Category Archives: Local Life

A look, in photos, of latest area events, local everyday people and places.

Local Life

Focus: RFH Alum Reunited

The snow came on Saturday and some diehard traditionalists and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) alumni and friends went … to the annual New Year gathering at the Grady home.

Despite the weather, a few trudged not quite uphill, but at least from their cars down the street, in the snow, to what has become the annual gala at which all good RFHers congregate.

And though there were quite a bit fewer RFH alum partygoers this year, no enthusiasm was buried. Get the drift?

Thanks to Mike and Kathleen Grady for hosting this annual mini RFH reunion for each new year! 

Take a look …

Recognize of these 1970s and early 80s RFHers?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Look at a Model Longtime Fair Havenite for Her 90th

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Who’s that lady?

Well, that lady … that sexy lady, as the song goes, is former longtime Fair Havenite Lee Weber (née Walker). Lee, long known as a model area mom with a generous spirit and heart, kicked the new year off with her 90th birthday on Sunday. Yes, 90! Yes, New Year’s Day.

This is a shot of her back in her modeling days in the late 1940s (roughly ’48, her daughter, RFH alum and Rumson resident Jenifer Weber-Zeller tells us). Bathing beauty, a/k/a Lee, modeled for Caroline Schnurer, a “very popular swimwear designer” of that era, Lee says.

In the post modeling days, Lee became Schnurer’s assistant, calling runway shows and such.

Lee now lives in Shrewsbury and is still looking runway ready.

See for yourselves …

Lee Weber turned 90 on New Year’s Day.
Photo/courtesy of Jenifer Weber-Zeller

Happy Birthday, Lee!

From the Meeting Room, Local Life

Focus: New Year’s Day Fun at Fair Haven Firehouse

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It’s a first day of the new year tradition.

Fire and first aid companies reorganize, naming new line officers. And festivities take hold at fire houses all over.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect made it to Fair Haven where there were a lot of familiar faces from all around the area — and a few reunions of RFHers.

Take a look …

And congratulations to the new line officers! They are:

Fire Company

Tim Morrissey, chief; Matt DePonti, deputy chief; Christopher Schrank, first assistant; Matthew Bufano, second assistant.

First Aid

Kim Ambrose, captain; Katy Frissora, first lieutenant; Daniel Kane, second lieutenant.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: R-FH Area Faces of 2016 Part II

As 2017 approaches, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect cordially invites you to take yet another look back at the people of 2016.

There were lots of major events, small gatherings and just plain priceless moments among Rumson-Fair Haven area friends, family and colleagues in 2016. We were there to capture them with our lens. So were you.

Take a look back with us at some of those moments with those people in 2016 … (Don’t forget to click the lower right icon to enlarge! Enjoy!)

Happy New Year and thank you for being a part of the R-FH Retro family!

— Elaine Van Develde, publisher & founding editor

Local Life

Focus: R-FH Area Faces of 2016

Gallery

As 2017 approaches, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect takes a look back at the people of 2016.

There were lots of major events, small gatherings and just plain priceless moments among Rumson-Fair Haven area friends, family and colleagues in 2016. We were there to capture them with our lens. So were you.

Take a look back with us at some of those moments with those people in 2016 … (Don’t forget to click the lower right icon to enlarge! And stay tuned for Part II). Enjoy!)

Happy New Year and thank you for being a part of the R-FH Retro family!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro RFH Polar Bear Tradition

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RFH Polar Bear Club after a plunge.
Photo/RFH Yearbook screenshot

New Year’s Day is approaching. And, as tradition has it in the area, with the advent of the new year comes a plunge into the cold Atlantic ocean — the annual Polar Bear Plunge, to be exact.

The annual Sons of Ireland’s Asbury Park ocean dip for bonding and charity on New Year’s Day was conceived by Rumsonite Sean Clifford.  It benefits two charities each year. This year, all the proceeds will go to: Red Bank-based Stephy’s Place, a relatively new non-profit dedicated to help the grief-afflicted; and Long Branch’s Shore House, a center of assistance for the mentally ill.

