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?
There are a couple of things people in the Rumson-Fair Haven area couldn’t wait for after a long, snowy winter — summer and the reopening of Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright.
Well, both have happened. In fact, Monday was the hottest day of the summer yet, according to National Weather Service stats. And Donovan’s Tiki bar is back on the beach.
So, just to cool you down a little and serve as a gratitude nudge, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day offer a glimpse back to a cool snowfall on what was left of Donovan’s (which was pretty much flattened buildings and the Tiki hut) the winter after Hurricane Sandy’s devastation of the iconic place.
The sky had an orange hue that day that seemed to paint it with hope. It made snow look invitingly warm and for what was a chilling scene for Donovan’s devotees.
Well, it’s back and sporting the literal sign of the undaunted “Sandy Who?”
Donovan’s has brought a lot of friends and couples together over the years. It’s a tradition, really, for Rumson-Fair Haven area people. Did you meet your boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, BFF or some other significant other or others in your life at Donovan’s? Yes? Of course, yes!
Tell us your story and send us your Donovan’s pics or email us at [email protected]. We’re putting together a Donovan’s Connection slideshow.
It’s been the subject of the Retro Pic(s) of the Day before and it is again — summer theater at The Barn in Rumson.
It was a place for local talent to gather, hone theatrical skills, have a lot of summer fun and entertain the masses in Monmouth County to boot.
One of the shows produced in the summer of 1977, which thrust lots of arts-thirsty area teens into myriad rehearsals and onto a stage, was Bye Bye Birdie.
As told in our last piece on The Barn, many RFH students were in the cast of the show. And one area resident who played Albert Peterson — the English teacher, no less — broke his leg during rehearsals.
Fair Haven Deputy Fire Chief Michael Wiehl being sworn in on New Year’s Day at the borough’s reorganization Photo/Elaine Van Develde
It’s Fair Haven Deputy Fire Chief Michael Wiehl’s 37th birthday.
The deputy chief is a lifetime Fair Havenite and RFH grad whose family goes back a couple of generations in the borough. And he and new wife Gloria got married not too long ago on the Fair Haven Dock.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to reorganization day in Fair Haven when he was sworn in as deputy.
Happy Birthday, Deputy Chief Wiehl! And thank you for your service and dedication to the borough. Have you thanked a firefighter today?
Former Fair Havenite Ann Mauger in the late 1940s Photo/courtesy of Peter Mauger
Former longtime Fair Havenite Ann Mauger turned 88 on Friday, June 10.
So, to honor the birthday girl, who lived in Fair Haven for 28 years, from 1957 to 1985, the Retro Pic of the Day is a snapshot of her in the late 1940s, provided by her son, Peter. The photo was taken in Plainfield, a few years before she moved to Fair Haven and raised her family there.
Check out the car with the wood side panels. Do you know what make and model it is?
How about some memories of a Fair Haven mom in the 1960s to ’80s — Mrs. Mauger?
They call him the Ironman Cowboy. He’s the triathlete named James Lawrence who is going for a record of 50 distances in 50 states in 50 days.
Independence Day marks the 29th day of the Utah man’s quest. He’s already a Guiness World
He was on Sandy Hook. He was in Fair Haven at about 10:45 a.m. and he’ll be wrapping things up on his Jersey tour with a 5K run in Sea Bright at 7 p.m.
Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli caught up with him today. Check out the photo above.
Sea Bright storefront patriotism in Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath Photo/Elaine Van Develde
It’s the Fourth of July weekend and patriotism is in the air.
Flags are flying and the red, white and blue color theme is abundant. The same held true as people banded together in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Fair Haven afternoon Kindergarten Class of 1965 … There! I said it!
With all this talk about the little tykes transitioning from third to fourth grade, school being out for summer and, well, of course, graduation, there’s one milestone that’s been left out — kindergarten.
Back in the day — OK, waaaaay back in the day — there was a third school in Fair Haven for kindergarten. It was the Youth Center. People now know it better as the Fair Haven Police Station and by its newly adopted name that hasn’t quite caught on yet, and may never for us “older” folks still in town — Fair Haven Community Center. Phooey to that. Some things just need to keep a name for nostalgic purposes alone.
RFH 1978 graduation in front of the high school, replete with daisy chain
Photo/Daryl Cooper Ley
1979 RFH graduation at Borden Stadium/football field Photo/George Day
2013 RFH graduation on the football field got rained out
2015 RFH graduation at Monmouth University
Photo/Paige McCann
2015 RFH graduation at Monmouth University
Photo/Paige McCann
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.
It’s been just a little more than a week since the students of Rumson and Fair Haven’s middle schools, Knollwood and Forrestdale, took their graduation walks in more ways than one.
From the traditional walk from Knollwood to Sickles School, symbolizing the end of an era and many milestones made, to lining the halls of their new high school, the middle school students marked a time for moving on to their teen years in high school.
It’s a symbolic time. One that those who grow up in the area tend to never forget — well, unless wish you’d forget it, because you wore a really ugly yellow dress and your hair was particularly frizzy that night. Ahem. I digress.
The walk, either way, either to Pomp and Circumstance, down Third Street in Fair Haven, through the halls of RFH or all, it’s a walk toward the future.
Good luck to the Knollwood and Forrestdale grads! Embrace the future with passion and purpose!
Check out our Retro Pic of the Day slideshow capturing some of those moments. Thanks to the following parents for the photos: Paige McCann, Erin, Elizabeth Sullivan, LuAnn Hughes, Doug Borden and Madelyne Valko.
Former Fair Haven Schools Superintendent Robert Chartier and son Michael circa 1960s Photo/courtesy of Michael Chartier
By Elaine Van Develde
He was known as the patriarch, and perhaps patron saint, of schools in Fair Haven.
He was steadying, calm, encouraging influence — never pushed by politics, never mired by mass red tape, always out for the students’ benefit.
A perpetually sage, serene smile set on his face, Robert Chartier, for many years, stood in front of Knollwood School welcoming his village full of students every single day, watching them learn and grow — fixated on seeing to it that they flourish.
He was always present, always available, always receptive. Under his leadership, students, always seen as unique individuals, soared to hit their full potential. They were all his kids. That’s simply how he saw it.
You could say that, over the years, Robert Chartier was proud papa to thousands. It was that simple to him. As principal for a stint at Willow Street School (now Sickles), then longtime principal of Knollwood and finally superintendent of Fair Haven schools, he retired many years ago, but he is still around. And the lessons learned from this iconic administrator are not forgotten.
Friends of the former top schools administrator’s son, Michael, were thrilled to see the above Father’s Day throwback photo of a young Mr. Chartier and his son.
And, since he is still so fondly recalled as that father figure by former Fair Haven students, many of whom are now parents in the borough, the photo is our Retro Pic of the Day.
Thank you, Mr. Chartier, for being a great dad of education to so many!
Share your memories of Mr. Chartier with us.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will feature an interview with the iconic leader of Fair Haven schools in the future.
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