Sometimes there’s a call for a little jaunt along the coastline south of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
And sometimes the timing is just right. Tuesday was that time.
The sun blazing along the Atlantic in southern Monmouth County, clouds were rising from the sea and reaching toward formations that looked like an ethereal netherworld.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
Former longtime Rumson resident John P. Kennedy passed away peacefully on April 27 after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 81.
Born in Brooklyn, John moved to Rumson at the age of 5. In his later years, until his death, he lived in Oceanport. John graduated from Holy Cross Grammar School and Red Bank Catholic (RBC) High School.
A basketball player at RBC, he had many fond memories of his experiences on the hard court, which ultimately led to his volunteer coaching roles at Holy Cross and various other youth basketball leagues, his obituary said.
John was a 25-year volunteer and past president of the Oceanic Hook & Ladder Fire Company. He was also in the Army Reserve.
Before retiring from Henderson Brothers on the New York Stock Exchange in 2000, John worked for JCP&L for many years.
In his retirement years, he enjoyed “playing golf, walking the boardwalk, and watching his grandchildren’s sporting events,” his obituary added.
John was predeceased by: his parents, John and Mary Kennedy, of Rumson; his twin brother, Eugene, of Rumson and Middletown; and his brother, Edward, Red Bank.
John is survived by: his wife of 58 years, Patricia Gerrity Kennedy; sons, JP Kennedy, of Sea Bright, Kevin E. Kennedy, of Red Bank, Gregg J. Kennedy (and his wife, Amanda), of Rumson, son Kyle L. Kennedy (and wife Lori Valvano, of Hoboken; daughter, Kerry Kennedy Kroll (and husband Kevin), of Michigan/South Carolina; and grandchildren, Karleigh Kroll House (and husband Nicholas), Brendan Kroll, Jimmy Kennedy, Wesley Kennedy, Maren Kennedy, and Mason Kennedy.
He is also survived by: Frances Kennedy, the wife of his late brother Eugene; and Patricia Kennedy, the wife of his late brother Edward; and nieces/nephews, friends, and former NYSE colleagues.
A mass celebrating John’s life will be scheduled for the future. The family gratefully acknowledges The Bayside Manor Nursing Home Staff and the Hospice Staff for the care, comfort, and assistance provided during his illness. The Thompson Memorial Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
— Obituary provided by Thompson Memorial Home
Continue reading Former Longtime Rumsonite John P. Kennedy Passes Away at 81
The following April arrests were reported by Rumson police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction. Continue reading Rumson Police Report: Burglary, Eluding, Fraud, Juvenile DUI
There will be a DWI checkpoint in Monmouth County on Friday night, The Monmouth County DWI Task Force has announced.
Rumson resident and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate Edwin Austin Pomphrey passed away on April 21 in Long Branch. He was 29.
Born at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, Austin grew up in Rumson, graduated from RFH in 2006 and University of South Carolina in 2010 with a business degree in Risk Management & Insurance. He partnered with his father in business at E.L. Pomphrey, LLC, a local painting and construction company, his obituary said.
Known as “a kind, compassionate and generous person throughout his life to anyone who knew him,” Austin “had a good heart and cared deeply for his family and friends,” his family said in his obituary.
Austin was an avid and enthusiastic NY Jets and SC Gamecock fan. He prided himself in his accomplishments, “the biggest of all being a sincere and adoring loving son, brother, uncle, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. He will be so unbearably missed by us all.”
Austin is predeceased by: his maternal grandfather Carl L. Higgins; his paternal grandparents, Edwin and Mina Pomphrey; and his uncle, Stephen Higgins.
He is survived by: his loving parents Edwin L. Pomphrey Jr. and Sarah (Higgins), of Rumson; his sister, Lindsay Pomphrey and her fiancée Phil Shaheen Jr., of Fair Haven; his nephew Tradd; his maternal grandmother, Flora Higgins, of Colts Neck; a great aunt Lyndl Marshall, of NYC; his aunts and uncles, Ted Higgins, of Neptune, Allen and Marie Gallagher, of Rumson, Rich and Sheri Runne, of Rumson; and his first cousins, Kelli Pomphrey, of Eatontown, Darren Gallagher, of Rumson, Matt Gallagher, of Fair Haven and Dylan Runne, of Rumson; and many cousins and extended family members.
