In Memoriam
Dorothy Cynthia Bartlett
Our dear button friend, Dorothy Cynthia Bartlett, passed away on December 16, 2024.
A born teacher, Cynthia Bartlett always looked for the best in everyone and tried to pass on credit to others. In 2017, beginning a two-year term as president of the New Jersey State Button Society, she agreed to serve “as a tribute to the individuals who have devoted so much time to encouraging me to grow.”
Though she had many daunting life challenges, she always rejoiced that she always had her hobby to turn to. A loyal member of the New Jersey State Button Society, and her local club (Central Jersey Buttoniers) she also belonged to the National Button Society.
Lillian J. Buirkle
Lillian J. Buirkle, 82, passed away on December 29, 2018, at her home in Lavallette, New Jersey.
After Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA., Lillian became a scientific pioneer as a senior scientist. While having a large family and successful career that spanned decades, she also found time to be editor of the Michigan State Button Society bulletin from 1997 to 2002. She competed in local, state and national button societies covering much of the eastern U.S. “Every button that is new to me is exciting,” she said. “My favorite buttons are those from the 18th-century and earlier, especially those made of fabric, since they are so fragile.”
She wrote about fabric buttons and presented a program on them for NJSBS. Among her other publications are, with Marjorie Fraser, a booklet on the Marie Snouffer China buttons, now in its second edition. For the National Button Society bulletin, she authored several articles on political buttons, including those on Presidents William Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt.
She was past president of the New Jersey State Button Society, and she was also editor of the NJSBS bulletin and webmaster. As president she recruited NJSBS members to help the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society evaluate its button collection. In 2017, even when she was very ill, she pitched in to help produce and edit the fall NJSBS bulletin. She was a loyal member of Jersey Shore and Central Jersey Buttoniers.
Mary Olive Conlon
Mary Olive Conlon, 79, of Brielle passed at home on April 18, 2010.
She was treasurer of the New Jersey State Button Society (NJSBS) from 2004 – 2007, a member of the Jersey Shore Button Club, Central Jersey Buttoniers and National Button Society.
Specializing in cats, owls and studio buttons, Mary presented the “History of New Jersey Studio-Button Makers” at the May 2007 NJSBS Spring Show. Her PowerPoint talk illustrated the works of 23 New Jersey studio artists, from the 1940s through modern-day, and the wide variety of materials they used: carved pearl; wood Marquetry; glass lamp work, including paperweights; ceramic; leather; polyester and etched Pinna shells. The program was re-printed in the Fall 2007 edition of the NJSBS Bulletin (Vol. 66, No. 1).
Mary received her BA and Master’s degrees from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
Anne Flood
Anne Flood, author of the 50-Year Index to National Button Society Bulletins Volumes 1 to 49 (1942) to 50 (1991) and the Index to National Button Society Bulletins, Volume 51 (1992) – Volume 60 (2001), died peacefully on September 29, 2013.
Anne Flood, nee Walker, was born in Painted Post, New York. Anne was a graduate of the New Jersey State Normal School. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Anne joined the National Button Society in 1956 and became a Life Member in 1966. She was a Life member of the New Jersey Button Society and its president from 1975-77, a member of the Central Jersey Buttoniers and a cherished member of Button Friends of New Jersey. She kept in touch after her move to Vermont. Anne enjoyed changing her 16 trays on the den wall every few months, and her knowledge of buttons was vast.
John Force
An avid member of the Central Jersey Buttoniers, New Jersey State Button Society, and the National Button Society, John Force, passed away in May 2020.
An enthusiastic collector of many things old and antique, his first love was collecting milk bottles and dairy-related items. Button collecting was an exciting endeavor, and along with Sonia, his wife of 69 years, they traveled many miles, in a lot of years, meeting knowledgeable folks, and always looking to find an unexpected button treasure for their collections.
John’s particular interests in button collecting were American Indians and animals, farm related. He will be remembered for his engaging smile and his gift of gab.
Sonia Stout Force
Sonia Stout Force died on April 25, 2026 at age 94. After three decades as a teacher, Sonia co-founded – with her sister Carol Meszaros — the Central Jersey Buttoniers.
As president for 20 years, she began every meeting with a fun poem. With her sunny, positive approach, she mentored younger members and ensured the clubs success.
