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Local Life

Retro Rumson Pier Sunny Daze

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Sunning with the Oceanic Bridge as a backdrop
Photo/courtesy of Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca

Yes, dank days are dampening spirits lately. Warm, sunny memories can brighten them, though.

So, why not take a photo trip back to a simple day of sunning the old fashioned way on what was referred to as the Rumson Pier?

This look, in particular, offers a glimpse back to some very old time sun bathing — going back about 75 years. There was a lot of suiting up and little skin to show or sun, for that matter. But the bright smiles were bright by the Navesink River.

It’s the wishful thinking sunny days by the river Retro Pic of the Day, courtesy of Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca. It’s a rare shot of some folks hanging out on the old pier (or dock) at Victory Park in Rumson with what was the bridge that connected Rumson to Middletown — what became the Oceanic Bridge — in the background.

According to Slocum Mazzucca, “My grandmother Lillian Turnbull Slocum is the far left with her hands folded. The picture was taken on the old pier (dock) at Victory Park in Rumson. Picture is about 75 years ago.”

Anyone remember the old pier/dock at Victory Park? Is this where the Barnacle Bill’s dock is now? How about those swim suits and dresses?

Many thanks to Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca for this gem from her family photos!

Local Life

Retro Look at a Model Longtime Fair Havenite for Her 90th

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Who’s that lady?

Well, that lady … that sexy lady, as the song goes, is former longtime Fair Havenite Lee Weber (née Walker). Lee, long known as a model area mom with a generous spirit and heart, kicked the new year off with her 90th birthday on Sunday. Yes, 90! Yes, New Year’s Day.

This is a shot of her back in her modeling days in the late 1940s (roughly ’48, her daughter, RFH alum and Rumson resident Jenifer Weber-Zeller tells us). Bathing beauty, a/k/a Lee, modeled for Caroline Schnurer, a “very popular swimwear designer” of that era, Lee says.

In the post modeling days, Lee became Schnurer’s assistant, calling runway shows and such.

Lee now lives in Shrewsbury and is still looking runway ready.

See for yourselves …

Lee Weber turned 90 on New Year’s Day.
Photo/courtesy of Jenifer Weber-Zeller

Happy Birthday, Lee!

Local Life

Retro RFH Polar Bear Tradition

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RFH Polar Bear Club after a plunge.
Photo/RFH Yearbook screenshot

New Year’s Day is approaching. And, as tradition has it in the area, with the advent of the new year comes a plunge into the cold Atlantic ocean — the annual Polar Bear Plunge, to be exact.

The annual Sons of Ireland’s Asbury Park ocean dip for bonding and charity on New Year’s Day was conceived by Rumsonite Sean Clifford.  It benefits two charities each year. This year, all the proceeds will go to: Red Bank-based Stephy’s Place, a relatively new non-profit dedicated to help the grief-afflicted; and Long Branch’s Shore House, a center of assistance for the mentally ill.

But, way back in the day, there was a high school group of plungers who had a club all their own — the RFH Polar Bear Club.

So, in light of the New Year’s Day plunge of today and the jumpers into the ocean chill of the past, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to RFH in the 1970s and a bunch of BFF plungers.

The weather really didn’t seem to affect them. Though, a little cold water on a winter’s day as a teen was never a big deal.

We salute the fearless plungers of both eras! Recognize any of the guys in this mid-70s RFH Yearbook shot?

— Elaine Van Develde

News

Retro RFH Surf n Freeze Part II

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RFH surfer boys at the Sea Bright beach circa 1978.
Photo/George Day

You’ve seen this crew before — in a different pose.

This 1970s gaggle of guys was always set for a surf, a party, or some sort of mischief.  The smiles are telling. There’s nothing like a winter non surf to warm the RFH soul.

So, once again, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day honors friendship and keeping it real, riding with it on a winter’s day at the beach.

Some of these guys are still around and still friends. Recognize those faces?

Cheers!

Thanks, once again, to the fabulous George Day for this snapshot back in RFH time! 

Local Life

Leaving the Scene of a Unique Retro RFH Cheer

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Those special RFH Powder Puff Football cheerleaders of the 1970s. Photo/George Day
Those special RFH Powder Puff Football cheerleaders of the 1970s.
Photo/George Day

What would a string of cheerleading for the team pics be without a cap-off of some special cheerleaders leaving the scene of the cheer?

So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day is a vision — of those crazy 1970s dudes and their “different” idea of cheering for the team and, well, those outfits.

So, here’s to that big cheer for RFH football, champions and, yes, those cheerleaders of the past.

Now, does anyone know who these guys are and whose skirts they’re sporting here?

Many thanks to the one and only George Day for capturing this gem of a look into the RFH past! 

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro RFH Cheer for Champs

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Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot
Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot

Well, the cheering for the RFH Bulldogs’ fourth consecutive state football championship has yet to cease.

And that’s how it goes with those spirited RFH cheers. The people of R-FH land are proud and rightly so.

So, in the interest of equal time and continuing to honor the champs, the Retro Pic of the Day zooms in on a group of real RFH cheerleaders of the past — the late 1970s to be sort of exact.

