| "REFLECTIONS" |
| I met Ken Francis in 1991, shortly after I started covering Plumsted Township as a correspondent for the Asbury Park Press. After working as the editor of the New Egypt Press I was familiar with New Egypt, I knew the people and I knew the place, but as soon as I met Ken, well it was clear… he was unique. “Sue Gazzara”! I’d hear the voice and there he was, making me feel like I was the only person in the room. It was soon clear that Ken did that with everyone. He had this amazing ability to connect with people. He cared and that caring came through blazingly. He didn’t suffer fools easily and kind of placed most reporters in that category. He wanted township news covered and covered correctly, and he was right to demand it. But he gave me a chance, and I think I earned his respect, I know he always had mine. After The Asbury Park Press published a particularly edgy political story I wrote about Plumsted Township government in the early 1990’s ( the details don’t matter, the conflict was resolved) Ken called me with what remains the highest praise I have ever received as a news reporter. “I’d walk through a mine field after you kid,” he said. I remember those words every time I sit down to write a story. Ken set my professional bar for the rest of my life, I only wish I’d told him. Well, I'm telling him now. If he made that kind of difference in my life I can only imagine the impact he had on the young people in town he cared so much about. So “Good Voyage” Kenny, you will be missed but your spirit has become part of the fabric of this town, and its people. Like a shiny stone skipped across the surface of Oakford Lake, the ripples of your life will spread through the lives of the people you have touched. You were one of a kind, you will be missed and you will be remembered. Sue Gazzara October 2, 2007 |
| A PERSONAL NOTE... |
| Ada Roberts, Ron Dancer, Ken Francis, and Bonnie Quesnel at the dedication of the new police station |
| PHOTO BY PAT RIORDAN |
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I have heard and read some wonderful comments about what Kenny Francis has meant to each and every one of us in New Egypt. My comments relate more to the Kenny I knew as a community leader rather than the friend that he was. Some time ago the Plumsted committee and the Board of Education began regular meetings basically two or three times a year. These meetings were to keep both governing bodies informed and updated of our responsibilities so that we could work together for the betterment of our community. Even though Kenny was not a representative of the township committee to these meetings (they included Mayor Dancer, Bonnie Quesnel, Mike McCue, and Rick Kachmer), Kenny was always interested in keeping the two bodies working closely together. The BOE reps over the years were Karen Amburgey, Dr. Woehr, Mr. North, and myself. It was not long ago that an incident developed that caused, for the first time in many years, our two bodies to seem to distance ourselves from each other. I am sure it bothered us all but especially Kenny. I received a call from him asking what could be done to rectify the situation. He asked me to unofficially meet with him to discus the issue. We met here at my farm on a Sunday afternoon. He was his normal happy go lucky self. We discussed the situation, giving our input and in no way representing our respective bodies but more our feelings about keeping the relationship of our organizations together and moving forward. We didn’t solve anything that day, we just confirmed our commitment to work together. We spent the rest of our time together on other matters, probably more important to Kenny, about how our families were and so on. He left with his normal high spirited salutations and that was the last day I would see the Kenny Francis I and you knew so well. The next day he was hospitalized and began that long journey of hospital visits. My point is I am sure Kenny wasn’t feeling well that Sunday afternoon that we met. Most would have cancelled that meeting for a better day. Kenny did not. Why? Because Kenny loved this town, its residents, and most of all its children. Our town has many special people, all doing their best to better the community, but Kenny Francis was very special to me and all who knew and loved him. It was an honor and a privilege to know him, work with him, and call him friend, May God bless and keep him safe. Herb Marinari Member of the Plumsted Township Board of Education 10/3/2007 |
| MORE REFLECTIONS..... |
| It was with a bittersweet touch of irony that I noticed the sign on Route 539 as I drove home from the annual Decoy Show in Tuckerton this past Saturday. The sign read, “It’s a ducky weekend” and I spotted it the same day that Deputy Mayor Kenneth H. Francis left this earth. I couldn’t help but read the sign and smile through my tears. No matter what was transpiring in his life, Francis would always respond to the pat greeting of “Hi, how are you?” with the answer – “Just ducky”. And of course, he would smile when he said it. If there was ever an eternal optimist, it was Francis. I watched him take packs of young Boy Scouts on overnight trips and week long ventures and while other parents strained under the pressure of sleepless nights, rambunctious boys and a diet of fire toasted marshmallows, Francis came home looking as chipper as when he left. If the boys wore him out, it didn’t show. His sense of humor was legendary. Even greater was his willingness to help out. I remember when our Girl Scout troop was fundraising and we stopped at all the stores on Main Street. Many were barely holding their own and every kid with a can coming in their store made the owners cringe as they tried to balance their budget. Francis always bought an ad from us – he even bought the entire back cover once for his New Egypt Recreation Oasis. I didn’t know at the time that they were struggling like all the other stores because it never showed in Francis’ demeanor. His focus was making sure the kids that came in his store had fun. Good, clean, honest fun. A place they could go to unwind and play, a place that parents felt safe sending their kids to. Francis tried to revive boating on Oakford Lake again, but it didn’t catch on as well as he hoped. Plumsted did see their dock refurbished and for a brief time, boats crossing the lake reminded the old-timers of how New Egypt used to look. But I guess what I will always remember best about Francis was the first time we met. We moved into New Egypt 15 years ago (has it really been that long?) and our bare construction worn soil was being washed away with the spring rains. My neighbor suggested we have the township contact the county to have a berm put in. I didn’t even know what a berm was but a few days after calling the township, Francis showed up at our door. He has just been in a recent auto accident and limped about our property with a cane, but that didn’t stop him from moving around to explain and point things out to us, all the while smiling and joking. He was one of the first people we met in New Egypt and what a great representation of the town he was! I remember thinking – if this is what New Egypt is like, then I’m glad to call it home. The Lord called Francis home this past ducky weekend. Somehow, I envision Francis up in Heaven greeting all the decoy carvers who have left this earth and saying with a smile, “Isn’t this just ducky?” ~ Karen F. Riley posted October 1, 2007 |
| PHOTO BY PATRICK RIORDAN |
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| COL. THOMAS S. TORRESSON, JR. (USAF Retired) September 23, 1916 - August 11, 2005 |
| 3 - Years Flying Free - Never Forgotten..... |