Her husband John, noted for his milk bottle collection, also collected buttons and helped host memorable club picnics. Her many hobbies also included antiquing, needlework, knitting, rug hooking, reading, quilting, square dancing, sewing, and collecting pie birds and jelly glasses.
Marilyn Jo Jost
Marilyn Jo Jost, 79, passed away on April 18, 2018 due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. She and Howard, her husband of 51 years, raised their two sons in Manasquan.
She was a devoted & loving wife, mother, friend, gardener and volunteer. Marilyn was a faithful member of Manasquan United Methodist Church and also volunteered many years at the VNA Thrift Shop in Manasquan.
She loved gardening and belonged to the Sea Lavender Garden Club. She also enjoyed collecting antiques, vintage jewelry & buttons and was a member of the Jersey Shore Button Club. She will be dearly missed
Alvia Disbrow Martin
Alvia Disbrow Martin, 85, of Cheesequake passed September 3, 2009 at the Bayshore Community Hospital with her family by her side.
Alvia Martin served as president of the New Jersey State Button Society (NJSBS) from 1983 – 85, and president of the Jersey Shore Button Club. She was a NJSBS life member, and member of the National Button Society.
Born in Keyport, a small New Jersey shore town, Alvia was a graduate of Keyport High School and the school of nursing at Jersey City Medical Center, from which she graduated with honors as registered nurse (RN). In World War II, she served in The Public Health Nurse Corps, during which time she met her future husband, Ebner Roger Martin, at a USO Dance in Perry Point, MD.
Carol Stout Meszaros
Carol Stout Meszaros was a staunch supporter of button collecting in general and NJSBS in particular. With her sister, Sonia Force, Carol cofounded Central Jersey Buttoniers in 1986. For the state society, she was an at-large board director. She appreciated the craftsmanship of the older buttons and admired their beauty. She particularly loved how hunt club buttons reveal that different countries hunt with different hounds – fox hounds, beagle hounds, mink and otter hounds, blood hounds, and harrier hounds,
Carol had a supportive husband for her collecting endeavors, Bob. Bob and Carol visited antique shops together and were able to buy the stock of a retired dealer, Typically she spent seven to eight hours a week sorting and cleaning the buttons.
Her family – and her button friends – will continue to be inspired by her life.
Violet G. Osmun, 89, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, passed on January 9, 2011 after a brief battle with cancer.
She was born on May 2, 1921 in Mechanicsburg, PA. Vi was graduated from Mechanicsburg High School, and immediately joined the WAVEs, a World War II division of the U.S. Navy which consisted entirely of women. She became an airplane mechanic, training in Jacksonville, Florida, and Norman, Oklahoma.
While Vi was stationed in Jacksonville, she met and married her late husband, Lloyd Norman Osmun Sr., also an airplane mechanic, of Brainards, New Jersey.
Vi earned a nickname of the “Buttonlady” since she was an avid clothing button collector. She was a long-time member of the New Jersey State Button Society, the Central Jersey Buttoniers and the Pennsylvania State Button Society. Following visits with her daughter and son-in-law in Harare, Zimbabwe, she returned home with African horn buttons, many carved in animal shapes, as well as English-manufactured Bimini glass buttons, still available in this South African country which was the British Crown Colony of Southern Rhodesia prior to independence being declared in 1980 by Robert Mugabe.
For button folks Don was three people, though many more in life. He was the author of three volumes of transportation uniform button information. These books are the bible for any collector in this specialized area.
The second person was Don as National Button Society (NBS) President. Don brought his managerial and engineering experience to the office. Don was able to visit and examine the records of Waterbury Button Company and talk to people from Scovill Button Company who had moved to Waterbury when Scovill was acquired by them.
Don gave many talks before the New Jersey State Button Society.
Alexandria L. “Tessie” Vitomski, 94, passed July 22, 2010 at the Compassionate Care Hospice, Wilmington, Delaware.
Tessie was a long-time button dealer, who collected buttons for more than 40 years. She was a member of the Jersey Shore Button Club and New Jersey State Button Society.
Barbara Wolfgang, a button artist from the Stonebridge Button Club and co-founder of the National Association of Private Geriatric Care Managers, died at age 90 on May 16, 2026.
Margot Zimmerman, a Stonebridge Button Club member who dedicated her career to family planning and public health, died at age 90 on January 8, 2026.
New Jersey State Button Society