“Her love, guidance and life lessons taught have made us better people. Her generosity has been felt by all … We all now have another angel watching over us.”
Loved ones of Iris Bluford in her obituary
Another forever Fair Haven neighbor, an angel among neighbors to many, has passed, leaving behind a rich legacy of grace and love of home with heart. Iris Bluford, who lived on Parker Avenue since 1959, passed away peacefully at her home on April 2, Good Friday evening. She was 99, just a couple months shy of her 100th birthday.
“‘Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow …” Danny Boy
“Dan loved his family, he loved his friends, he loved his work — Dan loved life.“
Loved ones of Dan Grady
Friends called them The Grady Bunch: A passel of six affable Rumson- and Fair Haven-raised kids, all graduates of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. The bunch was headed by patriarch Daniel “Dan” Richard Grady.
Surrounded by his children, the longtime former Rumson and Fair Haven dad passed away on March 9 at his Florida home. He was 86.
The popular dad was laid to rest today, April 14, what would have been his 87th birthday.
Sunny daze at Barnacle’s Photos/Elaine Van Develde … exclusively for R-FH Retro
It’s always good to get a leg up on brighter days, especially when it involves a simple riverside adventure, a friendly hand from a childhood friend.
The picture says it all.
Soaking up the sun on the horizon is more than symbolic these days. Basking in it all at an iconic spot down by the Navesink River at Barnacle Bill’s in Rumson is, well, tradition. But it’s more poignant than ever as we begin to head out of pandemic darkness and into the light. Better weather ushers that better view into a fuzzy warm focus.
The search for a kayaker who went missing on the Navesink River in Fair Haven on Friday morning ended with the recovery of a 78-year-old man’s body that evening, Police Chief Joseph McGovern said in a released statement on Saturday morning.
“Man is not man until he has learned to live with his brothers.”
Clinton Miller, RFH Yearbook quote
The news of the sudden death of former Fair Havenite and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate, Clinton Miller, on March 11, was met with a tsunami of shock and sadness coupled with gratitude from countless people for having known a man many called their brother, blood or not.
Surrounded by loved ones, former Fair Havenite and 70-year Shrewsbury resident Eileen G. Kirsh passed away from natural causes at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, on March 12. She was 95.
Forever Fair Havenite, 64-year fire company member, U.S. Navy vet, mailman, father, and friend to the community, John J. “Jack” Butler passed away on March 11. He was 88.
Jack loved Fair Haven. At one time, in fact, his daughter Bridget Butler Kaniewski said, in a post about his death, Jack “knew every person and address in town” and loved seeing retro photos and reminiscing.
“He enjoyed all of the photos from years past and we were so happy to be able to keep him up to date on town happenings (even if he didn’t fully understand how we were obtaining this information from our phones). Whether he delivered your mail with care, swiped away your bet at the Big Six, was a classmate at Sickles School or RFH class of 1950, or was simply a familiar face from town — he knew you. If he didn’t know you he knew your parents, or grandparents, or who used to live in your house.
Fair Haven was his town.”
Bridget Butler Kaniewski
Jack Butler … Photo/family via John E. Day Funeral Home
“Throughout his life, Jack’s primary passion was his family and he cherished the many barbeques, parties, trips, and other events that brought everyone together.
“Second, though, was thoroughbred horse racing. Jack loved talking about the horses with his friends, analyzing his picks and simply being part of the atmosphere at Monmouth Park every summer. Fittingly, Jack won the most recent bets he placed — backing Authentic in the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup Classic.
“When not at the track, Jack was a golfer, a bowler, a baseball player, and a strong supporter of both the Jets and the Mets. Last, no day was complete for Jack without first reading the NY Daily News—from back to front.”
Born in Long Branch, NJ on August 2, 1932 to the late James F. and Beatrice (Touhy) Butler, Jack lived in Fair Haven for most of his life.
He worked as a letter carrier for the Red Bank Post Office for 42 years — a career he greatly enjoyed, as it enabled him to work outdoors and to get to know his customers along his route. Being a letter carrier also enabled Jack to stop in at his children’s sporting or school events and then head right back to work. Jack valued his time and accomplishments at the post office and the many friendships he made while working there over his four-decade tenure.
Jack’s commitment to helping others led him to enlist in the US Navy where he served on the USS Borie (DD-704) during the Korean War from 1952-1956. Jack also proudly served his local community as a life-long, 64-year member of the Fair Haven Fire Company.
Jack was predeceased by his adored granddaughter, Maren Kaniewski and his sister, Eileen Butler.
He is survived by: his loving children, John F. Butler and his wife Janelle, and Bridget Kaniewski and her husband Richard; his cherished grandchildren, John, Rory, Megan, Ricky and Deirdre; and his dear brother, James F. Butler.
A visitation will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. A mass will immediately follow at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Nativity, Fair Haven. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Middletown.
Jack’s family will then hold a celebration of his life at Monmouth Park this summer, once Covid 19 conditions permit.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Jack’s memory to Maren’s Fierce Fighters, www.marensfiercefighters.org in honor of his granddaughter.
Students called her Mrs. B. She was Jeannie to fellow teachers. She was Jean Burgess — Nellie Jean (Badida) Burgess. She taught in the Fair Haven schools for 33 years. The valued longtime Fair Haven wife, mom, teacher, colleague and friend to many passed away peacefully on Jan. 28 in Chester, VA. She was 73.
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