Vernon Chester Winn, 95, of Princeton, NJ and Guilford, VT, passed away peacefully in his sleep in San Diego, CA on July 4,2011.

Vernon was born in Torrington, CT, and grew up in Franklin, NH. He was the only son of Chester Garfield Winn and Louise Janke Winn. He attended the University of NH, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1938.

For the majority of his professional life he worked for Hercules Inc. in Parlin, NJ, rising from Power Engineer to Assistant Plant Manager. In 1954 he was one of the first industrial representatives appointed to the New Jersey Air Pollution Control Commission, and later served as Hercules' pollution control specialist. In that capacity he was instrumental in development of an energy efficient method to produce nitric acid, and in 1961 received US Patent #3,003,551 for his innovative design.

In 1947, he married Nadine Sencevicky, a Hercules employee. They had 2 daughters, Emily Winn-Deen (married to Ronald Deen) and Karen Winn (married to Joseph Carr).He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nadine, their daughters, and close family friend, Karen Wood Liberato, as well as grandchildren Geoffrey, Benjamin, and Amanda Deen, honorary grandchildren Ian, Alison, and Eric Liberato, and step grandchildren Megan and Katie Carr.

Upon retirement, Vernon and Nadine split their time between Princeton, NJ and Guilford, VT, where they had summered for many years. Vernon spent many hours restoring the 1800s era farmhouse in Vermont as well as indulging his love for antique furniture. Under a special state grant program he also restored the adjacent barn it was subsequently granted a Vermont historic barn designation. Vernon was an avid golfer and counted among his proudest moments winning an amateur tournament at Wentworth By-The-Sea in Portsmouth, NH and scoring a hole in one at the Bretwood golf course in Keene, NH. He was a long-time fan of Princeton University basketball, and a founding member of All Saint's parish.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at All Saints' Church, 16 All Saints' Road, Princeton, NJ. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to All Saints Chapel, 16 All Saints Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540 or the Guilford Historical Society, 236 School Road, Guilford, VT 05301.