Shannon Connor Brett hasn’t been home in three years.
The 2001 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School graduate, daughter of longtime Fair Havenites Dale and Mike Connor and sister to Allison married a Fair Haven fireman and U.S. Navy guy and moved to California. He’s stationed there.
The Connor family welcomed her, husband C. Thomas (Chris) Brett and their three children back to their old stomping grounds with a little hometown get-together Sunday — and just in time for the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.
Chris Brett is still a Fair Haven Fire Department member himself. His dad, Barry, was chief in 1994. His mom, Tricia, also an active member of the fire company, has been captain of the Fire Police three times. You can always find her at the Out Back serving ice cream at the fair.
And it’s no secret that Dale and Mike are longtime Fair Haven Fire Department members.
Tonight was the night! It was opening night of the classic Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.
Friends, neighbors and firemen, new and old, once again forged their connections at the fair touted to be the largest firemen’s fair in New Jersey and probably the country.
The weather was fine and so was the company. Take a look.
(And don’t forget to click on the lower right icon to enlarge for the full view of the slideshow! Enjoy! See you at the fair!)
The weather has been so season-appropriate that it almost looks like the seagulls have been dancing on the beach.
OK, maybe not dancing, but they’re seemingly sunning and hopping along — happily. OK, maybe they just see something good to eat and are anticipating a good grab and gobble.
Whatever the case may be, the gulls on the beach in Sea Bright are hanging out pretty close to humans.
The following recent contempt of court and non-support warrant arrests were made and reported by Middletown police.
• Sean Figaro, 21, of Garfield Avenue in Middletown, was arrested on Aug. 16 by Sgt. Anthony Bagileo on a contempt of court warrant issued by the East Orange Municipal Court.
He was released after posting $250 bail.
• Linda Wahler, 51, of Henry Street in South Amboy, was arrested on Aug. 14 by Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court.
The following recent arrests were made and reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
• Michael Kiernan, 61, of Monmouth Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, was arrested on Aug. 13 by Patrolman Adam Colfer and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of heroin.
He was released pending a court date.
• Jeffrey Rodre, 18, of Chapman Terrace in Middletown, was arrested on Aug. 15 by Patrolman Frank Mazza and charged with simple assault.
He was released pending a court date.
• Edward Gross, 26, of Nautilus Drive in the Leonardo section of Middletown, was arrested on Aug. 13 by Detective Albert Scott and charged with shoplifting and conspiracy.
He was released after posting $2,500 bail with a 10 percent option set by Judge Richard Thompson.
• Paul Ortiz, 52, of Ocean Avenue in Middletown, was arrested on Aug. 12 by Patrolman Adam Colfer and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, shoplifting, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools and possession of crack cocaine.
He was held on $11,000 bail, set by Judge Richard Thompson.
NJ State Police have confirmed that the sunken fishing boat found Wednesday morning in the area where the one named El Jefe was reported to have capsized is the same vessel.
“State Police divers confirm sunken boat is ‘El Jefe,'” a NJ State Police Twitter message said. “Presence of a body on board not confirmed. Activity suspended, will resume tomorrow.”
On Wednesday morning, when the boat was found, state police issued a statement saying it had not yet been confirmed that the trawler they found was the El Jefe.
It is believed that Captain Tom Andresen (stet), who docked his boat at the Belford Seafood Co-op, Middletown, near the area where the incident occurred on Tuesday night, was on the boat, according to a Facebook post on the co-op’s page.
Not a member of the Belford Co-op, Andresen (stet) had been docking his boat at the Co-op inlet, according to Facebook posts.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Captain Tom Andresen tonight,” a Tuesday night post said. “His boat, El Jefe, is reported to have capsized off the coast of Sandy Hook this evening. Captain Tom is said to have been on board alone, and has not been located, as of yet. We pray for his safe recovery … Mr Andresen is from New York, and has recently been docking his boat here in Belford.”
Summertime can be hectic. So, there’s nothing better some an end-of-day solo time to unwind.
And what better place in the Rumson-Fair Haven area than the Fair Haven Dock as the sun is setting?
For that reason, the Simple Summer feature of the week highlights solace and serenity at sunset on the Navesink River.
Any spot along the river will do. This spot just happens to be a favorite for many. It’s simple and it’s one of those best things in life that are free.
The view is a familiar one, but it never gets old. Neither does its calming effect.
Don Blesse lived in Rumson for nearly half a century.
