It was the kind of funeral that was so thoughtful, so prayerful, so perfect…and so Irish!…that you would have thought Bernie planned it himself, with his wife Kathleen, now a widow, double checking to be sure every detail was taken care of.

While hundreds gathered at St. Agnes Church Wednesday morning to say a final farewell to the Shore Casino owner of the last half century and even longer that that of the Casino in the Park in Jersey City …Generous …Kind … Big-Hearted were the descriptions of the day.

Known for his generosity to everyone, but especially every police, fire and emergency team, volunteers for every charitable or military organization who asked, as well as to young couples who wanted a wedding reception to remember, and everyone else, so many were there at the funeral to say their last thanks to a great guy.

Police from Highlands, Middletown, Jersey City and so many other places lined up alongside the Atlantic Highlands police department, who were there from the very start of the day until the very end, their way of reminding Kathleen they will always be there for her.

The Middletown Police and the fire department, among so many other gestures, said their own final farewell to Bernie, displaying a huge American flag over the entrance to Bayview Cemetery, their reminder to the stream of cars that Bernie was truly a patriot.

The Middletown Police Department gave a very formal and professional 21 gun salute at the cemetery, and through the courtesy and swift action of Congressman Chris Smith, the US Army Color Guard folded the American flag draped over Bernie’s casket and presented it to Kathleen with the respect and thanks of the President of the United States, the US Army, and a grateful nation.

Following the funeral, there was the usual perfect repast at the Shore Casino that Bernie had done for so many others. It was Jay, Kathleen’s son, who put aside his own grief at the loss of the father he knew, the boss he worked so diligently for for so many years, the guy he loved as a friend, who directed that spectacular team of Shore Casino employees to prepare a buffet with everything from salmon and whitefish to a roasted pig and Steamboat roast.

It was Jay who ensured that the moving screen atop the Casino said a welcome to the crowd from the Casino, a farewell from Bernie, and a thank you to all The Shore Casino team, themselves all in grief over the loss of their boss, lined up military style at the door to the Casino to show Kathleen their great love and respect for her before going to their culinary, waiting, bartending and serving duties in true Shore Casino style.

But it was the mass with three priests on the altar that brought so many to tears, from Father Jarlath’s first blessing and the hymn reminding Kathleen and family “Be not Afraid” to the sorrowful “I’ll take you Home Again Kathleen” as Kathleen and family escorted Bernie out of church. Even the readings by his granddaughter, Katie Connors and grandson Dr. Joseph Connors, reminded everyone of Bernie. Katie read from the Bible that “the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.” And Joseph spoke of love, how it conquers all, and how it is the best of all virtues.

Bernie’s long time friend, Bob Waldron, who was also buried with a mass at St. Agnes at the time of his death, was present for this mass in the person of his widow, Diane Waldron, Bob and Diane’s daughter, Abigail Swanson and her husband who carried up the gifts, and Bob’s granddaughter, Macy Swanson, who sang the beautiful Ave Maria.

It was the incredible wonderful voice of professional singer Colleen Kelleher, well known in Jersey City for her Irish music, concerts and stage appearances, and a close friend of the Sweeneys, who joined the parish’s music coordinator Courtney Grogan in providing music that calmed the audience, gave them time to reflect on their own Bernie memories, and lifted the spirits of a broken-hearted family. Kathleen’s daughter, Kathleen and her husband Jeff, never left Kathleen’s side throughout the entire day, helping her comprehend, as Kathleen herself said, “I won’t have anybody to fight with!”

And Jay, the same Jay who has been at Bernie’s side for every wedding, funeral, PBA party and every other event that went so spectacularly at the Casino over the years, gave a eulogy about his step-father that came from the heart, including the poem he included and the special friends of Bernie’s he remembered, from Dick Stryker and John Amici, who both joined the Atlantic Highlands police as pallbearers, to high school friends from Snyder High in Jersey City.

The Irish were in fit form for Bernie’s funeral, coming from all over Jersey City and the New York area as well as Florida to be there for Kathleen and bring greetings and special flowers from relatives and friends in Ireland.

It was a spectacular Irish send-off for a spectacular Irish man. For me, Bernie was there in spirit enjoying every second, but scoffing with a growl, “Come on, now, this isn’t for me. Get on with it now.”

The AAUW Northern Monmouth County Branch, League of Women Voters, and the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center are presenting both a video and a discussion virtually on Monday, Feb. 28 beginning at 6:30 p .m. on the subject of women’s suffrage.

The video: Suffragists Speak: Race, Slavery and the Fight for the Vote, was originally written and presented live two years ago by members of the AAUW in cooperation with the Fortune Cultural Center and the League of Women Voters.

