The Rumson-Fair Haven area has been cold-snapped out of spring fever.
After a little seedling bloom of spring weather last week, the forecast for this week put a bit of a chill and flash of hazard back into the outlook. And it looks like temperatures will only reach a highs in the 40s with chances of rain in the mix.
Continue reading Focus: River Walk View & Red Flag WeatherForever Fair Havenite, 64-year fire company member, U.S. Navy vet, mailman, father, and friend to the community, John J. “Jack” Butler passed away on March 11. He was 88.
Jack loved Fair Haven. At one time, in fact, his daughter Bridget Butler Kaniewski said, in a post about his death, Jack “knew every person and address in town” and loved seeing retro photos and reminiscing.
“He enjoyed all of the photos from years past and we were so happy to be able to keep him up to date on town happenings (even if he didn’t fully understand how we were obtaining this information from our phones). Whether he delivered your mail with care, swiped away your bet at the Big Six, was a classmate at Sickles School or RFH class of 1950, or was simply a familiar face from town — he knew you. If he didn’t know you he knew your parents, or grandparents, or who used to live in your house.
Fair Haven was his town.”
Bridget Butler Kaniewski
“Throughout his life, Jack’s primary passion was his family and he cherished the many barbeques, parties, trips, and other events that brought everyone together.
“Second, though, was thoroughbred horse racing. Jack loved talking about the horses with his friends, analyzing his picks and simply being part of the atmosphere at Monmouth Park every summer. Fittingly, Jack won the most recent bets he placed — backing Authentic in the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup Classic.
“When not at the track, Jack was a golfer, a bowler, a baseball player, and a strong supporter of both the Jets and the Mets. Last, no day was complete for Jack without first reading the NY Daily News—from back to front.”
Loved ones of Jack Butler in his obituary
Read on Jack … Forever a Fair Havenite.
More about Jack Butler …
Born in Long Branch, NJ on August 2, 1932 to the late James F. and Beatrice (Touhy) Butler, Jack lived in Fair Haven for most of his life.
He worked as a letter carrier for the Red Bank Post Office for 42 years — a career he greatly enjoyed, as it enabled him to work outdoors and to get to know his customers along his route. Being a letter carrier also enabled Jack to stop in at his children’s sporting or school events and then head right back to work. Jack valued his time and accomplishments at the post office and the many friendships he made while working there over his four-decade tenure.
Jack’s commitment to helping others led him to enlist in the US Navy where he served on the USS Borie (DD-704) during the Korean War from 1952-1956. Jack also proudly served his local community as a life-long, 64-year member of the Fair Haven Fire Company.
Jack was predeceased by his adored granddaughter, Maren Kaniewski and his sister, Eileen Butler.
He is survived by: his loving children, John F. Butler and his wife Janelle, and Bridget Kaniewski and her husband Richard; his cherished grandchildren, John, Rory, Megan, Ricky and Deirdre; and his dear brother, James F. Butler.
A visitation will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. A mass will immediately follow at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Nativity, Fair Haven. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Middletown.
Jack’s family will then hold a celebration of his life at Monmouth Park this summer, once Covid 19 conditions permit.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Jack’s memory to Maren’s Fierce Fighters, www.marensfiercefighters.org in honor of his granddaughter.
There will be one more empty chair at the next Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) reunion.
Continue reading In Memoriam: RFH Grad, Fair Haven-Raised Sara Rita Mackin, 56Students called her Mrs. B. She was Jeannie to fellow teachers. She was Jean Burgess — Nellie Jean (Badida) Burgess. She taught in the Fair Haven schools for 33 years. The valued longtime Fair Haven wife, mom, teacher, colleague and friend to many passed away peacefully on Jan. 28 in Chester, VA. She was 73.
Continue reading Saying Goodbye to Longtime Fair Haven Teacher, ‘Jeannie’ Burgess, Mrs. B.
Well, the sun made a promising appearance today, bringing with it warm thoughts of togetherness and teaming up for sun-kissed, carefree canoodling and a good swim.
Continue reading Retro Sunny Daze: Swim Teaming at P-HouseLongtime Fair Havenite Thomas N. Brounley passed away peacefully in his sleep on Feb. 14. He was 82.
Continue reading In Memoriam: Longtime Fair Havenite, Tom Brounley, 82Fair Havenite Laurie Bratone has been named the non-profit Sandy Hook Foundation’s new director of development.
A reprise from February, 2017 in honor of the next snowfall due today …
With the onslaught of snow and pandemic cloistering lately there’s been a lot of chatter about snow days and how to get creative with the white stuff. Well, in the 1970s, a few R-FH area kids took their creativity farther than most would be allowed to these days. And that chatter could have well been the chattering of teeth in the freezing weather.
Since the weather forecast is still calling for snow, here’s a retro reprise as a reminder that snow fun is a simple way to cure what ails your COVID-weary soul. And, in the days before the internet and cell phones, finding out about a snow day was half the fun of the day, albeit a bit daunting … Honk blast aaaaaand sleigh … Who remembers the fire horn signal? What was it?
Call it a blizzard of snow day signals. In Fair Haven back in the 1960s (through the 80s), it was common practice for kids to rear their sleepy little heads and crack a smile when they heard the fire horn’s coded blast. In a Morse code kinda way it would “buuuuuraaaamp” that there would be no school due to snow.
Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Snow DazeLongtime Fair Havenite Lynn Brager Phelan passed away after a short illness on Jan. 30.
Continue reading In Memoriam: Fair Havenite Lynn Brager PhelanForever Fair Havenite Joseph Edmund Carroll passed away on Jan. 23.
“There was nothing Joe loved more than his family and Fair Haven.
“He was married to his wife, Mary Patricia, for over 60 years and together they raised one son and three daughters. He was always willing to get involved. Joe was a member of the Fair Haven Fire Department, spent time as a recreation commissioner, and was a long time coach of baseball and CYO basketball. Even when not in an official role, he was often seen umpiring softball games or moving the chains for Pop Warner football. Joe was a proponent of equality in sports well before it was popular. His daughters were among the first to play hardball with the boys instead of softball. He was at every game his children played, always cheering them on.”
Loved ones of Joe Carroll in his obituary
Born in Long Branch, Joe was a lifelong resident of Red Bank and Fair Haven. A star athlete in high school, Joe helped Croydon Hall Academy win the state basketball championship, his obituary said.
After graduating, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. After three years of active duty and several years in the reserves, he was honorably discharged and set his sights on Wall Street.
Over his 30-year career, he worked his way from an entry-level page to a member of the New York Stock Exchange, working for the First of Michigan Corporation.
After retiring, he started a second career in an area he loved — the outdoors. Joe was an avid fisherman, duck hunter, and gardener. He worked for the Monmouth County Parks System into his 80s.
Joe is survived by: his wife Mary Patrica (Eddy); son, Patrick Carroll and wife Eileen; daughters, Sharon Everett and husband Michael, Maura Creekmore and husband Hill, and Megan Haran and husband Richard; and 12 grandchildren.
Joe is predeceased by his parents. Joseph and Florence Carroll (Hanisch).
— Edited obituary submitted by loved ones via Thompson Memorial Home
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