The U.S. Navy World War II and Korean War veteran raised his family in Rumson. And every Memorial and Veterans Day service you’d see the tall, gentleman front-and-center at Victory Park paying ode to fallen fellow vets, hat to his heart.
In fact, it was not too long ago, in May, when we last saw Blesse in his usual spot at the Rumson Memorial Day service.
Now we know that he will be missing at the Veterans Day service in November. That’s because he passed away at 89 on Aug. 12.
We remember Mr. Blesse. We knew his kids. We went to RFH with them. And while we did not know their dad well, we knew he was a vet. We knew he was a father of three. We knew he was excited a couple of years ago, when we chatted with him after a Veteran’s Day service, to soon be on his way to a visit with them.
Sporting his signature veteran’s hat, he modestly talked about how he was an aviation electrician who worked on aircraft carriers in the Atlantic Ocean during the war.
He was proud, yet soft-spoken and modest. You could see his love of country and hometown. He wore it in his smile and demeanor, his bride, the mother of his children still by his side, also smiling contentedly.
He said nothing about working tirelessly to bring that veteran’s memorial to Victory Park that day. We read that in his obituary.
Don Blesse died on Aug. 12 at his relatively new home in Red Bank. He won’t be at the next memorial service in town. His simple legacy will.
We missed his own memorial service. But, we haven’t forgotten him.
People like him shouldn’t be forgotten — people living their lives, cognizant of and considerate of the people in them, serving their country and community in modest, meaningful ways, doing the right thing.
It was nice to have that brief chat with that dad and man behind the kids we knew that one day, a couple of years ago. It was good to get that glimpse — however fleeting — of yet another person who had passed through our lives, in an unobtrusive way, through his children, through his sometimes everyday, sometimes grander contributions to the community.
“Speak to people.” It’s what Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge told us was his mother’s best advice to him in life.
She was right. One hello, one day, brought a little insight into a life and a nice surprise. And every time we saw Don Blesse after that, we remembered a little something about him.
Now we say goodbye, never forgetting the hello.
RIP Mr. Blesse. Condolences to Carol, Paul, Donald and Ken — and your many friends and extended family.
Donald Edwin Blesse, 89, of Red Bank died at home on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015.
He was born in Weehawken and lived in Rumson and Little Silver before moving to Red Bank three years ago.
He was a tall, friendly and kind man who willingly served for many years in the communities in which he lived and his church. After earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Business Administration from Rutgers University, he worked for Bell Laboratories for 38 years before retiring in 1987.
He honorably served in the US Navy as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate aboard aircraft carriers during WWII and the Korean War.
Continually steadfast in his faith as a member of St. George’s by the River Episcopal Church for 53 years, he served as church school Superintendent for 28 years, Canterbury Fair treasurer, sang in the choir and was on the Vestry.
In Rumson, he was on the school board, active as a leader in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and in later years worked tirelessly to create a new veterans’ memorial in Victory Park.
He is survived by: his wife of 63 years, Carol Einbeck Blesse; three sons, Donald A. Blesse, of Lakewood, OH; Ken Blesse, of Fairview Park, OH; Paul Blesse, of Johns Creek, GA; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name would be welcome to the St. George’s Outreach or Memorial funds, 7 Lincoln Avenue, Rumson, NJ 07760; www.stgeorgesrumson.org. In the notes section, please identify which fund.
“It was a great time,” Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson told Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect on Monday, chatting a little about the weekend’s ninth annual Rumson PBA Crab Tournament.
A local guy, he said, won. That guy — along with his boatload of crabbers — was Captain Don Schneider with a bucket full of 50 crabs.
The chief and several other crabbers were already out in crabbing waters by the time Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect arrived, but some sights were caught.
If you haven’t already seen it, check out the above slideshow of the scene around. And thanks to the Rumson PBA Facebook page for the pic of the winning crew! Congrats, Captain Schneider!
Bob Jones, of Rumson, passed away on Aug. 16. Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home
Services are set for Monday for Rumson’s Robert (Bob) S. Jones, Jr., former president of Rumson Country Club Board and trustee of the Riverview Medical Center Foundation, who died Sunday, Aug. 16, after a losing a courageous battle with cancer. He was 74.
Born in Baltimore, Bob attended Lower Merion High School where he met the love of his life, Sharon. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served from 1959 to 1962.
A 1987 graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University,having earned both his CLU designation (1971) and ChFC degree(1982), he got his undergraduate degree in economics from Gettysburg College in 1965.
