Tag Archives: RFH

Obituaries, Opinion

Remembrance: RFH Grad Debra Clarke Crowell Dies at 55

Image
Debra Clarke Crowell Photo/RFH Yearbook 1978
Debra Clarke Crowell
Photo/RFH Yearbook 1978

There’s nothing quite as wonderful as an old friend who’s known you since you were a kid. And there’s also nothing worse than losing that friend at a young age.

The worst of it happened a couple of days ago to friends in the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School alumni community.

A wave of shock and sadness engulfed the Class of ’78 with the announcement of the death of 55-year-old classmate Debra “Debbie” Clarke Crowell on Sept. 8.

There have been some losses of the all-too-young in the class already. This was the latest.

Continue reading Remembrance: RFH Grad Debra Clarke Crowell Dies at 55 →

Schools Scene

A Rumson Mom’s Takeaway on ‘The Naked Roommate’ Talk at RFH

Rumson mom LuAnn Hughes attended author Harlan Cohen’s talk presentation at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tuesday night.

Centered on his book The Naked Roommate (about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable in the college transition), it was designed to help college-bound students and their families.

She posted her takeaway on the speaker’s salient message on Facebook.

Here’s what the mom of teens, also a teacher, got out of the talk and shared with friends …

“It’s important to know what YOU want and stop living for what others expect from you.

“Transitions are hard. There are 5 aspects to pay attention to: social, emotional, physical, financial, academic.

“We need to focus more on people, places and having patience to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.

“Universal Rejection Truth: There will be times you lose, attempts you fail, people that don’t give you what you want. If you ignore the universal rejection truth you will spend your time hating, hiding, fighting, attacking and blaming others.

“If you face the truth you will have the strength and resilience to do what you’re meant to do because you’re not afraid to take risks.
You have to be able to take rejection to take risk after risk. Risk taking is what helps you grow.

“Don’t take critical feedback as an attack. Being able to take rejection is the key to people being able to help you.

“Rules:
1. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Embrace the fact that this is going to be difficult.
2. When you panic, think of your people, places and patience. Don’t panic and hang out with the wrong people. You have to have YOUR people and places.
3. Your kids struggles belong to them but the victories belong to you (lol). The challenge is that we are so connected through technology that it’s hard to set boundaries. Consider letting your child marinate in their misery.
4. Advise your child to apply “the 24 hour rule” whenever anything traumatic happens. Clarity will come. Be patient.
5. Get in the habit of asking your child “What do you think you should do?” If answer is “I don’t know” ask about who his 5 people and 3 places are. It takes a good 8 weeks to adjust (patience).

“With 30% of college students facing depression, how do you know when to stop letting your child marinate in their misery?

“Make sure they have their people, give your kids permission to be imperfect before they get there, let them fail.

“Make sure they understand that the first 8 weeks are hard.

“If you’re really worried and your child is showing signs of suicide (2nd leading cause of death among college kids) you go and check and intervene.

“Give your kids permission to struggle, to face adversity and to get over it.

“Places: Look for where you can sweat, play, pray, learn, lead.
People: People who volunteer to help, people you pay to help.

“College is about what YOU want not about who wants you.”

Text college to 44144 for roommate contract.

Good luck parents and college freshmen! 

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Chief Darryl Breckenridge as an RFH Senior

Image
Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge in his 1976 RFH Yearbook photo Photo/RFH Yearbook screenshot
Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge in his 1976 RFH Yearbook photo
Photo/RFH Yearbook screenshot

Yes, Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge is retiring.

Pretty much everyone in the Rumson-Fair Haven area now knows that he is calling a close to his 35-year career in law enforcement.

The chief was raised in Fair Haven. And, like most Fair Havenites, he went to Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. He graduated in 1976, America’s bicentennial year. It was also an era of Huckapoo shirts, lambswool-lined jackets, Wallabees, topsiders and host of other fashion fatalities of their time.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors the chief stylin’ in his graduating year RFH Yearbook photo. He wore the trend well.

Pretty hip, huh? What was your favorite 70s style?

Hmmmmm. The chief looks a lot like his son D.J., director of Fair Haven Recreation, in this shot, right?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Gathering of RFH Class of ’80 Gals

Image Leave a comment
Fair Haven buddies from the RFH Class of 1980 in 1971 Photo/courtesy of Sandi Richards VonPier
Fair Haven buddies from the RFH Class of 1980 in 1971
Photo/courtesy of Sandi Richards VonPier

The RFH Class of 1980 is having its 35th reunion this weekend.

What better time than to take a look back at some grads of that class?

