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 …
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.
A Fair Haven mom has passed. She passed away early this morning, leaving behind a loving family and community.
She was a staple in the community for nearly 50 years. Her name: Ann Mauger.
So, our Retro Pic of the Day honors this mom.
Ann lived in Fair Haven from 1957 to 1985. She liked gardening and cooking. She liked spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed bike riding in her healthier years and she loved the beach and she loved camping, her son Peter reminded us.
Ann has been retired and living in Florida since 1985.
She loved a new snowfall and sunsets.
RIP, Ann Mauger! Thank you for being a great R-FH area mom and friend to the community.
Longtime Rumsonite, community volunteer and former Councilwoman Joan Pillsbury DeVoe passed away peacefully on Feb. 21.
The daughter of the late John M. and Mary Loux Pillsbury, Joan was raised in Atlantic Highlands and Middletown. She attended The Beard School in Morristown, and graduated from Wheaton College, Norton, MA.
Joan was an active volunteer in the community where she made her home for most of her life — Rumson.
Her service to the community included longtime involvement in: The Junior League; Rumson Community Appeal; Rumson Historical Society; and St. George’s Canterbury Fair, Altar Guild and Vestry.
Public service was a very important part of Joan’s life and she believed that serving as an elected official was a public trust.
Joan was elected to the Rumson Borough Council in 1996 and served for 18 years. The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders presented her with a citation on the occasion of her 80th birthday in honor of her many years of government service on both the local and county level.
A member of the Sea Bright Beach Club, rain or shine, spending time at the beach with family and friends was anticipated all winter and filled her with happiness all summer.
Joan is survived by her three children: John P. DeVoe, Dale D. Leach (Jeffrey), Susan D. Sandlass (Henry); grandchildren Kristin C. Devoto (James), Aimee M. Chandler, Gregory D. Leach, Frank J. Leach II; her great granddaughter, Ava S. Devoto; her sister, Mary Loux (Dubie) McDonnell; and her nieces and nephews. Joan was predeceased by her sister, Susan P. Kyle.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad Street, Red Bank.
A funeral service will be held at St. George’s by-the-River Episcopal Church, Rumson, on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. Interment following the service will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Shore House, 279 Broadway, Suite 400, Long Branch, NJ 07740; or St. George’s by-the-River, 7 Lincoln Ave., Rumson, NJ 07760.
George Chandler Photo/courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home
The marquee on the Fair Haven firehouse is once again a sign of sad news. Another Fair Haven community pillar has passed — former Police Chief and 65-year fire company member, George Chandler.
His death comes just about a year after that of his brother Chum.
Edward Duffy Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home
Longtime Rumsonite and former Oceanic Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 Chief Edward J. Duffy passed away with his family at his side at Riverview Medical Center on Jan. 9. He was 81.
Born Jan 4, 1935 to James and Catherine (Walsh) Duffy in New York City , where he spent his youth and attended Power Memorial Academy, Ed first came to Rumson as a teen vacationing with his parents. He met his bride Midge there and moved to the borough permanently in 1955.
A 59-year member of Oceanic Hook & Ladder, Ed served as its chief in 1971, company president from 1975 to 76 and served on most of the fire company’s committees.
He created the fire company’s social committee, putting much effort into managing bus trips, picnics and parties. Ed retired from Coastal Building Maintenance in 2000 after more than 30 years as its vice president /general manager.
He had a passion for theater, from Broadway to local community theater productions. “He was inspired to write his own comedy mysteries, bringing laughter to many,” his obituary from Thompson Memorial Home said. “He was our favorite comic, magician and jokester. We will forever miss checking the mail to find a card from him with a joke or newspaper clipping.”
Ed Duffy is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret (Midge); daughters, Marie Duffy, Margaret Duffy Bodchon and Regina Duffy; his son, Edward Duffy; grandchildren, Kristen Turner, Brian Custer, AJ Custer, Nicole Bodchon, and Derek Bodchon; and three great grandchildren; his brothers, James Duffy and Philip Duffy; and his sister, Virginia Keane.
He was predeceased by his sisters Grace Linderman and Catherine Ferrick, and his son-in-law, David Bodchon.
Visitation is Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Holy Cross Church, Ward Avenue, Rumson. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
A memorial service has been set for Saturday, Nov. 28, to honor the memory of forever Fair Havenite Benjamin “Ben” Barry Hamilton, who passed away this past Saturday at his home in the borough.