But, way back in the day, there was a high school group of plungers who had a club all their own — the RFH Polar Bear Club.

So, in light of the New Year’s Day plunge of today and the jumpers into the ocean chill of the past, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to RFH in the 1970s and a bunch of BFF plungers.

The weather really didn’t seem to affect them. Though, a little cold water on a winter’s day as a teen was never a big deal.

We salute the fearless plungers of both eras! Recognize any of the guys in this mid-70s RFH Yearbook shot?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Happy Holidays From R-FH Retro!

Video

The happiest of happy holidays from Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect!

Here’s a look at how some present and former R-FH area people celebrated …

Photos/R-FH Retro Facebook friends (Thanks to our Rumson-Fair Haven area friends for sharing your moments with us!)

Slideshow/Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Leaving the Scene of a Unique Retro RFH Cheer

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Those special RFH Powder Puff Football cheerleaders of the 1970s. Photo/George Day
Those special RFH Powder Puff Football cheerleaders of the 1970s.
Photo/George Day

What would a string of cheerleading for the team pics be without a cap-off of some special cheerleaders leaving the scene of the cheer?

So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day is a vision — of those crazy 1970s dudes and their “different” idea of cheering for the team and, well, those outfits.

So, here’s to that big cheer for RFH football, champions and, yes, those cheerleaders of the past.

Now, does anyone know who these guys are and whose skirts they’re sporting here?

Many thanks to the one and only George Day for capturing this gem of a look into the RFH past! 

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro RFH Cheer for Champs

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Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot
Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot

Well, the cheering for the RFH Bulldogs’ fourth consecutive state football championship has yet to cease.

And that’s how it goes with those spirited RFH cheers. The people of R-FH land are proud and rightly so.

So, in the interest of equal time and continuing to honor the champs, the Retro Pic of the Day zooms in on a group of real RFH cheerleaders of the past — the late 1970s to be sort of exact.

These are the real deal girls with their genuine purple and white plaid kilt skirts (rather than sister or mother’s clothes), saddle shoes (rather than work boots), and knee socks (in place of long johns, or whatever those things were on the guys). Oh, and the pom-poms and megaphones are authentic. Though the guys we showed you did manage to lift a couple of tools of the cheer trade from the girls, like those sweaters and a pom or two.

So, give this group of cheerleaders a gander. They were considered the coolest of the cool kids. Yup. The outfits and method of cheering have evolved quite a bit since then, but the sentiment is the same.

Go Bulldogs!

Recognize any of these girls? Some are still in the area.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, News

Focus: A Festive Rumson Tree Lighting

Gallery

The holiday stage was set and the tone was a rich, festive one in Rumson’s Victory Park on Sunday as the holidays were kicked off with the annual borough tree lighting.

Tim McLoone and the Shirleys and the Deane-Porter third graders set the musical pace and mood for the night as Rumsonites gathered to celebrate the start of the season with some song, dance, snacks, socializing and Santa.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect was there to capture many festive moments of the night. Take a look at the 50 glimpses into the night we caught with our lens.

Cheers to plenty of holiday cheer here! (Be sure to scroll all the way down. There are 50 photos. Click to enlarge.)

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life

Retro RFH Cheer for the State Football Champs

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The role reversed cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977. Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot
The role reversed cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977. Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot

When RFH won its fourth consecutive football state championship on Saturday, cheers could be heard for miles around — and days.

In fact, fans and alumnus from all over are still shouting the ol’ “Hey, purple, hey white, you look so good to me … Hey! Hey!” Well, it went something like that back in the 1970s.

And in the 70s there was also a very special group of cheerleaders with a unique twist on a cheer and, of course, those outfits. Never mind the pom-poms and mustaches.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors that special cheer that can be heard for miles around led by this special group of RFH Class of ’78 guys.

Recognize any of these special fellas? One or two of them may have actually been at Saturday’s game. Can you hear them now?

— Elaine Van Develde