All posts by Elaine Van Develde

Obituaries

Services Set for Rumson’s John Sullivan

We, at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect, extend our deepest sympathies to the Sullivan family and friends of John, whose final moments we saw spent proudly and happily marching in the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday with his buddies in The Briody Bunch.

We are so terribly sorry for your loss. Here are some happy moments to remember John by …

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John’s obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home …

John C. Sullivan, 78, of Rumson, passed away suddenly, Sunday, March 13.
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He proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force and was an engineer at Bell Labs in Holmdel for 40 years. John was a Knight of Columbus, Red Bank Council 3187 and treasurer of The Briody Bunch of Rumson.

He is survived by: his beloved wife of 43 years, Patricia (nee: Keaveney); his loving children, John P. and wife Kim Tuby, Erin Sullivan, Kevin and wife Nicole Walker and Michael and wife Alyson.

Also surviving are: his dear grandchildren, Ryan, Andrew, Shane, Brian, Thomas and Jason.

A life celebration will be at the John E. Day Funeral Home Wednesday, March 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 17 at Holy Cross Church, Rumson.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Wounded Warrior Project 370–7th Ave. 3rd fl. Rm 320 NY, NY 10001 or the charity of your choice appreciated.

 

Schools Scene

Forrestdale Students Revisit Jersey Icons

Kaila Scarpa, a Forrestdale School sixth grader, uses an interactive learning device at the New Jersey Hall of Fame Mobile Museum. Photo/Rumson School District
Kaila Scarpa, a Forrestdale School sixth grader, uses an interactive learning device at the New Jersey Hall of Fame Mobile Museum.
Photo/Rumson School District

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi’s jacket. A Les Paul guitar. A Green Bay Packers helmet representing longtime Coach Vince Lombari. These were just a few of the items viewed by sixth graders at Forrestdale School in Rumson when they visited the New Jersey Hall of Fame Mobile Museum.

Continue reading Forrestdale Students Revisit Jersey Icons →

Arts & Entertainment, Local Life

Chef Rossi: A Full Circle RFH Homecoming

By Elaine Van Develde

“I want you to know that I am so sorry I didn’t make the effort to get to know you in high school,” a Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate said to classmate Chef Rossi last Thursday after the reading and signing of her book, The Raging Skillet: The True Life Story of Chef Rossi … at River Road Books in Fair Haven. “I’m ashamed to say that I was one of those girls. And, yes, I was afraid of your Sex Pistols t-shirt.”

That was Lisa Malle Pritchard fessing up — owning who she didn’t even realize she was or if she even was. But who it was didn’t really matter to Rossi. It was what she said and when she said it that mattered.

The comment came in a very modest tone from that one blushing RFH prepster sandwiched in one corner of the room that was filled with RFH grads, the defunct but ever-enduring Barn Theater’s tribe, and a few nouveau admirers from afar and now close up.

In a real turnabout in perspective and persona from RFH 1970s, when she was the one who dropped many a jaw, the comment was met by touched, gape-mouthed Rossi and a demure “Oh, my God. Wow. Thank you so much for that. Moments like this make it all worthwhile. Can I give you a hug?”

And she did.

It was one of those awww/aha moments. For Rossi, the anti-chef, anti-preppy who was and is immersed in both worlds by default and devastating talent, things had come full circle with her homecoming. She was home again and everyone was feeling at home with her.

The moral of the Rossi story, which is one she promises there will be yet another book to explain and cook to, is that, yes, you can come home.

And not only can you come home, but you should, as she sees it.

“The real truth is that I wasn’t all those things that you were so afraid of back then,” the raging anti-chef said, pointing out that there was plenty of “Oreo crack” left to munch on. “I was just a little Jewish girl who liked Barbara Streisand.

” … Luckily, I was blessed with an enormous amount of chutzpah and a filthy mouth.”

Yes, you can come home, according to Rossi, especially this home. The theory is a Wizard of Oz sort of combo. It has something to do with always having had the power and not having to look any farther than your own back yard for what was in your heart all along — or something like that.