While “words of remembrance,” according to the obituary, will be shared at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Thompson Memorial Home in Red Bank, the service will span from 1 to 4 p.m.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect is in the process of putting together a memorial tribute and slideshow to honor Ben.
In the meantime, here is his edited obituary from Thompson …
Benjamin Barry Hamilton,”Ben” 56, of Fair Haven, died at home on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015.
Born in Jersey City to George and Joan (nee, Shook) Hamilton, he was a longtime Fair Haven resident. Ben was a retired investment professional. His professional career spanned three decades trading securities in the United States and Asia.
Ben will be remembered for his love of the Jersey Shore, his passion for surfing and his forever search for the perfect wave. He always began each day in New Jersey or Nantucket reading the local surf report or driving to check out the waves.
A Rumon-Fair Haven Regional High School Class of 1977 alumni, Ben went on to graduate from Hobart William Smith College in 1981, where he was a proud member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity and participated in Hobart Lacrosse. He then received his master’s degree in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University.
He was a past family member of the Sea Bright Beach Club and an active member of the Clean Ocean Action.
Ben was also a founding partner of the Navesink River Paddle Excursions.
Ben was predeceased by his parents George and Joan Hamilton. He is survived by: his brother, George L. Hamilton Jr., of Ocean Grove, ; his sisters, Jeanmarie Drucker of NY, NY, and Kate Hamilton Pardee, of Nantucket, MA; his nephews and niece, Richard Drucker Jr. and Hamilton Drucker, George L. Hamilton III, and Katelynn Hamilton; his aunt, Jean Prial; close friend, Wendy Ostrov Delehanty; and many loving friends.
There will be a memorial gathering to celebrate Ben’s life on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank, from 1 to 4 p.m. with “words of remembrance” at 3:30 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Benjamin B. Hamilton Memorial Scholarship, P.O. Box 8097, Red Bank, NJ 07701 or to the Fair Haven Fire & First Aid, River Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704.
Longtime Rumson resident and area lawyer Thomas F. Daly died on Sept. 8.
A graduate of Lower Merion High School, Lafayette College and the Georgetown University Law School, he served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. While attending law school, he was the Georgetown Lacrosse Team’s Head Coach.
A longtime partner of the McCarter & English law firm, Tom was a communicant of Holy Cross Church in Rumson, a member and former governor of the Seabright Beach Club and a member of the Rumson First Aid Squad and member of its Board of Trustees.
He was also a commissioner and former president of the New Jersey Maritime and Docking Pilots Commission, a trustee of the National Maritime Historical Society and the Sandy Hook Foundation.
He was an adjunct professor of maritime law at Rutgers University Law School, as well as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Association of Barristers. He was a member of the International Association of Defense Council, the Maritime Law Society and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Tom lectured extensively on aviation, maritime law and trial procedures. He was a passionate athlete who loved lacrosse and football. Later in life he became an avid skier. He was always drawn to the water, whether it be fishing, sailing, lifeguarding or relaxing at the beach with his family.
He is survived by: his wife Nancy; their children Charles Bartlett (Trish), of Ocean, Julia Oliphant (David) of Royal Oaks, MI, Emily Mee (Daniel), of Rumson and Morgan Zimmerer (Hans), of Fair Haven; ten grandchildren Tyler, Andrew, Morgan, Ben, Kelly, Ellie, Annie, Grant, Riley & Cate and his brother, Rev. Jerome R. Daly of Fort Belvoir, VA.
He was predeceased by: his parents, John and Dorothy Daly; and his brother, John Daly.
Visitation was on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad Street, Red Bank.
A Mass of christian burial was celebrated on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge Rd., Fair Haven.
Interment followed at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Rumson First Aid Squad, 1 Wilson Circle, Rumson, NJ 07760 or the National Maritime Historical Society, PO Box 68, Peeksville, NY 10566 or online at www.seahistory.org
There’s nothing quite as wonderful as an old friend who’s known you since you were a kid. And there’s also nothing worse than losing that friend at a young age.
The worst of it happened a couple of days ago to friends in the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School alumni community.
A wave of shock and sadness engulfed the Class of ’78 with the announcement of the death of 55-year-old classmate Debra “Debbie” Clarke Crowell on Sept. 8.
