In Memoriam: Former Longtime Sea Bright Resident and Teacher, Rosemary Walters, 90

Former longtime Sea Bright resident and teacher, Rosemary Louise Walters, of Monmouth Beach, passed away peacefully at home on the morning of May 4 with her trusted aide, Annette Ramsey, and close friend and assistant, Tracy Thompson, by her side. She was 90.

Born on June 20, 1935 in White Plains, NY, to James Edward and Edith Eileen Hiler Walters, Rosemary was the third of four children.

“Rosemary first came to Sea Bright, New Jersey in the Summer of 1961, having accepted a job teaching elementary students at the River Street School, then a part of the Red Bank Public School System. Rosemary moved from Syracuse, NY where she had been living near her brother, James. Her starting salary with the River Street School was $5,200.

“Rosemary loved and lived in Sea Bright into the late 1980s, slowly moving up in the ranks of the local educational system while advocating for teachers’ rights which lead to her joining the Tinton Falls Education Association, TTEA, and becoming its president in the late 1970s.

“This advocacy lead Rosemary on to the negotiating team and eventually to a negotiating job with the Michigan Education Association, MEA, and National Education Association, NEA, which she accepted. The new position required her to relocate to Michigan where she continued to teach elementary school while working also as a negotiator for the MEA and NEA.

“Rosemary retired and returned to Sea Bright in 1996 and eventually moved to the Channel Club in Monmouth Beach where she enjoyed a view of lower Manhattan from her balcony. Rosemary continued to socialize with new and old friends up until the time of her death.

“May God Bless Rosemary and all who knew and loved her.”
Loved ones of Rosemary Walters in her obituary

Rosemary had a favorite story she loved to tell about having been in the Girl Scouts as a child in Rye, NY where her Girl Scouts den mother was none other than Margaret Colgate Egan, for whom her father happened to perform security detail when not on duty with the Rye police. The story goes something like this …

“One summer Mrs. Eagan volunteered as den mother for the Rye girls troop and immediately had an impact on the girls when she found out none of them knew how to sail. This made no sense to Mrs. Eagan since the beach was just a few steps away from where the Girl Scouts met, so she purchased two boats for the girls and hired a skipper to train them. Rosemary loved the water and took to sailing as if it was second nature and was happy to have had the opportunity Mrs. Eagan provided for them. But, she would go on, the real highlight of having Mrs. Eagan as den mother were the forays into Manhattan for adventures to museums, sailing events and general fun in the city. On one occasion Mrs. Eagan noticed the girls were hungry and called her friend Toots Shor for a table at none other than his famous Toots Shor’s Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, the girls could not believe their good fortune and sat at a table for twelve with the full compliment of silverware and Toots alongside them for the meal. It is a luncheon she never forgot.”

Rosemary is survived by: her brother, Bill Walters; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

The family thanks all who attended her services at the Church of the Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach, and Mt. Calvary Cemetery, White Plains, NY.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home