She was 78.

She was born in Guyana and had lived in Plainfield since 1927 after moving from Brooklyn, N.Y. She was the donor of the Virginia Neckles Award for good citizenship, given each year to a worthy minority student in Plainfield A communicant of St. Bernard's Church in Plainfield, she also was a member of the Mrs. Club of Plain-field. Surviving her are her husband, William I.

Powell; a daughter, Betty Powell Jones of Wilton, and two grandchildren. Arrangements are by Higgins Home for Funerals in Plainfield. Rebecca Shelley BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (AP) -Rebecca Shelley, a World War I pacifist who lost her citizenship for years after marrying a foreigner, and whose cause was taken up by authors Sinclair Lewis and H.L. Mencken, has died after short illness.

She was 97. Joseph Madden Jr. PISCATAWAY -Joseph F. Madden 65, of Carlton Avenue, died yesterday (Jan. 27, 1984) at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield.

Born in Pittston, he lived in Plainfield and North Plainfield before moving to Pis-cataway 15 years ago. Prior to his retirement in 1980, he was employed as a chief chemical operator at American Cyanamid Corp. in Bridgewater, where he had worked for 35 years. He is survived by his wife, Rita Kasson Madden; a son, Joseph F. Madden 3rd of Bound Brook; two daughters, Carol Eads and Joan Eorio, both of Piscata-way; two sisters, Ann.

Brazil of Scranton, and Mary Miller of Chevy Chase, Md. two brothers, Leo of Pittston and Gene Madden of Maryland; and six grandchildren. Arrangements are by Sheenan Funeral Home, Dunellen. ARIAS 747, Plainfield, N.J. 0706 1 lived in Somerville before moving to Clinton Township about 20 years ago.

He had retired from the Central Railroad of New Jersey after 50 years service and had more recently been employed by Durling Farms in Whitehouse. He was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church in Clinton Township and was member of its Holy Name Society. He also was a member of North Hunterdon Council 6245, Knights of Columbus, and a Fourth Degree Pope John XXII Assembly. He is survived by his wife, Anne A. Licska Hart; two daughters, Grace Mary Hart of Somerset and Patricia A.

Condon of Milltown; a sister, Grace A. Hart of Catasauqua; and five grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are by Douglas D. Martin Funeral Home in Clinton. Nancy Worthington LEBANON TOWNSHIP Nancy R.

Worthington, 53, of Hickory Run Road, R.D. Califon, died Thursday (Jan. 26, 1984) at Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township. She was born at Great Neck, N.Y., and had lived in Westchester County, N.Y., before moving to this area 10 years ago. She was a member of St.

Thomas' Episcopal Church in Pittstown and the Woman's Auxiliary of the Hunterdon County Medical Society. She is survived by her husband, Dr. E. Leigh Worthington; three sons, Edward L. of South Royalton, Bradford P.

and Gordon both at home; a sister, Allage Ransay, Pound Ridge, N.Y. Funeral arrangements are by Douglas D. Martin Funeral Home in Clinton. Eleanor Monari BRIDGEWATER Eleanor Holland Monari, 89, died yesterday (Jan. 27, 1984) at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville.

Born in Fort Hamilton, N.Y, she had been a resident of the Somerville and Bridgewater area most of her life. She was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church, Somerville. Her husband, Thomas, died in 1957. Surviving her are three daughters, Sandra Mundy of Bridgewater, Catherine Gentile of Somerville and Helen Gulick of Bethlehem, a son, Dr. Jay Monari of Oaklyn; 25 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are by Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville. Kathryn Thompson LAKEWOOD Kathryn Smith Thompson, 74, died Thursday (Jan. 26, 1984) at Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood. Born in Perth Amboy, she had lived in Metuchen for many years before moving to Lakewood 16 years ago. She was a retired secretary and beloned to St.

Thomas Lutheran, Church inB ricktown and Mount Zion Chapter No. 116, Order of the Eastern Star in Metuchen. Surviving her are a sister, Myrtle Montgomery of Rutherford, and several nieces and nephews. Arrangements are by VanHise and Callagan Funeral Home, Bricktown. Frederick Thinnes CUD AH Wis.

