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Retro Appreciation for RFH Social Studies Teacher Dewey Robinson
Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot
By Elaine Van Develde
He was known as a very cool dude and great teacher. He was Dewey Robinson.
He taught Social Studies at RFH and he coached.
By popular demand, Dewey Robinson is our Retro Pic of the Day in ode to deceased RFH teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week.
Boy, was he popular — and rightly so.
The man was just so totally cool, interesting and knowledgeable and he spread that wealth of good attitude and lessons to be learned on with finesse.
He died suddenly at 58 in 2008.
I did not have the pleasure of having Dewey Robinson as a teacher or coach (because I was always way too uncoordinated to play any sport). But I do remember him well. No RFH student could miss all that coolness in one teacher.
He just had a profound look of compassion in his eyes at all times — an empathetic one. He cared and it showed. He had a real relatable demeanor. Dewey Robinson had no trouble connecting with anyone. You didn’t have to know him to know that.
The evidence was always there, in the students he taught and coached, passing a bit of himself on to them always.
Dewey’s mom, Jeanetter Crowell, died not too long ago, him having pre-deceased her, regrettably.
She, too, was remembered for her sweetness and compassion.
“What a great teacher Dewey was and there is always a strong and wonderful woman behind every great and wonderful man,” Tamera Partington Dinklage said on the Fair Haven Facebook page when the death of Dewey’s mom was announced.
RIP, Dewey Robinson. You were appreciated. Thanks for paying your coolness forward.
Retro Appreciation of RFH Teacher Bill Kern
By Elaine Van Develde
Today is the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day all week will randomly highlight fondly remembered RFH teachers who have passed.
The first pick brought to the attention of Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect was RFH math teacher Bill Kern, a former longtime Fair Haven resident.
Continue reading Retro Appreciation of RFH Teacher Bill Kern
A Knollwood Elementary Flashback
Photo/School picture
It all just seemed so simple then. Going to school and living in Fair Haven.
We were neighbors and friends. We walked and rode our bikes to school. And we couldn’t wait to find out who our teacher would be. We always found out in time to talk about it at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.
So, back in 1966, a class of familiar community faces found out that they had Mrs. Kamin for first grade at Knollwood School.
That year was the beginning of a lot of longstanding friendships and neighborhood bonds. Treasured time.
Treasured time that warrants a look back in our Retro Pic of the Day and an anecdote about remembrance and gratitude. Remember where and how it all started and how lucky we all were to have had one another in our lives, many for a long time.
Mrs. Kamin still lives in Fair Haven. Some of these kids are grownups still living in town. Some have, sadly, passed. Some still have family here. Some are running businesses here and live one or a few towns away.
Recognize anyone? What did you learn from them or your time in that first grade class in Rumson or Fair Haven? What stuck with you most?
Rewind to Rumson Mayor, Oceanic Bridge Reopening
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Yes, the Oceanic Bridge is going to need some new imminent, unexpected repairs.
And, yes, that means the bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic for about three weeks, from the day after Memorial Day to June 12, Monmouth County officials have announced.
The much-needed complete replacement of the historic bridge is slated to happen within the next 10 years.
But, about this time three years ago, in 2012, major repairs thought to have taken care of safe travel for the interim, were completed.
The bridge, after being completely closed for a time, reopened to much fanfare.
Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl was up close for the official reopening of the drawbridge section. And he got a tour of the gatekeeper’s quarters.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day takes a look back on that day.
Rewind: FH Chief Breckenridge’s Police Unity Tour Ride
Photo/courtesy of Chief Breckenridge
It’s the time of year for police officers to “ride for those who died” in the Police Unity Tour.
And at Monday night’s Fair Haven Borough Council meeting, Mayor Ben Lucarelli took a moment to recognize that Chief Darryl Breckenridge would be embarking, once again, on the tour set to depart for Washington D.C. on May 9 and arrive on May 12.
“Good luck Chief,” the mayor said at the meeting. “And thank you for all you do.”
So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to 2013 and the chief’s ride, his daughter Witney by his side then.
The chief said she would not be joining him this year, but he’s set for the roughly 350-mile ride on his bicycle.
In addition to creating awareness, the ride raises funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.
The event, which started in 1997 with 18 riders was designed to bring “public awareness of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and (to) honor their sacrifices,” according to the Unity Tour’s website. It garnered $18,000 then.
The Unity Tour, as of last year, had raised $16 million. About 20,000 officers who died in the line of duty are memorialized at the Washington memorial.