These are the real deal girls with their genuine purple and white plaid kilt skirts (rather than sister or mother’s clothes), saddle shoes (rather than work boots), and knee socks (in place of long johns, or whatever those things were on the guys). Oh, and the pom-poms and megaphones are authentic. Though the guys we showed you did manage to lift a couple of tools of the cheer trade from the girls, like those sweaters and a pom or two.

So, give this group of cheerleaders a gander. They were considered the coolest of the cool kids. Yup. The outfits and method of cheering have evolved quite a bit since then, but the sentiment is the same.

Go Bulldogs!

Recognize any of these girls? Some are still in the area.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro RFH Cheer for the State Football Champs

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The role reversed cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977. Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot
The role reversed cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977. Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot

When RFH won its fourth consecutive football state championship on Saturday, cheers could be heard for miles around — and days.

In fact, fans and alumnus from all over are still shouting the ol’ “Hey, purple, hey white, you look so good to me … Hey! Hey!” Well, it went something like that back in the 1970s.

And in the 70s there was also a very special group of cheerleaders with a unique twist on a cheer and, of course, those outfits. Never mind the pom-poms and mustaches.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors that special cheer that can be heard for miles around led by this special group of RFH Class of ’78 guys.

Recognize any of these special fellas? One or two of them may have actually been at Saturday’s game. Can you hear them now?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro RFH Class of 2006: Knollwood, Frosh & Junior Moments

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More than a decade ago, the classmates in the RFH Class of 2006 were the newbies in the hallowed halls — freshmen. Then sophomores. Then juniors … and seniors, graduates and, well, for the past decade,  alumnus.

There was a 10-year reunion on Saturday at which these old friends, some who have been buds since kindergarten, got a chance to reminisce about the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly times in their journeys together.

There were those birthday parties with the entire class, cupcakes and messy little mugs. There were those kid sleepovers where there wasn’t much sleep and a lot of pranking. There were field days, class trips, Halloweens, parades, Stokes, proms, summers at the beach, the river, games and graduation and partying. And there were those little things … like shortcut walks to school replete with a trip and fall into the creek or hangin’ a loose with Silvio at Umberto’s after school.

That was then. And now … Well, now those “kids” on their way to their third decade in life, with one solid in adulthood.

They’re hitting 30 soon and making their parents feel pretty old.

So, out of respect for the elders and honoring memories, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day features some of the youngsters of the Class of 2006 with: a peek back to eighth grade and the Knollwood Class of 2002; a glimpse at some freshmen fun hanging out with buds; and a little junior year rewind to a trek into the NYC with a few friends at Christmas time.

Take a look back and recall the days of old with the Class of 2006. Recognize any of these kids?

 

Local Life, Opinion

Retro RFH Show Time!

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It’s opening night for the RFH Tower Players’ fall show.

The fall show at RFH has been a longstanding tradition along with the spring musical.

But, back in the day, of, well, the 1970s, there was also the RFH Freshmen Follies which got the new kids in the halls on stage. It was a way for the youngest in the high school to, let’s say, come out of their shell. And they did.

So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day literally honors the RFH Class of ’78 President Ward Tietz, who not only came out of his shell for the show, but wore a couple of shells like medals on his chest — coconut shells, in fact.

He agreed to join this editor (right) and her best buddy and don a hula skirt, flower headdress and coconut shell bikini top in the great ol’ stage tradition of doing anything for a laugh. Farce. He got those laughs, including many from his own co-stars, who even lost their own sailor hats and nearly fell over mid-song as he strutted and cried under his breath that the stinking shells were itchy and giving him a rash.

That’s our Honey Bun, in the tradition of belly laughs, RFH camaraderie and a tribute to friends and the power of a fun song from an old musical, South Pacific.

This number just never fails in any era — especially considering the star’s outfit.

Get a load of Honey Bun from an RFH stage in ’74!

RIP my best friend Stephanie DeSesa (left in photo). Thank you. I’m still laughing with you.  

Thank you, again, George Day, for preserving yet another priceless RFH memory!

Local Life, Opinion

An R-FH Area Vets Remembrance

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Their faces are the faces at the core of a close-knit community.

They were neighbors, dads, and just plain friendly faces around the Rumson-Fair Haven area towns. They were also veterans.

They served. They fought for freedom in World War II and the Korean War.

They lived their lives with hometown pride, honor and respect. They were founding fathers, friends. They were cornerstones of the sense of community that is the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

The gift of their legacies bears no upscale real estate market value. They passed along a love of country and community that is priceless.

Thank you, on Veterans Day, to the veterans of the area who have passed. You are cherished, honored.

Take a look at some of their faces and remember.

— Elaine Van Develde

— Photos, courtesy of families of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Local Life

A Retro RFH Football Home Game Cheer

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The boy cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977 Photo/George Day
The boy cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977
Photo/George Day

Friday night is the night — homecoming football game at RFH and, well, carnival.

There is no Thanksgiving Day game anymore welcoming RFH alum back from college in a mini reunion of sorts. The game isn’t against Red Bank Catholic (RBC). There’s no dance the night before the game with invites to those alumni who came home from college for the first time. And, the latest controversy among many RFHers of the past and present is the nixing of the homecoming king and queen.

Continue reading A Retro RFH Football Home Game Cheer →