Obituaries | The Chestnut Hill Local

Obituaries

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Nancy Williams told us this about Randy: “He had such a great sense of humor. He would laugh so hard that his shoulders would shake. We had similar values, and we had a great 56-year run.”

Beloved Hill architecture preservationist dies at 82

John Randolph Williams Jr., a bon vivant known for his prowess as a cook, competitive tennis player and builder of homes, died on April 9. more

by Len Lear | 4/24/25

Cellist Ronald Lipscomb (left), who lived in both Mt. Airy and Germantown, had a remarkable career, playing with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, the American Symphony under Leopold Stokowski and with an orchestra conducted by Duke Ellington.

Mt. Airy cellist played with Bernstein, Ellington, Casals

Not too many local musicians have memories of playing with two legendary American innovators and composers, but Ron Lipscomb performed with the best. more

by Len Lear | 4/17/25

Lauren Wiley with her husband, Jason, and sons, Ben (left), now a student at Penn State University, and Elliot (right), a student at Houston Elementary School.

Mt. Airy education activist dies suddenly at age 50

Lauren Wiley, a fierce advocate for public education, dedicated journalist and community leader, died of a heart attack in her West Mt. Airy home Feb. 28. more

by Len Lear | 4/10/25

Chestnut Hill resident Bernadette L. Maguire did trailblazing work at a time when there were very few female engineers in the U.S.

Trailblazing engineer dies at 89

Longtime Chestnut Hill resident Bernadette L. Maguire worked on projects including the development of heat shields for the Apollo spacecraft program. more

by Len Lear | 3/27/25

Receiving a preservation award from the Chestnut Hill Conservancy in January of 2016 (from left) were Phil Tankel of the Chestnut Hill Rotary, Conservancy Board President Randy Williams, Rotary member Carl Shaifer, Valley Green Bank CEO Jay Goldstein, Conservancy Board member Emily Cooperman, and Conservancy Executive Director Lori Salganicoff.

Chestnut Hill community champion dies at 92

Carl Shaifer, a longtime Chestnut Hill resident known for his business acumen and tireless community service, died March 5 of age-related causes. more

by Len Lear | 3/20/25

Sarah West, a beloved Trail Ambassador for Friends of the Wissahickon, took visitors on guided tours of Wissahickon Park for many years. She also won four bronze medals at age 76 in an international Dragon Boat competition in 2013 in Hungary.

FOW ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award winner dies at 87

Sarah West, a longtime Mt. Airy resident and beloved figure in the Wissahickon Valley community, died of age-related ailments. more

by Len Lear | 2/27/25

Bob Perkins received numerous awards for his contributions to Philadelphia music and culture, including a bronze plaque on Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the Arts.

Radio icon and promoter of local talent dies at 91

Bob Perkins, of Wyncote, a legend in Philadelphia radio who worked as an on-air host in broadcasting for more than 50 years, died Jan. 21. more

by Len Lear | 2/20/25

Patricia Anne Urevick and her partner of 50 years, Irv Ackelsberg, are surrounded by their grandchildren – Chaya,Ari, Bobby, Ivy and Roman – in a photo taken one year ago.

Community champion leaves a lasting park legacy

Patricia Anne Urevick, an acclaimed park advocate and healthcare provider, died Jan. 20, four days before her 70th birthday. more

by Len Lear | 2/20/25

Jay Flaherty and his wife Nanie in St. Peter’s Square on a 2016 trip to Rome.

Master gardener brought neighbors together

John Edward “Jay” Flaherty Jr., an attorney, former deputy mayor, Vietnam veteran and master gardener, died Feb. 9. more

by Staff | 2/19/25

Georgie Bonds (right) is seen in the mid-2010s with Deb Callahan (left), Mt. Airy blues/soul singer, and Gene Shay, “Dean of the Philly Deejays” and Philadelphia Folk Festival founder, who passed away in 2020 from Covid-19.