As Rossi put it, aside from her life highlight moment of Susan Sarandon eating her sun dried cranberry on the money spot (go ahead, figure that one out) …

“I’ve been going around the country on this book tour, but this is the stop that really pulled at my heartstrings. I graduated from RFH. I’ve got a lot of my buddies here today. So, even though I ran away from (this) home, got sent to live with the Chassids and other stories along the way, you know, every time I come back here I do feel like I’m coming back home. You’ve made that all possible.”

And so Rossi’s story goes, because, as someone in the audience piped up, “We love you,” followed by a usual cast (of characters) party at Barnacle Bill’s.

Home. Sweet … Oreo Crack and sea salt brownies.

Check out the slideshow above for a glimpse into the evening with Chef Rossi.

For more information, see her website by clicking here. 

You can also buy her book at River Road Books in Fair Haven.

 

Schools Scene

Filling Empty Food Bowls at RFH

The community came out in force recently for the annual Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH)-sponsored Empty Bowls fundraiser, getting roughly 8,700 meals to those in need.

The event , held in the RFH cafeteria on March 3, raised $2,900 for the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties which amounts to the roughly 8,700 meals.

Empty Bowls is named for the situation faced by local families struggling to put food on the table. Each year the event is open to the public and features beautiful original artwork in the form of bowls crafted by RFH ceramics students. For $10, people purchase one of the ceramic bowls as well as soup, bread and dessert.

Cups and Cakes Bakery in Rumson and Crazees Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt in Rumson served as community sponsors of the event.

A variety of soups was provided by members of the RFH school community, including staff members. Breads and desserts were provided by the RFH Cooking Club as well as RFH staff, students, and community volunteers.

RFH ceramics students as well as members of the RFH Character Education Club and RFH Cooking Club provided a helping hand. Sophomores Brian Incremona and Leo Maita provided music to dine by.

This year’s fundraiser featured a lucky chance drawing for ceramic pieces donated by local artists Lauren Bellero, Denise Ciolino, Steve Jaskowak, Greg LaPlaca, Judi Tavill, and Zack Wilson.

Event coordinators were: RFH Art Teacher Zack Wilson, library media specialist Linda Wien Murray, and guidance counselor Jason Lippart. RFH parent volunteers were Marianne Velcamp, Jen Shaw and Annie McGinty.

The Empty Bowls Project, now in its 25th year, is an international grassroots effort to raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger. More information can be found at www.emptybowls.net.

The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties alleviates hunger though child nutrition programs, a mobile pantry, a senior food program, and nutrition education.

For more information on how you can help as a volunteer or by donating, visit www.foodbankmoc.org.

— Edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School

Local Life, Opinion

Chef Rossi: Retro Portrait of an RFH Punk Rocker

Yes, Rossi, as we all know her, is coming home to RFH land tonight!

The RFH grad and premier “anti-chef” of the hipster Brooklyn scene has written a memoir about her not so Orthodox Orthodox Jewish upbringing in a preppy Rumson comprised of short stories accompanied by relevant recipes.

Rossi was a kinky-haired, butt-smoking punk rocker with a raucous mouth in a Lilly Pulitzer RFH world in the 1970s and early 80s. Her look wasn’t one that people in these parts were exposed to very often. Neither was her “I am who I am” attitude. She’s still rocking it — in a more staid way, but definitely rocking.

So, it’s only right that the Retro Pic(s) of the Day pay homage to the RFH friend, star caterer, author and master of many other things — like, from day one, being her authentic self and being damn good at it.

Check her out in these priceless pics from her ol’ RFH days. Kids! The middle shot is of her and her infamous not-so-Rumsonite parents, Marty and Harriet. Oh, and by the way, the double shot is her RFH yearbook pic. Yes, we know, most RFH yearbook pics are taken in a natural setting and I can’t recall any, except this one, in which the grad sporting wearing pink feather earrings. It was usually Monet or pearl studs. And, where’s the Fair Isle sweater and turtle neck??

Rossi rocked the anti-prep look!

— Elaine Van Develde