So, in honor of the Class of ’80 and friendships formed many years ago that are still going strong, the Retro Pic of the Day takes a look back at a 1971 gathering of Fair Haven girls of the class when such bonds were forged.

Nothing like an old buddy.

Who in this crew do you think was considered the best dressed? Remember what the “in” style was then?

Thanks to longtime Fair Havenite Sandi Richards VonPier for this photo contribution!

Local Life

Retro RFH Ride to Nowhere

Image Leave a comment
RFH Class of 1978 crew on a joy ride Photo/George Day
RFH Class of 1978 crew on a joy ride
Photo/George Day

Yes, it may be summer joy ride time somewhere.

Yet, these RFH old timers found their own bit of joy on a Halloween ride of a GI kind and made the most of it circa 1977.

So, in honor of our never easily forgotten classmates — just because they always strove to do memorable things like this — and a good little ride into the past, this is our Retro Pic of the (George) Day.

Security? Hitchin’ a ride, anyone?

Cheers to the guys in this pic! Know who they are?

Send us your past joy ride pics at evd@rfhretro.com.

Oh, and thanks, once again, to the fabulous George Day for this great shot of the past!

Schools Scene

A Special Year’s End RFH Bio Lesson for Deane-Porter Students

Leave a comment

When AP Biology students at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) thought outside the box recently, they created a winning situation for all involved.

Faced with the task of completing an end-of-year project, the students embraced a novel idea suggested by their teacher Valerie Kilar — to share what they had learned with students in kindergarten through third grade at nearby Deane-Porter School in Rumson.

“My six-year-old daughter Madelyn is a student at Deane-Porter, and she enjoys attending events at the high school with me and interacting with the ‘big’ kids,” said Kilar. “Since the end-of-year project should be something fun and meaningful, I thought it would be perfect if my students created science books and taught lessons to the students at Deane-Porter.”

Kilar contacted Madelyn’s Kindergarten teacher, Gina Varanelli, about organizing the visit. Varanelli worked out the logistics and connected Kilar with other teachers at the school.

The RFH students worked in groups to create lesson plans and produce books describing scientific terms and processes in a way that could be comprehended by elementary school students.

The participating RFH students and their assignments …

• Jack Luby and Jackson Reid – Venus Fly Trap, Shellie Miller’s kindergarten class
• Willie Freeman – Litter/Pollution, Brooke Huff’s kindergarten class
• Oliver Heins, Ted Schroeder, and Chris Tuttle – Butterfly Metamorphosis, Sara Stanziola’s kindergarten class
• Jen Andreacchi – Biomes, Karen Newman’s Kindergarten Class
• Robin Green and Emma Paulus – Symbiosis, Gina Varanelli’s kindergarten class
• Charlotte Miller and Fini Satzke – Genetic Traits, Carissa Azzaro’s first grade class
• Abigael Donohue and Olivia Rosenberg – Clouds, Bridget Albrizio’s second grade class
• Jessica Browne and Jackie Kho – Food Chains, Keri Lecorchick’s second grade class
• Shea Davis and Sean Dunphy – Astronomy, Colleen Henrikson’s second grade class
• Tristan Kilper, Noah Tucker, and Brianna Worobel – Water Cycle, Ken Grasso’s second grade class
• Clara Eskwitt – Levels of the Ocean, Jill Cox’s third grade class
• Katherine Hill, Megan Klem, and Campbell Lee – Challenges for Living Things, Megan Manney’s third grade class

Kilar hopes to make the event an annual collaboration.

“I am proud of all the thought and creativity the RFH students put into their children’s books and lessons,” said Kilar.

— Rumson School District press release

Local Life, Opinion

Retro RFH Graduation Venues

Image Leave a comment

It’s a relatively new tradition for RFH to have its graduation at Monmouth University.

The venue is large. It’s where many of the high schools with larger graduating classes, by sheer virtue of population, have held graduations — mostly out of a need for more room. Middletown, which has two large public high schools, has held its graduations at Monmouth. And, before that, the PNC Bank Arts Center amphitheater in Holmdel. And some high schools have their graduations at Brookdale.

Continue reading Retro RFH Graduation Venues →

Schools Scene

RFH Class of 2015: Awards, Scholarships to More Than 80

Leave a comment

The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Class of 2015 is graduating Friday night, and not without many of its members first recognized for special achievements

More than 80 awards were given out at the RFH Annual Awards Program on June 8, including valedictorian recognition, departmental achievement, student life, and honorary awards as well as scholarships.

RFH Principal Dr. Tracy Handerhan presented the Valedictorian Achievement Award to Alexandra Siwulec, who also received the American Association of University Women 2015 Book, Catalyst STEM, Holy Cross Church Scholarship, U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence and Superintendent’s awards.