Frederick Thinnes, 53, of 3801 Van Eimerien died yesterday (Jan. 27, 1984). Mr. Thinnes was born in Scotch Plains, N.J., and lived in Wisconsin for many years. He was employed by American Motors Corp.

in Milwaukee, Wise. Surviving him are his wife Patricia; a son, Frederick of Milwaukee; three daughters, Lisa of Milwaukee and Lori and Krista, both at home; his mother, Patrena Thinnes of Scotch Plains; a brother, Larry of Whitehouse, N.J.; and a sister, Son-dra Macey of Pittstown, N.J. Justin Dart LOS ANGELES (AP) Justin Dart, a multimillionaire industrialist and a one-time member of President Reagan's "kitchen cabinet," died Thursday of heart failure at age 76. Rev. George Fulcher ROCKVILLE, Ind.

(AP) The Most Rev. George A. Fulcher, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, was killed when his car crashed off a highway north of here, police said. Harold Minor DELAND, Fla. (AP) Harold B.

Minor, 81, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon in the early 1950s, died Wednesday of an apparent heart CLINTON TOWNSHIP Joseph P. Hart, 82, of 16 Highfields Road, died Wednesday (Jan. 25, 1984) at Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township. Born at Catasauqua, he had Robert Niedrach Jr.

AMHERST, N.H. Robert W. Niedrach of Bloody Brook Road, died Saturday (Jan. 14, 1984) in Nashau, N.H. Mr.

Niedrach was born in Elizabeth, N.J. and was a former resident of Cranford, N.J. He was a graduate of the Cranford pubic schools and Rutgers University. A former sales manager for Magnus Chemical Co. in Garwood, N.J., he was president of Chemserve, Inc.

in Milford, N.H., and a veteran of the Korean conflict. Surviving him are his wife, Anne Gildersleeve Niedrach; two daughters, Leslie Anne of Jamestown, R.I., and Gwendolyn of Amherst; his mother, Mrs. Philip Karla Ponder of Whigham, Ga. Funeral services were held at First Congregational Church, in Amherst. Howard Smith PEAPACK-GLADSTONE Howard Walton Smith, 75, died yesterday (Jan.

27, 1984) at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. Bom in Bernardsville, he lived in Irvington and in Gladstone for 40 years. He was employed at Johns-Manville Corp. in Manville for 27 years as a research technician before retiring 11 years ago. He is survived by his wife, Leila Beam Smith; a son, Clarence Bra sen Smith of Holland Township; a daughter, Catherine Sigmund of Matawan; a sister, Thelma Metzler of Pot-tersville; and three grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Bailey Funeral Home Inc. in Peapack. Jerome Toobin NEW YORK (AP) Jerome Toobin, news and public affairs director at the metropolitan area's public television station, has died of a heart attack suffered during surgery, station officials said. He was 64. FUNERAL NOTICES HARRIS Willie Lee of Plainfield on Thursday, January 26th, 1984 at his home, beloved husband of Mrs Rose Harris, father of Mrs.

Carol Anita Brown and Miss Marsha Louise Harris, brother of Mrs Helen Neal. Services 11 a.m. Monday, January 30th, 1984 at PLINTON FUNERAL HOME, 411 West Broad Street, Westfield. Interment Graceland Memorial Park, Kenilworth, N.J. Friends may call Sunday 7-9 p.m.

28 MADDEN Joseph F. 65, of Piscataway, N.J. formerly of Plainfield and North Plainfield, on Jan. 27, 1984, husband of Rita (Kasson) Madden, father of Joseph 3rd, Carol Eads and Joan Eorio, also survived by six grandchildren, brother of Anne Brazil and Mary Miller, Gene Madden and Leo Madden. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

from the Sheenan Funeral Home, 233 Dunellen Dunellen, and will be followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Piscataway. Interment Holy Redeemer Cemetery, So. Plainfield. Visiting hours, Sunday and Monday 9.4 unrl 7-9 m.

