Alice Jane Mariani (née Gladstone), affectionately known as “Alisa” or “Bunny,” passed away on November 23, 2024, just 15 days after the loss of her beloved husband, Umberto Mariani. Born on March 28, 1937, in the Bronx, NY, Alice was the daughter of Rae and Morris Gladstone and sister to Emily Grunwald. Her early years were marked by resilience as her family relocated to Florida to address her health challenges.
Determined to return to New York, she excelled academically, earning her GED at 16 and attended NYU before transferring to Bard College, where she earned her B.A. It was at Bard that she met her husband while serving as a counselor for a Fulbright orientation program. They were married in 1963 in Scarsdale, NY.
Alice pursued her academic passions, earning a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University in 1967, with expertise in Homer’s Odyssey. Alice’s intellectual and creative spirit extended to her love of folk and classical music, poetry, literature, and art. She collaborated with her husband on several Italian-English translations, showcasing their shared passion for language and culture.
In 1970, she and Umberto established a homestead in Hillsborough, NJ, where they raised their daughters, Francesca and AnnaLisa. Alice nurtured a large kitchen garden, cultivated flowers, and prepared homemade delicacies like jams, honey, goat cheese, and her renowned garden-fresh vegetable dishes. She was a gifted cook, delighting family and friends with lavish meals, including her famous cheesecake and chocolate almond torte.
After raising her daughters, Alice dedicated her career to teaching English as a Second Language, empowering countless immigrants in New Jersey to master English and thrive in their new communities. Her lifelong commitment to social justice was expressed through her active involvement in civil rights organizations, including serving as vice president of the Somerset County chapter of the ACLU for over 20 years, President of the Middlesex County chapter prior to that, and an ACLU-NJ Board member and as a long-time peace activist. For over 20 years, she also played a pivotal role in coordinating the Somerset County Free Legal Clinic, providing essential support to those unable to afford legal services.
Alice is survived by her daughters, Francesca Mariani (Daniel Lakeland) of Altadena, CA, and AnnaLisa Mariani of Philadelphia, PA; her grandsons, Nicolas and Alexander Lakeland; her nephews, Eitan Grunwald (Karyn Grunwald), Ron Grunwald (Lorisa Seibel), and Robert Grunwald (Sandee Grunwald).
Alice will be remembered for her unwavering dedication to family, education, and social justice. She leaves a lasting legacy of love, wisdom, and a life devoted to improving the lives of others.
Cremation was held privately under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.
You are encouraged to visit Alice’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs her life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the ACLU of NJ, HERE.
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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”
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