Gwendolyn Marie Long passed away peacefully at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. Lynne, as she was called by those who knew and loved her, was born in Moberly, Missouri, on October 29, 1944, to Gwynne and Marjorie Shields, the oldest of four sisters.
She attended high school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart (City House) in St. Louis and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Loretto Heights College in Denver.
Shortly after graduation, Lynne married David Long at the Basilica of St Louis (old Cathedral), St. Louis, MO. They settled in their first home in Cherry Hill, NJ, where Lynne taught high school history. Shortly thereafter Lynne returned to St. Louis as David was called to active duty (U.S. Army) and subsequently gave birth to their first child. After David’s deployment they moved to New York and finally settled in Princeton, NJ, in 1972 where they raised their four sons.
While her primary focus in life was being a stay-at-home mom to her boys, she nonetheless found many ways to contribute to the betterment of the community. She served on the boards of the St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center and the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey. In addition, she volunteered much of her time to the University Medical Center at Princeton, co-chairing the Center’s two primary fundraising events — The Hospital Fete (the year it celebrated its Silver Anniversary), and, for two years, the Christmas Boutique. In addition, she was chosen and served for 10 years as the first Docent of the Drumthwacket Foundation, which was founded in support of the historic mansion when it became the official residence of the Governor of the State of New Jersey.
While Lynne was beloved and respected for her gentle, soft-spoken demeanor and her kindness, she could also be a fierce competitor, on the tennis court as well as the bridge table, where she excelled, achieving the rank of Bronze Life Master and also serving as an instructor at the Fishers Island Club on Fishers Island, New York, where she and David summered for the past 26 years. And, while it didn’t involve any competition, her completion of the New York Times crossword puzzle every day in ink also attests to her tenacity and mental acuity.
She is survived by her husband, David; and her sisters, Judith Ann Flynn (Anthony) of St. Louis, Deborah Christine Shields of Princeton, and Mary Lucille Frye (Douglas) of St. Louis. She is also survived by her sons, David Ill (Jane), Jeffrey (Jenny), Christopher (Merrill), and Nicholas (Alex); her beloved cousin, Meg Shields Duke; and by her grandchildren, Alexander, Patrick (Rosa), Clare, Marjorie, Megan, Gwynne, Christopher, Kate, James, Annie, Maggie, Austin, Timothy, Sophia, and Aubrey.
She will be laid to rest at the Princeton Cemetery in a private ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the J. Thomas Davidson, MD, Surgical Education Fund of the Princeton Medical Center Foundation.
Arrangements by Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, Vero Beach, FL. A guestbook is available at strunkfuneralhome.com.