This remembrance for Memorial Day is posted every year …
Their faces are the faces at the core of a close-knit community.
They were neighbors, dads, and just plain friendly faces around the Rumson-Fair Haven area towns. They were also veterans.
They served. They fought for freedom in World War II and the Korean War.
They lived their lives with hometown pride, honor and respect. They were founding fathers, friends. They were cornerstones of the sense of community that is the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
The gift of their legacies bears no upscale real estate market value. They passed along a love of country and community that is priceless.
Thank you, in a Memorial Day ode, to the veterans of the area who have passed. You are cherished, honored.
Take a look at some of their faces and remember. Thank you to those vets who are still with us.
— Elaine Van Develde
— Photos, courtesy of families of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
On the cusp of Memorial Day, the Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Veterans Appreciation Club unveiled its RFH Wall of Honor in honor of alumni serving in the U.S. military.
A Monmouth County man pleaded guilty on Thursday to the 2020 sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.
Fair Haven Little League of the late 60s/early 70s Photo/courtesy of Bill Acker
Little league is in full swing for 2021, but there are no Giants.
Back in the late 60s or early 70s, there was a whole team full. That team was led by forever Fair Havenite Bill Lang, who was laid to rest recently. He was a giant of a personality and volunteer for all things Fair Haven, so the team’s name was fitting.
Longtime Middletown resident and former ARC of Monmouth principal, Katherine (Kay) Frances Grady (Leyden), passed peacefully on May 17. She was 92.
Kay Grady Photo/family via John E. Day Funeral Home
“Kay never stood taller than 5 feet, but her diminutive stature was deceptive as she always had a big presence, touching many lives. Kay faced life’s challenges with dignity and grace and always maintained a sense of humor and positive attitude.
Kay will be truly missed by all those she has left behind.”
Born to Joseph and Katherine Leyden in West Orange, Kay was raised in Ridgefield Park. It was there that she met the love of her life, Douglas Grady. Doug and Kay married in June of 1951 and settled in Middletown, to raise their three children, Joanne, Douglas Jr. (Skip) and Kathy.
“After spending many years at home as a devoted wife and mother, Kay decided to rejoin the workforce. She was hired by the ARC of Monmouth in an administrative role and continued to advance within the organization eventually becoming the director of development, which was the position Kay held when she retired after 30 years. While with ARC, Kay won several awards including the prestigious Martin Papish Award in 1998.
Loved ones of Kay Grady
Kay was a communicant at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Holmdel for more than 25 years and St. James Catholic Church for 25 years prior to that.
Kay is survived by: her sister, Joan Tanner of Rochester, NY; her children, Joanne and husband Frank Delguercio of Hammonton; Douglas Grady, of Ft Worth, TX; Kathy and husband Ted Dlugolecki, of Hopkinton, MA; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Kay is predeceased by her loving husband, Doug as well as her great granddaughter, Leyden.
The family would like to thank the wonderful care provided by the caregivers and staff at Arbor Terrace Shrewsbury and Embracing Hospice.
Checks may also be mailed to ARC at The ARC of the US C/O Tamala P. Scott, Senior Director of Development, 1825 K. Street, NW Suite #1200, Washington, DC 20006 indicating that the gift is to be applied in memory of Kay Grady.
There will be a memorial gathering on Tuesday, June 15, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank, followed by a memorial mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. James R. C. Church in Red Bank, and an interment at Mt. Olivet cemetery in Middletown.
— Edited obituary written by loved ones via John E. Day Funeral Home
RFH Class of ’78 Girls on the Beach in the Freshmen Follies Photo/George Day
Helloooooo warmth. Summer is on the horizon. And the weather forecast this week, heading into the unofficial start of summer, holds some promise of summer days ahead, staged or not.
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