G’town’s Sweet Georgie Bonds was ‘married to the blues’

Bonds, who died Jan. 13 at age 72, was a member of the Philadelphia Black Cowboys. But as much as he loved horses, he loved playing the blues even more. more

by Len Lear | 2/13/25

Retired Local editor Mary Jane Shelly, who raised a family of ten children, would leave home after dinner to attend a meeting assignment, return home and dictate an article over the phone.

Mary Jane Shelly, longtime Local editor and reporter, dies at 94

During her decades as a journalist at the Local, Shelly not only won statewide awards for her work, but also earned deep respect and gratitude. more

By Pete Shelly | 2/6/25

Charles Ingersoll is seen here approximately 40 years ago on vacation in Acadia National Park in Maine.

Charles Ingersoll, 77, champion of arts and family

Charles Jared Ingersoll, a lifelong Chestnut Hill area resident and former Executive Vice President and Director of The Rittenhouse Trust Company, died Jan. 15. more

by Len Lear | 2/6/25

Julie Chovanes, a lawyer, was a champion of transgender rights.

Julie Chovanes, pioneering trans attorney, dies at 64

Julie Chovanes, of Chestnut Hill, championed transgender rights and won landmark cases for the transgender community. more

by Len Lear | 2/6/25

Richard George Alexander

Richard Alexander passed away peacefully on January 14, 2025 at the age of 78. more

2/5/25

Sallie and her husband Jim at an event in 2011.

Druim Moir heir leaves legacy of service at 81

Sarah Ludlow Ogden Smith, a social worker and community advocate with deep ties to Chestnut Hill history, died Jan. 4 at her home. more

by Len Lear | 1/30/25

Charlie Dilks, sailing near his easement-protected farm in Maryland.

Charles Day Dilks, Hill conservation giant, dies at 83

Charles Day Dilks, a Chestnut Hill giant in the field of conservation, died Dec. 28, 2024, of cardiac amyloidosis at his home. more

by Len Lear | 1/23/25

Emilie Brégy created acclaimed oil and watercolor paintings, both abstract and representational, for 80 years.

Beloved Hill portrait painter for 80 years dies at 104

I have met many extraordinary individuals in the Chestnut Hill area over the last 40 years, but Emilie (Kayo) Rivinus Brégy is definitely among the most memorable. more

by Len Lear | 1/16/25

Longtime Mt. Airy resident Howard A. Myrick, who died Nov. 12, had a decades-long history of military service and teaching communications in college, including at Temple University for 27 years.

Media scholar and military leader Howard Myrick dies

Howard A. Myrick, 90, was a longtime resident of West Mt. Airy and a professor emeritus in communications and media. more

12/12/24

Stephen Kerzner at Woodmere with his favorite dog, Sophie the Pug, who was rescued at age 13 by one of Kerzner's co-workers.

Longtime Woodmere museum personality dies at 74

Stephen Kerzner, the longtime director of the store at Woodmere, died of stroke complications. more

by Len Lear | 12/11/24

Philomena Rush, a much-loved Wyndmoor resident who was born and raised in a Northern Ireland farming community, had “about 52 cousins” and 12 brothers and sisters.

Local mother of four was known for her kindness

Philomena Rush, 90, a beloved Wyndmoor resident for 56 years who was born in Northern Ireland as one of 13 siblings, died Nov. 6. more

by Len Lear | 12/5/24

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GFS youth ensemble introduces new generation to jazz

The upcoming Germantown Jazz Festival — scheduled for April 25-27 — aims to celebrate the art form embedded in the culture of the historic neighborhood for decades.

Helena Bonham Carter shines as a young woman transformed by Italy

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Germantown couple’s art meets activism at iMPeRFeCT Gallery

Plenty of kids doodle, draw and dabble in art, then drop those pursuits as they grow older. Karen Singer and Peter Handler never stopped.

St. Paul’s organ rededication recital series continues May 2

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chestnut Hill, continues its series of rededication recitals at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 2.

Sing Slavic brings Eastern Europe to Chestnut Hill

Sing Slavic focuses on Slavic folk songs and specializes in performing a repertoire of Eastern European folk songs from countries like Ukraine, Bulgaria, Poland and Russia.

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