John Rogers Woolston

John Rogers Woolston, 93, of Princeton, NJ, died peacefully on April 28 at Princeton Medical Center, Princeton, NJ. Born in Trenton, NJ, Rogers—as he preferred to be called—made Princeton his home in 1960. There, he and his beloved wife, Lorraine, raised their four children.

Rogers was the son of the late Japhet Bishop Woolston and Edna Rogers Woolston. He was predeceased by his wife, Lorraine Potent Woolston, and by his son, Jonathan R. Woolston. He is survived by his son Japhet P. Woolston of Williamsburg, VA; his daughter Cynthia W. Maltenfort of Princeton, NJ; his daughter-in-law Amy S. Woolston of Madison, SD; and his daughter Gail W. Wilkinson of Williamsburg, VA. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Victor Jay Potent and his wife, Margaret, of Middletown, DE, and by his sister-in-law Charlotte Potent of Bordentown, NJ.

He is lovingly remembered by his nine grandchildren: Chris, Nicholas, and Julia Woolston; Alex and Martin Maltenfort; Timothy Woolston and Kaitlin Kahn; and Natalie Chambers and Alyson Wilkinson—along with several nieces and nephews.

Rogers was a devoted husband of 57 years, a loving father and grandfather, and a loyal friend to all who knew him. He brought curiosity and energy to everything he did, performing on his double bass, supporting classical music in the Princeton area, serving as a Scout Leader for many years, documenting family life through photography and videography, and tracing family history as a dedicated genealogist. He found joy on the water as captain of his boat, "Do It," and remained deeply connected to Princeton University as an alumnus, never missing a reunion.

Music was at the heart of Rogers's life; he was the steady anchor who helped sustain Princeton's classical music communities. A professional double-bass player (AF of M, Local 62), he performed regularly in Princeton-area concerts. He served for 12 years as President of the Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs, later as its Executive Director, and as Secretary of the Music Club of Princeton. He was a founding member of The Collegium Musicum of Princeton, a chamber music group directed by the late Joseph Kovacs from 1972 to 1997. Subsequently, he became a longtime member of the bass section of the Westminster Community Orchestra, under the direction of Ruth Ochs.

Rogers spent 33 years at the former Princeton RCA Laboratories, where he was a prominent materials scientist and engineer with a career spanning semiconductor devices, materials characterization, and computer-based manufacturing automation. His work led to several notable patents, innovations, and many scientific papers. After retiring, he founded his own consulting business, JRW Custom Software, designing and producing specialized computer systems for engineering and manufacturing until he retired in 2000.

A proud member of the Princeton Class of 1955, Rogers served on the past seven major reunion committees and as a member of the Executive Committee. This included maintaining an extensive database of classmates, publishing several class directories, and producing a 1955 at 50 class comprehensive book containing a collection of autobiographical essays. He also served as a trustee of the Class of 1955 Foundation and was a Founder and Board Member of Princeton University Alumni Corps (previously called Project 55).

When he wasn't in Princeton, he could often be found at his cabin hideaway in the Moosehead Lake region of northern Maine. There, he served as a director of the Beaver Cove Association, its treasurer, and a member of its Architectural Review Committee. He especially loved welcoming family and friends to the Beaver Cove cabin that he designed—and he never tired of taking visitors out on "Do It" for a tour of Moosehead Lake.

Burial in the Ewing Church Cemetery will be private. A memorial service for family and friends will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, 50 Cherry Hill Rd, Princeton, NJ on Saturday, 27 June at 3 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to, the Moosehead Maine Museum; P.O. Box 1151 Greenville, ME 04441, https://www.katahdincruises.com/about-us/