Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company back when they wore dress whites Photo/FHFD archives
Today is International Firefighters’ Day.
So, in honor of the day, the Retro Pic(s) of the day are snapshots back in time with Rumson’s Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 and the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company.
Rumson firemen gather and strike a pose back in the day at the Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 firehouse Photo/Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 Facebook page
The shot of the Rumson firemen (and child) at the building that is still standing on East River Road is an oldie, courtesy of the company’s Facebook page. Can you guess the year? And notice how many are smoking. Those were the days when it was cool to smoke.
We’re not sure of the year the photo, courtesy of the fire company’s files, but it was back far enough when Fair Haven firemen and Ladies’ Auxiliary members wore white dress uniforms with navy blue and white polka dotted scarves.
We recognize some of the folks in the Fair Haven shot. Who do you recognize? And what event was this?
On International Firefighters’ Day, we thank our Rumson-Fair Haven area firefighters for their service!
Joe Sorrentino (left) in Rumson DPW retirement photo in 2003 Photo/Rumson newsletter
By Elaine Van Develde
He was a community pillar. He was the go-to Rumson Department of Public Works (DPW) guy for decades. He was a volunteer fireman, first aid squad member. He helped out many in need through church and many a charitable cause. He was a mentor. He was king of the zeppole-makers. He was a husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He was a warm hometown embrace with a lot of heart, no pretense. He was Joe Sorrentino and his hometown of Rumson said goodbye to him today as he was laid to rest at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Keyport.
Joe was 81 years old. He passed away on April 2 surrounded by his loving family at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.
Bill Berry Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home
Longtime Rumson resident Myron “Bill” Berry passed away peacefully on March 10 after a long battle with cancer.
He was surrounded surrounded by his family and devoted friend, Nancy Kochanski.
Bill was predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Suzanne “Sue” Lucking Berry, who he met while attending Ramsey High School. After graduation, he went on to graduate from Rochester Institute of Technology. Upon finishing college, Bill and his wife moved to Amberg, Germany during Bill’s two years of service in the United States Army.
The following is Michael Gabriel’s obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home:
Michael Gabriel Photo/courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home
Michael F. Gabriel, 56, passed away suddenly on Friday March 25, 2016.
Born in Red Bank to Frank Gabriel and Barbara Demcoe, he grew up in Rumson before moving to Monmouth Beach in 1994.
At the age of 13 he received the rank of Eagle Scout and was a junior champion skeet shooter. Mike was a 1981 graduate of the University of Miami and received his Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration. He was a passionate sports fan.
During football season, Saturdays were saved for cheering on his son who plays for his beloved Miami Hurricanes, and Sundays were devoted to the the New York Giants. From a young age, he spent his summers at Monmouth Park Racetrack, parking cars and most recently as a successful thoroughbred horse owner.
An avid golfer, he was a member of Deal Country Club and was proud to be part of The Shrimpers; and most recently he joined the Dye Preserve Golf Club in Jupiter, FL.
Mike was the Executive Director of Arcadia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hamilton Square, NJ.
He is survived by: a son and two daughters, Frank S. Gabriel, Kristin N. Gabriel and Caroline L. Gabriel, of Monmouth Beach and their mother, Amie Gabriel, of Long Branch.
Mike is also survived by: his mother, Barbara A. Gabriel, of Monmouth Beach; brother Frank Gabriel Jr., of Tarpon Springs, FL; two sisters, Lori Gabriel Petschauer, of Long Branch, and Gloria Vaccarella of Daytona Beach, FL; two nieces, Caitlin Dziedzic and Kendall Petschauer; two nephews, Gary and Michael Vaccarella.
He also leaves behind his girlfriend Kathryn Bateman of Monmouth Beach, and his beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog, Alice.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, at the Church of the Precious Blood, 72 Riverdale Ave., Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at www.thoroughbredaftercare.org.
Please visit Mike’s memorial website at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
We, at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect, extend our deepest sympathies to the Sullivan family and friends of John, whose final moments we saw spent proudly and happily marching in the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday with his buddies in The Briody Bunch.
We are so terribly sorry for your loss. Here are some happy moments to rememberJohn by …John’s obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home …
John C. Sullivan, 78, of Rumson, passed away suddenly, Sunday, March 13.
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He proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force and was an engineer at Bell Labs in Holmdel for 40 years. John was a Knight of Columbus, Red Bank Council 3187 and treasurer of The Briody Bunch of Rumson.
He is survived by: his beloved wife of 43 years, Patricia (nee: Keaveney); his loving children, John P. and wife Kim Tuby, Erin Sullivan, Kevin and wife Nicole Walker and Michael and wife Alyson.
Also surviving are: his dear grandchildren, Ryan, Andrew, Shane, Brian, Thomas and Jason.
A life celebration will be at the John E. Day Funeral Home Wednesday, March 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 17 at Holy Cross Church, Rumson.
In lieu of flowers donations to the Wounded Warrior Project 370–7th Ave. 3rd fl. Rm 320 NY, NY 10001 or the charity of your choice appreciated.
Kaila Scarpa, a Forrestdale School sixth grader, uses an interactive learning device at the New Jersey Hall of Fame Mobile Museum. Photo/Rumson School District
Rocker Jon Bon Jovi’s jacket. A Les Paul guitar. A Green Bay Packers helmet representing longtime Coach Vince Lombari. These were just a few of the items viewed by sixth graders at Forrestdale School in Rumson when they visited the New Jersey Hall of Fame Mobile Museum.
Everyone in the Rumson-Fair Haven area got a taste of spring and then some with a good sun drenching and record-breaking temperatures hitting the mid- to high-70s.
In Rumson, it was so packed at Victory Park this afternoon that there was no parking within a few blocks’ radius. Things were quiet down at the Fair Haven Dock, with a couple of people and their best four-legged friends taking a stroll and a few teens out taking a run and jibing one another about some spring fever flirtations (just a little quibble over which guy “she” said hi to first).
Oh, and there was a swan taking a quiet swim.
Take a look. Ahhhhh. Serenity and sun now! Enjoy. Good night, R-FH area.
The Girls Basketball Team of Rumson’s Forrestdale School has claimed the Coastal Intermediate Basketball League Championship with a win over Shrewsbury on Feb. 26.
As a testament to his decades-long service to the borough, Rumson Mayor John E. Ekdahl has been inducted into the Elected Officials Hall of Fame.
The honor was bestowed upon him recently by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities during the 24th Annual Mayors Legislative Day on Feb. 24 at the State House Annex in Trenton.
“The Elected Officials Hall of Fame recognizes these officials who have selflessly guided their communities through the good times and difficult times, often with little recognition of their public service,” State League of Municipalities President Joseph Tempesta, Jr., also mayor of West Caldwell Township, said. “This small token of appreciation focuses a light on their sacrifices over lengthy tenures, demonstrating how much they care and serving as excellent examples of civic pride for all citizens to emulate.”
The honor is reserved for local municipal governing body members who, as of December 2015, served for more than 20 years in elected municipal office. And that length of public service for Ekdahl has been nearly double that — or roughly 38 years.
Mayor Ekdahl began his formal service on the borough’s Zoning Board of Adjustment in 1978, serving as its chairman from 1991-95. He was elected to the Rumson Borough Council in November of 1996 and was appointed mayor in 2004 when Mayor Charles S. Callman stepped down. Since then, he has been re-elected three times. His current term ends on December 31, 2019.
There are currently 566 inductees in the Elected Officials Hall of Fame.
Congratulations, Mayor Ekdahl! And thank you for your service!
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