Rumson police on Friday hosted a visit from a special new friend. That friend was bearing an in-person gift of bridging a gap in understanding protecting and serving between law enforcement and special needs people.
Say “uncle” and hold on tight.
One could say it’s never time to say “uncle” when it comes to letting go of the memories of two iconic Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) teachers/coaches. And it’s really not a problem — never relenting on remembrance. No reason to let such good go, right?
Saying “uncle” often literally had the opposite of the surrender effect for one Sea Bright-raised girl when it comes to her vise-gripping good memories of the now-gone RFH coaches/teachers Hal Lorme and Tom Botti, who taught her and many others well. That girl is Fran Rooney Raffetto and she’s called Lorme and Botti, family to her, “uncle” her entire life. And she’s not giving up that or the memories.
Her parents’ close relationship with the two and their spouses made Raffetto an adopted RFHer and niece, one could say, with enough of Lorme- and Botti-inspired RFH memories to last a lifetime and plenty to pass on to future generations. And she’s always been more than happy to share.
Legacy and love of the RFH teachers/coaches and their de-facto family ties in mind, Raffetto decided that now is that never-too-late time to bring people together who loved and admired her aunts and uncles and share the love by honoring their spirits in a special mass for the foursome years after their deaths on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Holy Cross Church in Rumson.
“I thought the memorial mass would be a nice way to see the Lorme and Botti family and give people a chance to honor and remember them,” Raffetto said. “(We need to) keep their memory alive. We frequented the RFH games throughout my childhood. I was so fortunate to have such wonderful people in my life.”
The family-by-choice tie? Well, the Lormes were her godparents, so saying “uncle” — and “aunt” — to them was a real thing. The Bottis were best friends of her parents, who were Sea Bright icons in their own right, Charlie and Frances Rooney. Charlie was mayor at one time and, well, Frances is none other than Mrs. Rooney of Mrs. Rooney’s Hot Dog Stand fame for half a century. The two and their wives have taught Raffetto well, and she didn’t even have to be taught or coached by them in the traditional RFH sense.
Teachers. Coaches. It’s a pretty sure bet that most have had at least one, the other or both who mentored or taught them a lesson or a thousand in or out of the classroom in their youth. Botti and Lorme were two who embodied that.
Sometimes those lessons, or even a word or a few at just that right moment in our youth change us forever. Unforgettable. That’s what some are. And it’s pretty safe to say that besides Lorme and Botti, there’s an RFH teacher or a few that made that sort of lasting impact on many an RFH student’s life — and then some … even outside of the RFH campus.
And outside of the RFH halls and fields, there were some, like Raffetto, who got to call those teachers and coaches family.
“We spent so many wonderful times together over so many years,” Raffetto said. “One of many great memories was going to cheer on the RFH Bulldogs when my Uncle Hal and Mr. Botti where coaches! It was incredible!”
And the now-92 Mrs. Rooney, over the bridge in RFHers’ adopted beach and party hometown of Sea Bright, is family to RFH students, too. In fact, her photo made it on the inside cover of one of the RFH yearbooks, a de facto auntie.
So, a Bulldog cheer to saying “uncle” for the right familial reason and never letting go of the good memories!
Raffetto asks that all who would like to honor and remember the Hal and Joan Lorme (who passed away on Feb. 15, 2015 and Jan 21, 2020, respectively) and Tom and Vivian Botti (who passed away on July 6 and Oct. 14, 2016, respectively) join her, her family and theirs at Holy Cross on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Holy Cross at 5 p.m..
Our annual Veterans Day tribute … (Click one of the photos in the above gallery to enlarge and scroll.)
Their faces are the faces at the core of a close-knit community. Some have passed. Some are still with us. They are cherished. They are veterans.
They were and are neighbors, dads, and just plain friendly faces around the Rumson-Fair Haven area towns.
They served. They fought for freedom.
They lived and still do live their lives with hometown pride, honor and respect. They were, they are founding fathers, friends. They were, they are cornerstones of the sense of community that is the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
The gift of their legacies bears no upscale real estate market value. They passed along a love of country and community that is priceless.
Thank you, on Veterans Day, to the veterans of the area who have passed and those who are still with us. You are cherished, honored.
Take a look at some of their faces and remember the legacy they carry.
— Elaine Van Develde
— Photos, courtesy of families of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
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A reprise (originally posted on March 15, 2017, in honor of RFH gym teacher Lynn Broten, who recently passed away …
With the sting of the first fall frost and longing for that breath of warm fresh air, thoughts turn to days spent in the young teen sweat-infused gym at RFH. Oh, the ritual of that mandatory indoor exercise.
Ahhh, memories. More like a little PTSD remembrance of the torture the class was for some — especially when stuck inside. When you’re not an athlete and, for that matter, can barely volley a ball (and I mean barely), gym class day was the day of trying to get some sort of note of excuse from your mom to get you out of the embarrassment. Forgery became a talent. Though some moms could feel the uncoordinated kids’ pain and easily relented with prompt penning.
TGIF! Do you know where your imbibing fun-seekers were giving their thanks for the weekend in the ’70s and ’80s? No, not Cheers. It was a younger, hipper flashback Sea Bright version of it, though. The gathering spot was the iconic Melody Corner/Sail Inn.
Let the sun shine! There have been some sun shiny fall days lately, and today is no exception. And back in the 1970s at RFH, busting out of the hallowed halls was the thing to do when the fiery orb reared its rays in the sky.
Sometimes the soul just needs a little river walk on a sunny day.
The unofficial election results are in; and, after what turned out to be a very tight race for two Fair Haven Borough Council seats, it looks like party tickets split, seating one Democrat and one Republican on the governing body dais, unless yet-to-be-counted provisional, mail-in and cure letter ballots change that.
A reprise of an RFH classic from 2016, just because it’s that time again …
Election Day is here.
And, as usual, political season has been in full swing in more ways than one — punches are being thrown in all directions.
It’s why they call it silly season. But, let’s take the focus off the national and local politics of today and step back in time to the 1970s and politics as it was with RFH students and teachers.
Continue reading Retro RFH Political ClubbingAs people go to the polls to vote in Rumson and Fair Haven on Tuesday, or even if votes have already been cast, there are some facts about the boroughs’ governing bodies and their function and history that may have eluded many.
So, the notion in mind that an informed voter is a better voter, early voting or not, here are some local government facts that may enlighten and inspire:
Rumson and Fair Haven are both run under what is dubbed the Borough form of municipal government in New Jersey. There are several forms. While it may seem like a given that since Fair Haven and Rumson are both boroughs, the form of government follows suit with that name. It’s not.
A reprise from 2017, just because … BOO!
Scary season has set in … in more ways than one.
People in the Rumson-Fair Haven area have been haunting up their homes, crafting costumes and getting into the spirit. So, why not add a little extra retro spooking from RFH students of the past?
BOO who or what? It was all in the haunt for RFHers back in the 1970s. They started getting the Halloween party going early on and ended up with a pretty festive feast of ghouls on the grounds of the high school and, yes, beyond.
Living in the past. Sometimes you just have to live a little … in the past. It’s an eye-opening, or -stabbing, thing. Nothing wrong with a clearer view or jab.
Yet, when someone is told they’re living in the past, it’s usually considered somewhat of an insult. It implies that the person is paralyzed, incapable of moving forward. Not always true, especially when it comes to old news.
Continue reading Old News: Political Street Fight, Drunk on ‘Hootch,’ Hallowe’en Hoopla, Hay, Dunking & Fiery Mischief
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