Tag Archives: Rumson

Local Life

I Remember R-FH Mamas

You’ve heard it before — each year. We’ll say it again …

It’s Mother’s Day.

And, we at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect are thinking, the day should not just be one during which kids dutifully pay attention to the woman who … pretty much, well, twisted her heart up and spit it out to ride a Big Wheel at 100 miles per hour with no helmet. But, we digress.

We’re thinking that the day is not really just for all that Hallmark and social media jazz — though, it is somewhat important jazz. The day should be more about moms celebrating one another, especially to learn a little bit about one another’s roots in a tight-knit community such as the Rumson-Fair Haven area. Because, it does take this sort of village … if you let it. Embrace it. Like they did.

There are so many women in this area who served as the mortar in the in the brick foundation that is this community now. It goes back many generations. We are thankful for those women of all different motherly types — yes, different. Each unique and special in her own way. Each contributing in her own way. Each leaving her indelible fingerprint on many here, through the generations.

You see, the strong community foundation that brought us all here is not about anyone’s income figure and a few overused disingenuous promotional phrases — prime real estate value, curb appeal, flipping potential and the rest of the lingo concocted to make that sale.

The sale was made long ago and the value was tucked away in the hearts of some of these moms who were here when it all started, caring for one another through their community.

It’s about lifeblood — the lifeblood of, in this case, matriarchs who have bequested a legacy of true love.

They put the coffee on long ago. Who’s bringing the crumb cake? Yes, crumb cake. When it comes to community, you can splurge a little to keep it sweet and real.

The above photos are just a sampling of R-FH area moms gone and still with us through generations. We honor all of you. Check out our slideshow below for more …

Local Life

Scene Around: Socially Distanced Dog Days of Spring

Nancy the Rumson dog makes a splash on the Shrewsbury River
Photos/Sue Hill-Spakowski

Call it a howling success of a dog day of spring. Sunday was all about some bright sunshine washing away the pandemic fear. It was also about a bit less solitude, with NJ Gov. Phil Murphy opening the state’s parks.

Continue reading Scene Around: Socially Distanced Dog Days of Spring →
Obituaries

In Memorium: Rumsonite Henry J. Coffey, 82

Rumson resident Henry J. Coffey passed away on April 28. He was 82.

“Henry was always cheerful, happy and with a great smile always the first to help.”

Loved ones of Henry J. Coffey in his obituary
Henry J. Coffey
Photo/family via John E. Day Funeral Home

Born in New York City to the late Henry and Jean (Moore) Coffey, Henry worked throughout his life for Chester Cable and City Service Oil Company. He retired from Paige Electric as its executive vice president in 2017.

Henry is survived by: his beloved wife of 62 years, Therese Moran Coffey, of Rumson; his loving children, Howard and his wife Elaine Coffey, of Red Bank, James and his wife Rosa Coffey, of Florida, Kelli Ann and her husband Dr. Lawrence Caplin, of Pennsylvania; his dear sister, Barbara and her husband Roland Babcock, of Nevada; and his nine cherished grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Henry’s memory may be sent to Rumson Ambulance Corp. and the local food bank in Red Bank.

Sponsor R-FH Retro
Local Life

Retro Oceanfront Softball Team Home Run

Oceanfront Softball Team circa 1980
Photo/Chip Irish via Facebook

As we continue to mourn the loss of the baseball season, among other athletics, due to COVID-19, thoughts, and a memory scroll on Facebook bring us back to the days of another kind of ballgame camaraderie — the softball league of the past.

Continue reading Retro Oceanfront Softball Team Home Run →
Obituaries

In Memorium: Longtime Rumsonite, RFH Grad, Actor, Hal Holst, 66

The tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) alumnus community with the death from complications of the virus of RFH Class of ’72 graduate and community theater actor Hal Holst on April 2.

Continue reading In Memorium: Longtime Rumsonite, RFH Grad, Actor, Hal Holst, 66 →
Police and Fire, Regional Interest, Rumson Police and Fire Files

NJ State Police: Rumson ‘Corona Party’ Most ‘Blatant’ Flouting of Law

Of the previous week’s seven infractions of the statewide stay-at-home edict during the COVID-19 pandemic that were cited on Sunday by Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and NJ State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Saturday’s Rumson party was honed in on as the most flagrant of defiances.

“Well, you don’t get much more blatant than the party crowd in Rumson that resisted and insulted police officers who asked them to disperse,” NJ State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan said in a released statement.

As social media comments ran rampant after Rumson police on Saturday night issued a statement about the party and the blatant defiance they were met with when they broke it up, announcing a zero tolerance policy moving forward, they followed that up on Sunday an announcement that the matter was under investigation and charges were pending.

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson is handling all inquiries and has been contacted by R-FH Retro. His comments will be included when they become available.

In the meantime, the Attorney General has announced that charges were filed in the incident against at least one person.

“John Maldjian, 54, of Rumson, was charged today by the Rumson Police with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, and two separate charges related to violating the emergency orders. All are disorderly persons offenses,” the release from the Attorney General said.

The charges are all disorderly persons offenses.

Maldjian is a musician and attorney, according to his Facebook page. Police, according to the release, were dispatched at 8:19 p.m. to respond to a large party on Blackpoint Road with a band.

“When they arrived, they discovered the homeowner, John Maldjian, together with another man, playing acoustic guitars on the front porch of the home. There were approximately 30 people, between the ages of 40 and 50, gathered on Maldjian’s front lawn and the adjoining street watching the performance. Some had lawn chairs and alcoholic beverages,” the release added.

The police cars’ flashing lights and requests to end the party were ignored. The band kept playing. Maldjian did not stop singing and playing until approached by an officer.

The crowd became unruly at this point, police said, and shouting curses at police and “Welcome to Nazi Germany.”

Charges against those unruly audience members/party attendees are “forthcoming,” the Attorney General said.

“The Governor’s executive orders are commonsense measures to keep people safe during this historic health crisis,” Attorney General Grewal said. “When people like the partiers in Rumson flout the orders and show disrespect and hostility to police officers, they not only put themselves and the others immediately involved in peril, they risk inciting others to engage in such irresponsible and dangerous behavior. Our police officers are working courageously every day to protect us all, and we will continue to charge anyone who violates the emergency orders, which literally are a matter of life and death.” 

The other statewide incidents cited included: 11 non-essential businesses in Newark being open; a woman arrested in Teaneck coughing and spitting on police while in custody, saying she had the virus; a Wegmans supermarket coughing incident; a dog groomer continuing to operate; a backyard gathering in Toms River; and someone bringing five youths from a youth shelter out to play basketball.

As of Sunday, there were 2,351 positive cases of COVID-19 in Monmouth County alone. In Rumson, the positive count is up to 21. In Fair Haven the count is up to 14. In Middletown, the largest municipality in the county, over the bridge from Rumson, the township has largest number of positive cases at 217 now.

News

Scene Around: Isolated View & Sobering COVID-19 Stats

A gloomy day at the riverfront in Rumson
Photo/Doug Borden

The sun may have finally come out today, but the picture is a dank, grim one as far as soaring COVID-19 stats go for the state and area. It’s no April Fool’s joke. Solitude is the only thing that will squash the curve, state, county and local authorities repeat with veracity daily.

Continue reading Scene Around: Isolated View & Sobering COVID-19 Stats →