Another version of the following was originally published in February of 2016 …
The Fair Haven Fisk Chapel AME Church is home to many community founders and their families. Its history juts deep into the entrenched roots of Fair Haven life.
The modest little place and its humble, welcoming people have a very rich history all their own. A lot of the names and faces are traceable back to the early days of the church, back in the mid-1800s.
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.
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.
John P. Kennedy Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home
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.
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.
Edwin Pomphrey Photo/courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home
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.
U.S. Army Sgt. Ken Curchin, pilot in WW II Photo/Curchin family
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.
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