30 POWELL Mary (nee Henry) of Plainfield on January 27, 1984, wife of William I. Powell, motner ot Betty rowen Jones, grandmother of Jeffrey and Janet Jones. Funeral from HIGGINS HOME FOR FUNERALS, 209 West 8th Street, Plainfield on Monday, January 30th at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Bernard's Church, Plainfield at 11 a.m.

Interment, Hillside Cemetery. Visiting hours Sunday 7-9. 28 SMITH Howard W. 75 of Gladstone on Friday, January 27, 1984, husband of Mrs. Leila Beam Smith, father of Mrs.

Catherine Sigmund of Matawan and Clarence Brasch Smith of Holland Township, brother of Mrs. Thelma Metzler of Pottersville, also survived by 3 grandchildren. Funeral service will be on Monday, January 30th, at 1 p.m. at BAILEY FUNERAL HOME 176 Main Street, Peapack. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

Memorial gifts may be made to The Gladstone United Methodist Church Memorial Fund 28 Special Reminder to all Funeral Directors Effective Monday, January 23, the deadline for obituaries changes to 5:30 a.m. for the day of publication. Paid death notice! mutt be called in by 5:45 a.m. for the day of publication. If you need to contact ut with a paid death notice after 6 p.m., please call 722-8814 and leave your message on the answering machine.

For Sat. publication our newsroom will accept paid death notices until 10:30 p.m. Friday. Thank you for your cooperation. The Courier-New when Stouder deposited a $6,940 check from the national headquarters of the United Way into a special Red Cross bank account that only he knew about, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor James L.

Sonageri. Stouder used all but $500 of the grant to lease a car, purchase a personal computer and to buy other items without the agency's approval, Sonageri said. Coincidentally, a new $124,545 grant to Union County agencies including the Westfield-area Red Cross was announced this week. In addition to the Westfield-area Red Cross, the new grant will be distributed by the United Way of Union County, the Salvation Army, Catholic Community Services, the American Friends Services Committee, and the American Red Cross chapters of eastern Union County and Plainfield. The funds are intended for families left homeless by fire or need other temporary assistance to feed themselves.

Lorain New Brunswick, a former Rahway State Prison correction officer, of all money he allegedly took while treasurer. The company said it had reimbursed the fund after the credit union filed a claim that Bukowski had diverted $190,358 to himself between Jan. 1, 1979 and Oct. 30, 1981. Bukowski was indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury on Aug.

24 on a single count of theft. The case remains pending after he plead not guilty on Sept. 16, 1983. Judge upholds verdict ELIZABETH A judge yesterday refused to overturn a jury's $2.3 million award to a 28-year-old Cranford man injured in a 1979 motorcycle accident. The settlement awarded to Karl Guemple may be the biggest ever in a Union County civil suit according to state Superior Court Judge Bryant W.

Griffin, who yesterday refused to alter the jury's decision. Fire routs five SOMERVILLE The occupants of a house at 62 Third St. fled safely yesterday afternoon when their, home was damaged extensively by fire. Five occupants, Catherine Castle, her daughter and three grandchildren, got out without injury. They were in the living room when the saw smoke and fled the to neighbors.

There were no injuries but considerable damage to the interior of the house, police said. The cause and full details of the fire were not known last night because the investigation was incomplete, police said. One neighbor said it is believed the fire started in a first-floor bedroom. The family was staying at a local motel last night. Couple pleads innocent ELIZABETH A Westfield cou-' pie who own a private ambulance service appeared in state Superior Court here yesterday to plead not guilty to charges of Medicaid fraud.

Stephen Chaiken, 38, and his wife Barbara, 37, who own the Allcare Inc. ambulance service in Garwood, were indicted Jan. 12 by a grand jury on charges of bilking almost $17,000 from the federally funded medical assistance program for the poor, according to authorities. The indictment charges the Chaikens used the firm's computer to collect Medicaid reimbursements for transporting phantom patients to Beth Israel Hospital in Newark. The Chaikens also are accused of overbilling the Medicaid system when legitimate trips were made.