In the summer of 1965, Bob began his 42-year career with AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (formerly The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S.), serving as an advisor, district and agency manager, and in the company’s marketing and retail operations as well as executive vice president, head of Retail and chairman of company advisors.
Bob had myriad professional and community affiliations. He was president of the Pittsburgh Life Underwriters, president of the Agency Round Table, a board member of the LUTC, president of Equitable’s Management Association, and a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable.
Bob was also a board member of the Riverview Medical Center Foundation, served on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and the U.S.O. of Metropolitan New York, and was a trustee emeritus of Gettysburg College.
He was a member of: the Pittsburgh Field Club, where he served as a board member from 1980-84; Rumson Country Club, where he served as a board member from 2000-06, and president from 2003-06; the Sailfish Point Foundation, the Sailfish Point Golf Board and the Sailfish Point Marina Board; the Medalist Golf Club and the Stone Harbor Golf Club.
After retiring, Bob enjoyed golfing, bird hunting, fishing and thoroughbred racehorse ownership, his latest hobby.
“As part of ABL Stables (formerly BDL Stables), Bob found tremendous joy in each and every racehorse he owned,” his obituary said. “Bob was also a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, never giving up his season tickets even after he moved to New Jersey. However, Bob’s greatest happiness came from his family. He became known around town as “Big Bob” shortly after his first grandchild was born.
“Bob made an impact on everyone around him, with his zest for life, his kindness and his generosity. He will be forever missed by the numerous people whose lives he touched.”
Bob is survived by: his wife of 52 years, Sharon Jones, of Rumson; his daughter, Kelly DalPra and husband Kenny, of Rumson; his daughter, Kirsten Ward, and husband Chris, of Fair Haven; his daughter Ashley Jones and Sue Dillon of Fair Haven; and his son, Matt Jones and wife Elaine, of Fair Haven; his eight grandchildren, Robert, Klayton, Kyle, Marin, Brayden, Liam, May and Milo; his brother, Elliot Jones and wife Melanie, of Florida; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24 at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad Street, Red Bank.
A memorial Mass will follow on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 11 a.m. at The Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge Road, Fair Haven.
Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, 1-800-227-2345 or online at www.cancer.org/donate.
The promotion is a significant one in light of the fact that while the police department’s staffing model hierarchy allows for a captain in the department the position has not been filled since retired Captain Paul McCue was on the force several years ago.
Caught readying himself to get to the meeting outside the police station, McGovern gave Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect his signature smile and a wave, for which he is known throughout town, as he gussied himself up, hopped in his SUV and headed a couple blocks over.
He was met with a packed meeting room full of beaming, congratulatory officials, neighboring police and chiefs, family and friends.
Welcoming all, Chief Breckenridge pointed out that “when you rise to the level of captain, it shows when you see the network of support from (police in) surrounding towns …” Among those in that support network were Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson and Red Bank Police Chief Darren McConnell, both Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School graduates.
First thanking the officers of the department for their “continued dedication” and saying “you guys do an excellent job, and I couldn’t be more proud,” Breckenridge singled out McGovern’s family and told them, “you should be very proud of Joe. He worked very hard to get where he is going tonight … I’m sure Joe’s going to do a terrific job.”
McGovern’s journey to the captain’s position has been a long, hard-earned, diligent one, the chief said, starting nearly 30 years ago.
He recounted it. McGovern started in the department in 1987 as a dispatcher. In 1989, he became a special officer. In 1991, he became a probationary patrolman, then detective and OEM coordinator, which he still is.
In 2006, McGovern became a sergeant. And in 2008, he rose to the rank of lieutenant. Now he’s a captain. He has also earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and attended the prestigious FBI Academy.
“Joe has worked very hard with his promotional process, doing the right thing and doing his job,” Breckenridge said. “I am so proud and happy to stand here before you and congratulate you first, captain.”
With a smile, his wife holding the bible and two boys by his side, Mayor Ben Lucarelli administered the oath of office to McGovern.
With a modest smile and a simple “thank you” to “everyone for coming out,” McGovern said, “It’s been a long process and it’s finally here.”
Five stripes. Same smile. Same dedication.
McGovern will serve as acting chief as of Oct. 1, the official start day of Breckenridge’s retirement. Sgt. Robert Townshend is slated for a promotion to lieutenant. The new chief has not yet been chosen.
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