There have been some losses of the all-too-young in the class already. This was the latest.
Bob Jones, of Rumson, passed away on Aug. 16. Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home
Services are set for Monday for Rumson’s Robert (Bob) S. Jones, Jr., former president of Rumson Country Club Board and trustee of the Riverview Medical Center Foundation, who died Sunday, Aug. 16, after a losing a courageous battle with cancer. He was 74.
Born in Baltimore, Bob attended Lower Merion High School where he met the love of his life, Sharon. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served from 1959 to 1962.
A 1987 graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University,having earned both his CLU designation (1971) and ChFC degree(1982), he got his undergraduate degree in economics from Gettysburg College in 1965.
In the summer of 1965, Bob began his 42-year career with AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (formerly The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S.), serving as an advisor, district and agency manager, and in the company’s marketing and retail operations as well as executive vice president, head of Retail and chairman of company advisors.
Bob had myriad professional and community affiliations. He was president of the Pittsburgh Life Underwriters, president of the Agency Round Table, a board member of the LUTC, president of Equitable’s Management Association, and a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable.
Bob was also a board member of the Riverview Medical Center Foundation, served on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and the U.S.O. of Metropolitan New York, and was a trustee emeritus of Gettysburg College.
He was a member of: the Pittsburgh Field Club, where he served as a board member from 1980-84; Rumson Country Club, where he served as a board member from 2000-06, and president from 2003-06; the Sailfish Point Foundation, the Sailfish Point Golf Board and the Sailfish Point Marina Board; the Medalist Golf Club and the Stone Harbor Golf Club.
After retiring, Bob enjoyed golfing, bird hunting, fishing and thoroughbred racehorse ownership, his latest hobby.
“As part of ABL Stables (formerly BDL Stables), Bob found tremendous joy in each and every racehorse he owned,” his obituary said. “Bob was also a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, never giving up his season tickets even after he moved to New Jersey. However, Bob’s greatest happiness came from his family. He became known around town as “Big Bob” shortly after his first grandchild was born.
“Bob made an impact on everyone around him, with his zest for life, his kindness and his generosity. He will be forever missed by the numerous people whose lives he touched.”
Bob is survived by: his wife of 52 years, Sharon Jones, of Rumson; his daughter, Kelly DalPra and husband Kenny, of Rumson; his daughter, Kirsten Ward, and husband Chris, of Fair Haven; his daughter Ashley Jones and Sue Dillon of Fair Haven; and his son, Matt Jones and wife Elaine, of Fair Haven; his eight grandchildren, Robert, Klayton, Kyle, Marin, Brayden, Liam, May and Milo; his brother, Elliot Jones and wife Melanie, of Florida; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24 at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad Street, Red Bank.
A memorial Mass will follow on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 11 a.m. at The Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge Road, Fair Haven.
Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, 1-800-227-2345 or online at www.cancer.org/donate.
Niels Winchester Johnsen, of Rumson, died on Aug. 7 Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home (screenshot)
Rumson resident and World War II vet Niels Winchester Johnsen passed away at home on Aug. 7 after having spent “busy summer days with grandchildren and children,” his obituary from Thompson Memorial Home said. He was 93.
The son of Niels F. Johnsen and Anita Winchester Johnsen, Neils Winchester Johnsen was born in New Orleans.
He was co-founder, with his father and brother, Erik F. Johnsen, of Central Gulf Steamship Corporation in New Orleans.
After attending Tulane University, Niels began his career in the maritime industry in 1942, having served as an officer in the Merchant Marine at sea during World War II and surviving two ship torpedo singings (stet).
Kaye Varone Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home
Former longtime Rumson resident Catherine Kaye Varone died on July 7 at Riverview Medical Center. She was 91.
Wife of the late Frank J. Varone, she was predeceased by her sister Joan Hagan.
Kaye was an avid golfer and 18-holer at Bamm Hollow Country Club and Rosemore Golf Club. She was also a volunteer for the Gray Ladies at Riverview.
In 2014, Kaye was crowned Valentine Queen and the poster person for The Chelsea assisted living. Someone who found much joy in time spent with her children, family and friends, they will all miss her deeply.
She is survived by: her three sons Frank B. Varone, and his wife, Linda, of Crystal River, Florida, Timothy J. Varone, Atlantic Highlands, and Shay J. Varone, Toms River, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
The family is requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Kaye’s name.
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