Obituaries

Sally Jean Marks, 86, an internationally known scholar of twentieth century European history, died Saturday, January 13, 2018 in Bethlehem, PA. Born January 18, 1931 in New Haven, CT she was the daughter of the late Percy Marks, writer, and Margaret Gates Marks Barton, artist. Sally attended the Prospect Hill School for Girls before graduating from Wellesley College with honors. After working at the Defense Department in Washington, she gained her MA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a PhD in international history from the University of London (London School of Economics).

Professor Marks taught at St. Margaret’s School, Waterbury, CT, the Laycock School, Westport, CT, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Rhode Island College, and Brown University. In addition to numerous articles in journals in this country and abroad, she published four volumes of history, specializing in inter-war European international relations. Her monograph, Innocent Abroad: Belgium at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, won the George Louis Beer Prize of the American Historical Association (AHA) and the senior scholar award of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honorary society.

She  received fellowships from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the AHA. A member of numerous historical organizations, she chaired committees for the AHA, the Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations, and the Conference Group for Central European History. A member of the Tauber Institute, l’Institut royal des relations internationales in Brussels, and the Royal Anglo-Belgian Club in London, she also served on the Editorial Board of H-Diplo, the internet discussion group for diplomatic historians.

Professor Marks was a member of the RI Historical Society, the Providence Art Club, the Providence Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Providence Athenaeum and its book group. She served on the governing boards of Common Cause of RI, Project Learn, the American Association of University Professors of RI, the Providence branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Friends of the Rochambeau Library, and the Mystery Buffs of RI. She also tutored for Volunteers in Providence Schools, was a docent at the Holocaust Museum of RI, and worked on book sales for the AAUW, the Rochambeau Library and the Athenaeum.

She is survived by her stepsister, Wendy Bingert of Easton, PA; her niece, Suzanne Bingert, and her nephews, Thomas Bingert and Stephen Bingert and his wife Kiasha and their daughter Ginger.

Services are private; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Ulysses Alexander Maysonet, 9 of Easton, PA died Friday, January 12, 2018 at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Born September 6, 2008 in Fountainhill, PA he was a son of Alex Maysonet and the late Tammy Lynn (McNally) Maysonet. He was a 3rd Grade student at Paxinosa Elementary School and played for the Miracle League of Northampton County Yankees. He especially loved playing video games.

He is survived by his father Alex; his sister Alexa; and grandparents: Theresa McNally, Alejo Maysonet and Olga Rosario.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 6:30 PM Wednesday (Jan. 17) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o the funeral home. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Elizabeth G. Stackhouse, 96 of Chatham, NJ formerly of Easton, PA died Monday, January 8, 2018 at the Morristown Memorial Hospital. Born October 28, 1921 in Ashland, PA she was a daughter of the late George E. and Jessie (Rynkiewicz) Brobst. She was a 1939 graduate of Mahanoy Twp. High School and of the Catholic faith. Elizabeth, who preferred the name Betty, was a devoted wife and homemaker who had a lifelong interest in music, which included singing in choirs, playing piano, and attending live, big band era performances in her early years.  She was an excellent home cook and could create simple, but beautiful flower arrangements.

She is survived by her son Douglas Stackhouse of Arvada, CO. Her husband Donald S. Stackhouse died in 2011.

A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 AM Wednesday (Jan. 17)  in Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 132 S. 5th St., Easton, PA with visitation 10 to 10:30 AM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Interment is in Easton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Church, 614 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City, PA 17948. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Bruce W. Fretz, 68 of Palmer Township, PA died Sunday, January 7, 2018 at home. Born March 3, 1949 in Bethlehem, PA he was a son of the late Elmer E. and Margaret R. (Snyder) Fretz.  He was a 1967 graduate of Easton High School, a graduate of Northampton Community College and served in the Army during the Vietnam War.  He retired after 41 years with the Palmer Township Police Department serving as the Chief of Police from 1994 until 2012.  Chief Fretz was a member of St. Paul’s III Lutheran Church in Palmer Twp., the Palmer Township Police Association, the Police Chief’s Association, the VFW and the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Karen (Howell) Fretz; 2 sons: Jason Fretz and his wife Beth of Lititz, PA, Justin Fretz and his wife Sharon of Williams Twp., PA; a brother: Timothy Fretz and his wife Cynthia of New Tripoli, PA; 5 grandchildren: Andrew, Matthew, Jake, Piper, Julia; and sister -in-law: Adrienne Grier and her husband Lester of Forks Twp., PA.

Services will be held at Noon on Saturday (Jan. 13) in St. Paul’s III Lutheran Church, 2561 Newburg Road, Easton with viewing hours from 9 AM to noon in the church.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s III Lutheran Church, 2561 Newburg Road, Easton, PA 18045.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.