Alumni Hall of Fame inducts its third class
Red Bank and RBR grads from 1935 to 1983
honored by foundation
BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer

The past revisited Red Bank Regional High School, Little Silver, last week and was welcomed with open arms.

Nine former RBR students and one former teacher were inducted into the school’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame at the third annual induction ceremony last Friday.

During the all-day event, inductees were given a tour of the school in the morning, where they were able to marvel at the new developments at the school.

After the tour, the inductees met with some students and faculty in the media center, where the students in the creative writing program read biographies they had written about each of the inductees.

Those who were being honored also received a blanket with their name and the school name embroidered on the corner, and a framed listing of their accomplishments.

Afterward, the inductees sat down and ate lunch with the students and faculty. With old yearbooks from the school archives sitting out at each table, the inductees were able to show the students what they looked like in high school.

The events continued later that evening with a dinner at Old Orchard Manor in West Long Branch.

The inductees ranged from the class of 1935 with retired school teacher Tina J. De Falco to the class of 1983 with professional football player Daniel Stubbs II.

Also among this year’s inductees were George F. Baine, class of 1937; Evelyn Leavens, class of 1943; Little Silver Mayor Suzanne S. Castleman, class of 1952; and her daughter, Anne Castleman Connell, class of 1978; Thornell T. Jones, class of 1955; Ned Gaunt, class of 1958; and William J. Setaro, class of 1966.

A former teacher at the high school, Jack Needle, Little Silver, was given the award of Honorary Faculty Alumnus for his dedication to his work.

Stubbs was the only inductee unable to attend the festivities; a minor car accident on the way to the airport from his Boca Raton, Fla., home prevented him from making the trip.

The Red Bank Regional Education Foundation was formed in the 1997-98 school year by Deanie Steckroth and Peg Michel in order to help raise money for technology in the school. Now, with that goal secured with the Cisco Systems program under way, much of the money is going toward the Visual and Performing Arts program.

Bill Wetzel, president of the foundation, said that anyone who wishes may nominate someone for induction by sending a note to the high school or by visiting the RBREF Web site.