Tag Archives: A.J. Bruder

Remembering Close Encounters with RFH’s A.J. Bruder

This 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.!

 

A Retro RFH Pals’ Fall Skate II

 

Mike Grady and A.J. Bruder skateboarding into spring circa 1970s Photo/George Day
Mike Grady and A.J. Bruder skateboarding into spring circa 1970s
Photo/George Day

Well, the soggy state of the area lately has been drying up and making way for some falling for fall activity — or not falling. In the last Retro Pic of the Day, we offered a glimpse back into RFH skateboarders doing some impressive balancing acts on the boards on an area street. Yes, it was Sycamore.

Turns out it was a weekly (or more) occurrence at the hands and boards of a few RFH pals.

Continue reading A Retro RFH Pals’ Fall Skate II