Tag Archives: Tony Mellaci

Local Life

Retro Rumson Cheers from Frank’s

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Cheers to Friday, a Rumson icon and his iconic River Road spot!

That would be Tony Mellaci and his father’s bar, Frank’s. The door was always open at the place, welcoming Rumson friends for a cold one, a Mellaci sausage sandwich, a little camaraderie and good conversation among locals. The senior Mellaci, Frank, owned it and ran it with his son, Tony. The proprietors, they were.

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Obituaries

In Memoriam: Forever Rumsonite, Rumson High Football Star, Fireman, Tony Mellaci, 100

“To my dad who accomplished so many things in life and experience more than we could imagine. The depression, WW2, starting life when there was still horse & carriages, to seeing a man walk on the moon. My dad loved life and lived it to its fullest. RIP dad. Until we meet up again. Love you … He reached his goal to live to 100.”

That he did. Iconic longtime Rumsonite Anthony J. “Tony” Mellaci passed away peacefully from natural causes at home, surrounded by loved ones, on June 17. He had just recently reached the age of 100.

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Local Life

Scene Around: Rumson’s RFH Senior Celebs & Fetes

They’re pretty famous as Rumson parenting and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School history goes. Add a few banner birthdays and community connections to that and you have some celebrities who are still celebrating and going strong.

They are Tony and Sharon Mellaci, their buddy Diane Dey and kids, also RFH grads. Tony celebrated his 100th birthday in May. Sharon just celebrated her birthday (as the lead photo shows) and Dey, 92, turned 90 in 2020. The three got together recently for Sharon’s festive 90s celebration. The trio, who raised their kids in Rumson, were joined by those kids, Merrall Dey Freund and Jim Mellaci, RFH Class of ’78 grads. And there are a few more Rumson connections sprinkled in the company. Know them? Cake, anyone?

Here’s the glorious RFH couple’s scoop. Sharon graduated from RFH in 1947. Tony, a celebrity centenarian in his own right, graduated in ’41. And he did so after making RFH football history. “Dad scored first touchdowns at the new Borden field in the fall of ’40 when it opened,” Jim said. “His senior year was the first winning season Rumson (RFH) had.”

Now, that’s some history and longevity worth toasting to for the weekend! Cheers, Mellaci and Dey folks, kids and friends!

R-FH Retro will be chatting with all three in the future.

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