Tag Archives: feature

Local Life

Scene Around: Socially Distanced Dog Days of Spring

Nancy the Rumson dog makes a splash on the Shrewsbury River
Photos/Sue Hill-Spakowski

Call it a howling success of a dog day of spring. Sunday was all about some bright sunshine washing away the pandemic fear. It was also about a bit less solitude, with NJ Gov. Phil Murphy opening the state’s parks.

Continue reading Scene Around: Socially Distanced Dog Days of Spring →
Obituaries

In Memorium: Rumsonite Henry J. Coffey, 82

Rumson resident Henry J. Coffey passed away on April 28. He was 82.

“Henry was always cheerful, happy and with a great smile always the first to help.”

Loved ones of Henry J. Coffey in his obituary
Henry J. Coffey
Photo/family via John E. Day Funeral Home

Born in New York City to the late Henry and Jean (Moore) Coffey, Henry worked throughout his life for Chester Cable and City Service Oil Company. He retired from Paige Electric as its executive vice president in 2017.

Henry is survived by: his beloved wife of 62 years, Therese Moran Coffey, of Rumson; his loving children, Howard and his wife Elaine Coffey, of Red Bank, James and his wife Rosa Coffey, of Florida, Kelli Ann and her husband Dr. Lawrence Caplin, of Pennsylvania; his dear sister, Barbara and her husband Roland Babcock, of Nevada; and his nine cherished grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Henry’s memory may be sent to Rumson Ambulance Corp. and the local food bank in Red Bank.

Sponsor R-FH Retro
Schools Scene

RFH Student-Athletes Sign Letters of Intent In Socially Distant Way

RFH student-athletes sign letters of intent
Photos/RFH

Three more Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) student-athletes have made their college choices and sports commitments official recently by signing Letters of Intent.

Continue reading RFH Student-Athletes Sign Letters of Intent In Socially Distant Way →
News, Schools Scene

RFH Track Star Runs with COVID-19 Healthcare Hero Fundraiser

RFH’s Bobby Hoye raised funds for frontline healthcare workers on Sunday
Photos/RFH

Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) senior Bobby Hoye saw a chance to help in the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and he ran with it — literally.

Continue reading RFH Track Star Runs with COVID-19 Healthcare Hero Fundraiser →
Local Life

Retro RFH Pre-Prom Moments

Image
RFH pre-prom photos of several eras
Top left photo, 1975 RFH prom/courtesy of Kathy Golden
Top right photos, 2005 RFH prom & 1977/Elaine Van Develde
Bottom photo, 2012/contribution of RFH parent

The pandemic has hijacked another high school tradition — prom. It would have been a big happening right about this time of the spring, and there would have been all sorts of prep — zoomed-in close encounter photos of friends and couples bonding, corsage and boutenir pinnings … those pre-prom poses. Time capsule moments of the bomb variety — as in disaster or picture perfection. TikTok? Hmmmmm … Not always.

Continue reading Retro RFH Pre-Prom Moments →
Obituaries

In Memorium: Former 43-Year Fair Havenite, Teacher, Agnes Maffey Turtur, 99

Former longtime Fair Havenite and area teacher Agnes Maffey Turtur passed away peacefully at Monmouth Medical Center on April 16. She was 99.

“She was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who had boundless energy, caring for all those who she loved. Family meant everything to her. Whether you knew her as Agnes, Mom, Grandma, Ama, Aunt Agnes or Gigi, you could always count on her unconditional love … She was always a beach lover and for the past 9 years she adored spending summers on the cabana deck at Surfrider Beach Club in Sea Bright, talking to everyone who walked by. She celebrated her birthday there every Labor Day Weekend and everyone on the beach sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her. Agnes never lost her cognitive ability, and was able to memorize her niece’s 10-digit phone number by one verbal cue and execute the call just four days prior to her death.”

Loved ones of Agnes Maffey Turtur in her obituary

Born to the late Charles and Marie Maffey in Elizabeth, Agnes graduated from Sacred Heart Elementary School and Battin High School there and went on to receive a B.S. in Education from Rider College in 1941. She accelerated her studies and graduated in three years, commuting every day from Elizabeth to the college in Trenton.

In 1943 she married Felix J. Turtur III, also of Elizabeth, traveling with him and teaching school wherever the U.S. Army stationed him during World War II.  

In 1951, the couple settled at the Jersey Shore. They moved to Fair Haven in 1957 where they lived and raised their family for 43 years before moving to Shrewsbury in 2000.

Agnes was a teacher at the Markham Place School in Little Silver from 1957 until her retirement in 1982.

She loved traveling with her family, which included trips to Italy, Hawaii, Disney World, and many cruises and winters on Siesta Key Beach in Florida.

Agnes was predeceased by: Felix, her husband of 64 years; her sister, Grace A. Maffey; and brother, Charles G. Maffey. 

She is survived by: her loving daughter, Marlane Turtur Bade, of Fair Haven; her grandchildren, Kristina Bade Binder (John), of Fair Haven and Stephen A. Bade (Kathleen) of Brielle; her great-grandchildren, Thomas, Charlotte, Logan, Delaney, Weston and step great-grandchildren, JB and Ellie; and her brother, Constant O. Maffey (Afra) of Mechanicsburg, PA.

A memorial Mass celebrating Agnes’ life will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Wounded Warrior Project.

Local Life

Retro Oceanfront Softball Team Home Run

Oceanfront Softball Team circa 1980
Photo/Chip Irish via Facebook

As we continue to mourn the loss of the baseball season, among other athletics, due to COVID-19, thoughts, and a memory scroll on Facebook bring us back to the days of another kind of ballgame camaraderie — the softball league of the past.

Continue reading Retro Oceanfront Softball Team Home Run →
Local Life

Focus: Riverfront Reflections

On this dank, pandemic April day, everyone could use a little solitary solace. A reminder that the river that gives so many in the Rumson-Fair Haven area peace and happiness is still there. And still. Calm. Reflective.

So, we take you back a few years to 2016, when this photo gallery/slideshow was first published. There’s much irony in what it says. Take a look at the featured photo. It speaks an uncanny isolated truth about today and the very same spot. Their reflections are consoling.

They tell us that when everything around us is still, there is something to see in the water’s mirror. That little meaningful something may have been missed while looking too hard toward a sky that seemingly has no limits.

It’s the Wizard of Oz theory of looking too hard for your heart’s desire when it was right in your own back yard. Surprising what you’ll find in a still reflection, or a ripple that was in that limitless, reflective sky the entire time.  

On that day, as today, the tide went out and the water was still.

The static water on the Navesink River from Rumson to Fair Haven was like a mirror, reflecting each waterfront image, each ripple, in detail. A reminder of what was always there. 

Take a look. 

— Elaine Van Develde