Those moments before the graduation walk are sometimes the most treasured. Classmates huddle together, clown around and, yes, shed a few tears knowing that it is the last time they’ll all be together as high school students.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect visited with the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School Class of 2018 before the walk.
Here’s a glimpse of what we saw backstage … (Click to enlarge! Apologies for the blurriness. Time for a new camera … and/or photographer.)
RFH student Tyler Marxen with his first medal of the day at the RFH Tri-District Olympics
Photo/RFH
Knollwood School eighth-grader Matt Newman displays his first medal of the day at the RFH Tri-District Olympics
Photo/RFH
RFH student Tommy Coene shows off his first medal of the day at the RFH Tri-District Olympics
Photo/RFH
From left, Matt Newman and Tommy Coene begin the 800-meter race at the RFH Tri-District Olympics Photo/RFH
Inspired by the Special Olympics, Rumson-Fair Haven area students from Knollwood, Forrestdale and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High (RFH) schools recently competed in what was dubbed the Tri-District Olympics.
The year was 1978. Springsteen and Saturday Night Fever were hot. So were alligator shirts, espadrilles, top siders, Sun-In hair and dark baby oil and iodine enhanced tans.
Life was pretty carefree for a class full of 314 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students who were about to graduate.
Now, 40 years later, still dancing to a high school beat, fearless leaders of the same crew are preparing to host the RFH Class of ’78 40th Reunion.
Recently, the reunion committee gathered at the venue for the Aug. 18 reunion — Sea Bright Beach Club. They’re pretty “psyched,” as many RFHers of the 70s used to say.
And, they’re reminding all that counting today, there are only FIVE days, until June 18, left to get your money in before the price goes up! After June 18, it goes up $10 and $20 if payment is made at the door.
Classmates are reminded to: either make checks ($108 each for drinkers, and $98 for non) out to Leanne Bell and send to Lisa Lindeman Luckett (message her on Facebook for address); or pay via PayPal.
When paying via PayPal, enter RFH40th@gmail.com. Select the Friends and Family option.
With all payments, please Include your email, phone number, high school name and guest’s name.
So, ’78 classmates, do the Hustle, get those payments in and get set to “boogie on down” in your hometown! In the meantime, check out the committee’s photo op (above). Yes, still crazy after all these years …
RFH Freshmen Follies 1977, Honey Bun
Photo/George Day
RFH 1977 Freshmen Follies, Honey Bun
Photo/George Day
As the unofficial start of summer approaches, thoughts turn to beachy sorts of antics among pals — RFH pals, specifically. Call it something to sing and dance about — center stage.
The formation of a Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Girls Gymnastics team that will compete in the Shore Conference North Division is in the works.
Shown at the State Relay Championships are RFH team members (front row) Maddie Orr, Lily Orr, Eva Farr, Nikki DeVito, and Allison Lista, and (back row) Caroline Coleman, Alina Arko, Grace Jamin, Campbell Devlin (with trophy), Katie MacGillis (behind Campbell Devlin), Julia Tambaro, Carolyn Trent, Olivia Rehder, and Megan MacGillis
It was a history-making season for the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Girls Winter Track Team that culminated in the team’s first State Group Championship.
RFH Class of ’78 alumni Nancy Whelchel was the first girl to play on the boys’ baseball team. Photo/George Day
In light of baseball season and honoring high school firsts in the breaking down of gender barriers, this Retro Pic of the Day, originally published in 2015, is being recirculated …
Yes, it’s all about baseball right now.
And the idea of RFH girls breaking into sports that were traditionally boys’ is something to think about.
So, who was on first, or, rather who was first to be somewhere on the field with the guys in the 1970s? It was RFH Class of ’78 alumni Nancy Whelchel.
Yes, Nancy got onto the baseball field with the boys at RFH a year or two after Chris Bowden scored a goal for girls in soccer.
It all happened back in the day when girls had just made strides to change the dress code and wear pants to school. That was a mass effort. There were a lot of girls walking around wearing skirts or dresses with pants underneath. But that’s another girls’ liberation story for another day.
It’s about those singular sensation girls who defied a status quo form of sexism when literally playing the fields.
So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day honors one of those girls — Nancy Whelchel. It’s a snapshot of Nancy on the field with Ward Tietz.
We’re not sure if this is an actual team practice shot or just one in which she was just tossing the ball around for fun with a couple of the guys from her class.
Still, there she is playing ball. She had the guts and the sports acumen to break the good ol’ — or young — boys’ sports network.
Home run.
I somehow don’t recall any sort of rebellion from the boys. She was good. That was all that mattered.
Any firsts for girls on the football field? Anyone? What was Nancy Whelchel’s specialty on the baseball field?
Many thanks, again, to George Day for this classic!
RFH spring lounging and fashion of the 1970s — John Brinkerhoff Photo/George Day
Finally! The warmth of spring is in full bloom. And there’s nothing like parking yourself on a sunny spot on the grass and read a book or study — or something like that.
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