Good luck to the chief and all other area police officers riding in this year’s tour!
Rewind: Ode to Fair Haven Police
Photo/Fair Haven Police Department
In keeping with our Retro Pic of the Day homage to first responders, today we honor Fair Haven Police for their service to the community.
The above photo is a look back at the officers in the department not long ago.
Patrolman Robert J. Henne, included in this photo, passed away on March 23. He was loved by his community and colleagues and is sorely missed by both. RIP, Patrolman Henne.
And thanks to the Fair Haven police for protecting and serving the residents of Fair Haven and beyond!
Have you thanked an officer today?
Retro Ode to Fair Haven Firemen
Firefighters from several area municipalities swarmed to the scene of Monday’s fire at the historic Blithewald mansion in Rumson.
All are volunteers. The fire took roughly six hours to quell at the hands of hundreds of area firemen.
Yesterday, we took a look back at the 2015 Rumson Reorganization and its firemen at the ceremony.
Today, we take a look back at the Fair Haven Reorganization and the first responders sworn in and offer another thank you to all of those who volunteer to protect us.
The other fire companies that responded to the Blithewald fire were: Sea Bright, Little Silver, Shrewsbury, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Asbury Park.
Have you thanked your local firefighter lately?
Rewind: Ode to Rumson Firemen
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
In light of the four-alarm fire at the historic Blithewald mansion in Rumson on Monday, the Retro Pic of the Day honors the borough’s volunteer firefighters with a look back to a moment at the 2015 Rumson Reorganization.
The fire, which left the Widener home at 76 Buena Vista Ave. severely damaged, burned for roughly six hours.
The fire is under investigation by the Rumson Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the county fire marshal and its cause is still unknown, authorities said.
There were no injuries.
Thanks to our firefighters for their countless hours of volunteer time spent in (at times) high risk situations to protect the safety of the area’s residents!
Retro RFH Prom Time!
It’s prom time!
So, what else could Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect do but feature retro prom pics as the Retro Pic(s) of the Day.
These three photos feature couples from the 70s to the RFH Class of 2006 and 2014.
Have fun tonight, juniors! And, send us your prom pics at evd@rfhretro.com!
Retro Williams-Robards Estate
With the Monday demolition of the more than century-and-a-half-old Williams-Robards home on the Navesink River in Fair Haven, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect is featuring the home in its Retro Pic of the Day.
The colonial was the last remaining one of its kind on the river in the borough and the surrounding area.
The home was demolished as part of an agreement with the state to procure grants to purchase the property.
It will be preserved as a passive recreation park.
Retro Dance with George Giffin
The time is drawing near for all Rumson-Fair Haven area people to remember, honor and dance in the name of RFH’s ever-famous George Giffin, science and dance teacher extraordinaire who died last year.
The George Giffin Memorial Dance-a-thon is set for next week — Saturday, April 18 from 5 to 10 p.m. in the RFH gym.
With proceeds benefitting the Monmouth Day Care Center, people, in the name of Mr. Giffin, are invited to dance or just be a spectator at the event, which is being sponsored by the RFH Dance Troupe.
So, in preparation of the event and to remember the magic that was George Giffin, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day gives a glimpse into the last day this editor saw Mr. Giffin dance.
It was 2012 and he was at Fairwinds Deli in Fair Haven. It didn’t take much for Mr. Giffin, or Giff, as he was called, to launch into a routine no matter where it was.
He talked about how he loved to still show up at RFH grads’ weddings and teach them a few steps. He also said he was not too fond of the way in which the English language has been slaughtered “these days.” We agree.
Brown paper sandwich bag in hand, Giff then rhythmically chanted, “When you get that beat, you’ve got to move your feet!” as he did his own little dance right in the deli line.
What a treat.
There were popular teachers at RFH, all cherished, but George Giffin just had what theater professionals call “it” — personality, stage presence, that special something that makes people’s eyes twinkle when they’re around.
Always equipped with a passel of jokes, a smile and a “five, six, five six, seven, eight and one, two, cha, cha, cha” it’s a sure bet that he’d love to marathon dance at this event.
Though we’re not sure if he would be out teaching some classic ballroom dance moves, try a few of the newer moves or both, but we know he’d at least give it a “cha, cha, cha, dip, twirl” and maybe a cartwheel … just to throw people off — or not.
Dancers for the event must be 12 and up. Cost to dance is $50, while admission is $10 for spectators, and $5 for spectators age 12 and under.
Click here for more information.
What was your favorite George Giffin dance?
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