The couple could not be reached yesterday for comment. The Chaikens are charged with five counts of fraud and conspiracy. If convicted, each could serve up to 11 years in prison and be fined up to $27,000. Mr. Chaiken also is charged separately with allegedly falsifying evidence to mislead state investigators.

That count carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and a $7,500 fine. By MICHAEL J. KELLY Courier-News Staff Writer ELIZABETH The former executive director of the Westfield chapter of the American Red Cross pleaded not guilty yesterday in connection with the embezzlement of $6,500 from the organization. Donald B. Stouder, 24, of Short Hills was released without bail yesterday by state Superior Court Judge Alexander J.

Menza, who set a date for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 14. Stouder was accused of taking money from a special federal grant to provide emergency food and shelter for the needy in the West-field-Mountainside area served by the Red Cross chapter, according to the indictment handed up Dec. 21. No one went hungry because of the alleged theft, according to Red Cross officials in Westfield, who said that of all missing funds were replaced from the agency's treasury.

The embezzlement allegedly oc-cured during June and July of 1983, In Brief Smoky fire injures 1 PLAINFIELD A smoky blaze in the basement of a men's clothing store at West Front and Somerset streets caused one firefighter to be treated for smoke inhalation last night. The fire was confined to the basement of Three Guys Outlet Store at 104 W. Front St. following the alarm about 7:17 p.m. Fire fighters and equipment remained at the scene until after 9 p.m.

There was heavy smoke damage to the store itself and fire damage to the basement and stairs. "It was a difficult fire to fight due to the smoke," said a fire division spokesman. Lt. Joseph Brunk of Engine Co. 3, one of the first firefighters into the basement was treated at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield and released.

Traffic was routed around the intersection for more than an hour. North Plainfield police helped with traffic and a Fanwood engine company assisted in fighting the fire. The cause of the fire was under investigation late last night but a spokesman said it was apparently accidental. Tribute to be aired NEW BRUNSWICK A tribute to the late Ab L. Motolinsky, deputy surrogate of Middlesex County, will be broadcast this Sunday during the "Jewish-American Hour" on WCTC-AM.

Motolinsky, who died Dec. 24, served in the county surrogate's court for 50 years, and had been Municipal Court judge in Highland Park for 28 years. The radio program, directed by Charlie Baltin, runs from 3:05 to 4 p.m. Suspect sought PLAINFIELD City police last night had an alarm out for a man in his early 20s who forced his way intc a home on Loretta Terrace and locked a woman homeowner in a closet while he ransacked the house. Police asked anyone with information about the robber to contact the police division at 753-3054.

The intruder took an unknown amount of personal property, police said. They described him as wearing a beard, of tall thin build and wearing a dark cap and long grey coat. He was last seen running east on Loretta Terrace. Detectives William Bond and Donald Moye are in charge of the investigation. Ex-treasurer sued NEW BRUNSWICK A Madison, insurance company that insured a state corrections officers' credit union has filed suit against an ex-credit union treasurer charged with stealing $190,358 from the fund.

In a lawsuit filed in state Superior Court yesterday, the Cumis Insurance Society seeks reimbursement pom Edward Bukowski, 51, of 5 SERVING SOMERSET CO. ADJOINING 526-1155 249 North Main Street Manville, New Jersey 08835 It is Easier for Your Family if you select a family plot before it is needed All Lois Sold in Fully Developed Areas 2 Grave Plots including Perpetual Care Call or Write for Descriptive Booklet HILLSIDE CEMETERY Woodland Avenue, Scotch Plains Tel. PL6-1729 Mailing address, P.O. Box WE SAY IT BEST ut YOUR F.T.D. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED FRUIT-G9-PLENTY FANCY FRUIT CHEESE BASKETS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PRATSCHH AMItY Order By Phone World Wide Delivery DUNELLENGREEN IROOK 752-0090 IRIDGEWATERSOMERVILU 725-5577 PISCATAWAY 9M-0M0 THE PLAINFIEIDS 754-lOVE NORTH PLAINFIELD 75477.