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.

Some knew Debbie well. Some did not.

Either way, for most, there is and always was that community connection forged in one way or another that you somehow never forget. For some it was a strong childhood connection — that cherished neighborhood buddy bond. For others, it was, perhaps, just remembering that crew of cronies, or just that she played softball and had a tremendous arm.

Fleeting or fixed in those childhood, adolescent and teen recesses of our minds, the memories are there for most — all part of growing up and growing pains.

So, we remember you, Debbie, and thank you for being a part of our youth.

Here’s a sample of what we’ve been remembering about you as we say goodbye and wish for you to rest in peace:

The RFH Class of ’78 Facebook page was flooded with notes of shock and fond memories of Debbie being a great friend and athlete.

I, for one, do remember her being a great athlete. I also remember her wincing and laughing if she got stuck with me on her team, for whatever sport, in gym. Can’t blame her at all. I was awful.

“She played varsity softball at RFH, plus a bunch of us were on Fair Haven’s traveling team as well,” said longtime friend Evie Connor Kelly, who was part of Debbie’s crew of Fair Haven neighborhood buddies. “We had great times playing sports as well as hanging out, sleepovers and such.”

That neighborhood group of girls lived within a block of one another.

“I lived on Maple Avenue and Debbie was just one block away on Church along with Nancy Clark, Karen Allas, the Conleys (Maureen and Colleen) and Ronnie and Meg White,” Connor Kelly reminisced. “They and I made up our gang of girls. Debbie will be missed by us all.”

Karen Allas could only say that she was “in a state of shock” over the news.

“Friendship! Memories don’t die,” Mary Burns O’Connor said, reminiscing about the bond between those in this group of pals … RIP Debbie.”

“I read this this morning. My heart has been heavy all day,” said Cindy Allen Budzynski. “Life really is just incredibly unfair sometimes.”

“… My last memory of talking to Debbie Crowell was at our last reunion we attended together,” said Kate Hamilton. “She still teased me that my softball expertise was really my not my talent but we all had fun together. Rest in peace.”

Debbie died at her home in Tinton Falls on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Before living in Tinton Falls, she lived in Oceanport, Sea Bright and Fair Haven.

A mental health advocate for CSPNJ in Neptune City for the past 10 years, she was known to be “devoted to her family and profession,” her obituary said.

She was predeceased by: her step-father, John Keenan, in 2006; and her nephew, Michael Christopher Crowell, in 2015.

Surviving are: her children, Michael and Melissa Crowell; her mother, Joan Keenan; her father, Kenneth Clarke; two brothers, John and his wife Leah Keenan, and Dan Keenan; four sisters, Jackie and her husband James Yursha, Kimberly and her husband Michael Signorelli, Kathy Keenan, and Karen DiBerardino; and her nieces and nephews.

Visitation is being held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Fiore Funeral Home, 236 Monmouth Road in the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township.

There will be a funeral Mass t 10 a.m. at St. Dorothea’s Church in Eatontown.

“In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made wellness and recovery to Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, 8-11 Spring Street, Freehold, NJ 07728,” her obituary said.

RIP, Debbie.

— Elaine Van Develde