Siwulec will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, where she will major in biophysics and minor in Latin as part of the College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Program.

At RFH, Alexandra’s extracurricular activities include: co-founder and co-president of Global Women Empowerment Club, president of Paws and Claws, chairman of the Gender Issues Committee of the Social Justice Club, and junior board member for Change a Life Uganda. She is an accomplished pianist, having participated in the Golden Key Music Festivals in Vienna and New York City as well as the annual Monster Concert at Brookdale Community College.

Some of the highlighted awards presented to RFH seniors were:

• Alyson M. Raywood Scholarship — Erin Blewett

A 2013 RFH graduate, Alyson M. Raywood completed her first year at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia before passing, after a  courageous two-year battle with cancer, on October 14, 2014 at the age of 19.

The Alyson M. Raywood Scholarship was created to honor an individual who has suffered a tragedy but continues to fight on while maintaining a positive outlook. The scholarship was presented to Blewett by Alyson’s mother, Ro Raywood.

• Class of 2009 Scholarship Award — Ashley Adler

RFH Class of 2009 graduates Stephen Noglows, Timothy Robinson, and Daniel Ryan presented this new award to Adler in honor of their late friend and classmate Robert Anthony Melita. Funds for the scholarship were raised by the First Annual Robert Melita Softball Tournament.

• Robert Anthony Melita Scholarship — Abbey Weis

This scholarship is awarded to an RFH senior who, like Robert Anthony Melita, possesses the courage to stand up for what he or she believes in regardless of popular opinion and serves as an advocate for others. This year’s Robert Anthony Melita Scholarship was presented to  Weis by Robert’s sisters Lauren and Haley Melita.

• Catalyst STEM Award — Russell Binaco and Alexandra Siwulec

This new award recognizes two outstanding students planning to study science, technology, engineering, or math at the post-secondary level. Dr. Tracy Handerhan presented the Catalyst STEM Award to  Binaco and Siwulec.

• U.S. Army Reserve Top Future Soldier Award

This award was presented by Sargent Ethan Newago to Anthony Sciametta, who has enlisted in the Infantry Division of the U.S. Army.

• American Patriot Award

This award is given to a senior who has displayed honor, courage, and commitment by taking the oath to protect and defend our country as a United States Marine. Michael Longo received this award from Sargent Pedro V. Roman.

• Gold and Silver Awards were presented to RFH seniors at a breakfast held on April 17. Students from the RFH Class of 2015 amassed 58 Gold Awards and 31 Silver Awards.

A cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 4.00 at the conclusion of the seventh high school semester qualifies students for the Gold Award. A cumulative GPA of 3.67 at the conclusion of the seventh semester earns the Silver Award.

— Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School press release (edited)

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

An RFH ‘Night of the Arts’

Leave a comment

Did you make it to Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH’s) Night of the Arts?

If not, here’s a glimpse of what you missed.

If so, take a look back!

— Photos/courtesy of RFH

News

Retro Principal: RFH Alum School Daze

Image Leave a comment
Tom Famulary at RFH in the 1970s Photo/RFH yearbook
Tom Famulary at RFH in the 1970s
Photo/RFH yearbook

It’s the principal of the pic — literally.

With the school year coming to a close, it seemed like a good time to take Rumson-Fair Haven area people back to days at RFH in the early 70s when the teen pictured was a student at the high school.

Take a close look. Many from the area, especially those who grew up with him, will recognize this now Rumson resident who was principal at Fair Haven’s Knollwood School for 11 years, interim principal at Sickles School and interim superintendent for a stint not all that long ago.

Yes, it’s Tom Famulary, who grew up in Fair Haven.

Here are a couple of fun retro facts about Tom:

His mom, Millie, was piano teacher to many in the area, and quite talented herself.

His father, John, was publisher of an area weekly newspaper in his retirement years (well, sorta). That paper was the Courier.

Tom was also known to be quite the piano player.

 

Local Life, Schools Scene

RFH Students to Compete in Rowing Nationals

Leave a comment

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) student athletes are among several from the area who will be competing as part of the Navesink River Rowing Competitive Youth Crew in the U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals this weekend.

The students qualified for the competition, held in Sarasota, FL from June 12-14, after a bringing home gold, silver and bronze medals at the U.S. Rowing Mid-Atlantic Youth Championships in West Windsor on May 9 and 10.

That competition qualified the crew for three boats in the nationals.

Competing this weekend are: RFH students,Tom Johnston and Emily Unsinn, both of Fair Haven, and Emma Miller, of Rumson; Neil Hughes, of Oceanport; Max Kelly, of Middletown; Erik Bovino, of  Brielle; and Ian Bamberger, head coach.