Close encounters at an iconic RFH alum hang-out may be a thing of the past these days, but old memories of Donovan’s Reef times die hard. So do close RFH classmate relationships.
Continue reading Retro RFH Rite of Passage: Close Donovan’s Encounters
It’s the start of a Memorial Day weekend of a different kind — the pandemic kind.
Continue reading Retro Theatrical RFHers’ Day at the Beach
As part of National EMS Week, homage is paid to first aid squads, particularly the volunteer squads.
Continue reading Retro Rumson First Aid by Boat
This week is National EMS Week. These are the trained volunteers who show up when you’re in an emergency health situation, an accident or you just need a little help out of a situation. They’re a 911 call away.
In both Rumson and Fair Haven, first aid squads are comprised of residents who are trained and certified to respond to all of these emergencies, day and night.
Continue reading Retro Fair Haven EMS Dive Squad Doings
In recognition of National Police Week, we are reposting this Retro Pic of the Day of Fair Haven police …
With National Police Week coming to a close, it’s only fitting that we take a look back at the Fair Haven Police Department. This look goes back to 2001. It features some officers who have since retired, some who have moved on and some who have passed.
Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Police Line-Up
It’s National Police Week. And it’s a National Police Week of a different kind this year.
Usually the week represents the culmination of the Police Unity Tour in which law enforcement officers from all over the nation ride bicycles to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor fallen officers. But, for the first time since before it began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, there is no ride due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is also no week of convergence in Washington to participate in the now longtime tradition of participation in events to honor fallen officers. But there is still remembrance.
Continue reading Retro Rumson Police Snapshot
To honor some favorite RFH teachers who have passed, we are re-running this tribute to RFH French teacher Joseph Guillory, originally published in 2015, an under-appreciated gem of a language teacher. Thank you, Monsieur Guillory. You are remembered and appreciated …
C’est toute bien.
It’s all good. That’s how things were in Monsieur Guillory’s class at RFH back in the 1970s.
The patient, kind and slightly goofy guy who taught the honors French class for many years is gone. But, no, his students and former colleagues have not forgotten him.
Continue reading Retro Appreciation for a Tres Bon RFH French Teacher
The following tribute on Teacher Appreciation Week to an RFH teacher who has passed, Bob Berberich, was originally published in 2015.
They’re the teachers who taught us how to communicate effectively, appreciate the English language and even motivate certain writers (ahem) to write — English teachers.
In keeping with our Teacher Appreciation Week theme of honoring unique RFH teachers who have passed, today we look back to the lessons learned from Bob Berberich.
Continue reading Retro Appreciation for RFH English Teacher Bob Berberich
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week. And, ironically, May 4, the start of the week, marked the posthumous 100th birthday of a former longtime RFH gym teacher and field hockey coach — icon Pat Robinson, who passed away just shy of her centenarian milestone.
Continue reading Retro RFH Gym Teacher Appreciation: Pat Robinson, a Near-Centenarian
Batter up! There would have been both varsity and junior varsity baseball games at RFH today had there been a baseball season. Now, though, the RFH games against Holmdel have a black line through them on the high school’s athletic schedule.
Continue reading Retro RFH Socially Distant Baseball Times
The pandemic has hijacked another high school tradition — prom. It would have been a big happening right about this time of the spring, and there would have been all sorts of prep — zoomed-in close encounter photos of friends and couples bonding, corsage and boutenir pinnings … those pre-prom poses. Time capsule moments of the bomb variety — as in disaster or picture perfection. TikTok? Hmmmmm … Not always.
Continue reading Retro RFH Pre-Prom MomentsThis slideshow, memorializing RFH Class of ’78 alum A.J. Bruder, was originally run on April 15, 2015. April 15 marked the 24th anniversary of A.J.’s untimely death. We are running it again, as we do annually, to pay tribute to A.J. This year is a special year for the special remembrance, as A.J., among other things, was a baseball player and there is no high school baseball this year due to the pandemic. He was a track star. There’s no track. Though, if he were still with us, you may see him doing a lone skate on an empty street.
The popular class officer, athlete, writer, artist, singer-songwriter, friend to many, son, brother, cousin, and all-around great guy died of lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain at the young age of 36 on the day of the 100th Boston Marathon — April 15, 1996.
He is memorialized by many at the annual Rumson-Fair Haven Run’s A.J. Bruder Memorial 5-mile run and is remembered daily by countless people whose lives he touched with his kind, generous, playfully contagious spirit. The A.J. Bruder Reach for the Stars Scholarship is also awarded annually to stand-out RFH seniors at graduation.
There are no sports this spring. There’s no close contact. Camaraderie remains — close from a distance. We have to wonder what A.J. would think. Thoughts?
Take a look at the A.J. of RFH days. Godspeed, A.J. Bruder. You are remembered.
Many thanks to George Day for the photos of A.J.!
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