Visitation will be held at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank, on Tuesday, April 25, from 4 to 8 p.m..
The funeral service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Rumson, 4 East River Road, Rumson, on Wednesday, April 26, at 11 a.m. with interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery in Middletown.
— Obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home
It’s a pretty well-known fact by now that Fair Haven’s Ken Curchin turned 100 on April 19.
The centenarian who’s favorite mantra is “Never quit!” led what he called a simple life enriched by family and attaining his dream of becoming a pilot when the odds were against him. After helping construct the Alcan Highway in Alaska during World War II, Ken Curchin ended up flying a B-17 Bomber in the war.
Video and stories by Elaine Van Develde
Ken Curchin has been all over the world. He’s done and seen a lot. He flew a B-17 Bomber in World War II. He married his best gal and became a dad to five children. He was a barber in his family’s shop on Mechanic Street in Red Bank. He jumped off the Fair Haven Dock. All this and he says, with an eye twinkle and a his own brand of hearty hyena chuckle, that he’s “never been in the newspaper until now, sons a b******!”
Well, this is the second (or, we’re told, third) time, Mr. Curchin. Born on April 19, 1917 in the building that is now Frame It Yourself on River Road in Fair Haven, he is 100 years old today. Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect caught up with him for a second time on Easter. And what a time it was!
Happy Birthday, Mr. Curchin! Listen and learn … (Be sure to click the video to enlarge!)
Sometimes a little solitude, a stroll and a serene scene down by the Fair Haven Dock is the best thing for the soul.
While the scenery may look the same, no two riverfront snapshots in time are ever identical. Each moment is unique. Each picture different. The effect, too, of given day down by that Navesink River can change like, well, the seasons.
It’s spring in Fair Haven. And that riverfront stroll is as soothing as the sun’s warm embrace. That’s because it’s a walk home.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
Nothing says Easter quite like a good ole Easter bonnet.
So, the Retro Pic of the Easter Day is just that.
It’s your editor in her Easter bonnet back in the early 1960s. Yikes!
The whole outfit was quite fancy, as this kid’s Fair Haven mom made sure of it.
Happy Easter, all! Bask in that sun and enjoy this spring day!
Well, the sun has finally made its entrance into full swing spring.
Most would say, too, that the time has been right to hit the beach — with full beach gear.
So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day commemorates setting the stage for a beach day and making that entrance with a look back at some RFH beach babies taking their ode to it all to the stage in 1974.
The girls were entering stage right for a full regalia rendition of the Beach Boys’ Girls on the Beach in the RFH Freshmen Follies.
The outfits made the hosts of the show take a step back.
So, step back in time with us and remember this special little rendition. Recognize these gals? And how about those suits?
Many thanks, again, to the fabulous George Day for this look back!
Yes, it’s just another Rumson sunset.
With the weather leaping from spring to summer sort of temperatures, lots of people flocked to Barnacle Bill’s for dinner on Wednesday night. Though, that’s not so unusual.
Another thing that’s not so unusual is the pristine view of the sunset over the Navesink River. It just doesn’t get old.
So, why not grab a couple of glimpses as the ball of fire retreats below the horizon? Why not, indeed.
Good night …
Take a look at the rapid progression … (And don’t forget to click to enlarge!)
— Elaine Van Develde
Get your dose of sunlight that the doctor ordered (or not) while it’s there to soak up like these folks did on Sea Bright beach Sunday!
The National Weather Service’s forecast calls for lots of the golden stuff in the Rumson-Fair Haven area with temperatures reaching a high of about 75 today.
Tomorrow, though, darker skies loom. There’s a chance of thunderstorms and showers after 10 p.m. tonight followed possibly (30 percent chance) by some precipitation on Wednesday.
Enjoy your sunny daze!
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