After the video, a discussion will follow on the history spanned on the video from the experience of African American women and their fight to vote even after the passage of the 19th amendment, a significant part of both Black History and Women’s History month.

Access to the program is available by sending an e-mail to aauw.nmcb@gmail.com.

More information about scheduling future showings and securing permission for use is available by emailing SufffragistsSpeak@gmail.com

Bernadette Rogoff, Director of Collections for the Monmouth County Historical Association will highlight a St. Patrick’s Day Special on Irish indentured servitude in Monmouth County on Wednesday March 16.

The program is presented virtually by the Association and co-sponsored by the Monmouth County Library and will begin at 7 p.m. Registration, at no cost, is required by noon March 15 and available by visiting the library’s Online Calendar at www.MonmouthCountyLib.org.

MS Rogoff has worked with the collections of the Historical Association for 30 years, and has produced more than 45 changing exhibitions on all aspects of Monmouth County History, from the American Revolution to the Jersey Shore. Rogoff researched and produced the first exhibition on the artist Micah Williams and is a recognized expert on Monmouth County-related historic clothing and textiles.

The popular speaker and historian will also be a principal speaker in June at the Trenton War Memorial at the New Jersey History and Historic Preservation Conference in Trenton.

What a great idea to have the borough of Atlantic Highlands designated a Community Wildlife Habitat, something that’s expected to be pursued by the Open Space committee with the governing body adopting a resolution Thursday night.

It’s a great recognition of all the beautiful gardens, both in the business area, in so many homes throughout the town and in the borough’s parks.

The borough is already a Tree City in recognition of their care and protection of trees, and to be recognized for their conservation methods as well is one more example of what a great community it is.

The resolution refers to its discouragement of the use of toxins and therein lies the irony of Thursday’s actions. The very next resolution expected to be adopted after the one on conservation is the one authorizing the county to continue its aerial mosquito spraying in certain areas of the borough, which, of course, means they’re spraying with toxins to get rid of mosquitos.

I suppose it’s necessary, but just seems strange that the one saying how protective the borough is of the environment is followed by one saying not only don’t we want mosquitoes…they’re an insect, remember, so it’s okay for the county to use their toxic materials to get rid of them.

Timing is everything.

Police Capt. Scott Reinert is expected to be appointed Police Chief at tomorrow evening’s meeting of the Mayor and Council, being viewed both in person at borough hall and on ZOOM at 7 p.m.

Reinert is expected to assume the top law enforcement post in the borough on March 1, at the retirement of current Chief David Rossbach.

Reinert, who is married and has four children and lives in Oceanport, will begin the new position at $150,000 annually.

A graduate of St. John Vianney High School, the police officer has been in law enforcement since 2007 when he was a Class II Special Officer with the Borough of Sea Girt. He joined the Atlantic Highlands department the following year as a dispatcher and became a patrolman in 2009. In 2005 he was promoted, to sergeant, in 2019 to detective, and last year he was promoted to Captain.

Well, the sun is out today and it’s shining particularly bright over Highlands because the Girls are back!!!!! Cathy and Vera have re-opened the Girls Café and the crowd there this morning to welcome them back and try those award winning pancakes was spectacular. Not sure if people come there more for the food, the camaraderie, the genuine charm and niceness of the Girls, or all of the above, but they sure were missed.

Augie, a Sunday regular with his wife, Kathy, was among those that couldn’t wait another day…he was down there early this morning to welcome the re-opening. The Girls Café is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Yes, they are still doing those terrific takeout breakfasts and lunches, but you have to make other plans for Mondays and Tuesdays, that’s the two days the Girls are shopping, prepping, or taking some well-earned rest and are closed.

The Shrewsbury Historical Society’s newsletter was recently e-mailed out to all Society members, and in addition to being packed with a lot of news, there was a wonderful tribute to the incredibly talented Judi Buncher, the longtime volunteer for historic sites who headed that team of hard working volunteers who made that Wedding Dress Exhibit so historical in its own right. Judi is the stylist and garment restorer who shared her talents to make it all happen. The Society maintains, rightfully so, this delightful exhibit which is so full of history could never have been possible without Judi’s talent and generosity.

Read the story here about this talented lady, or better yet, go to the Historical Society website at www.shrewsburyhistoricalsocietynj.org and either renew your membership or sign up to be a member of the Society. You don’t have to be a Shrewsbury resident to learn more about and appreciate its history.

The Wedding Dress Exhibit –While the current Wedding Dress Exhibit engaged the

expertise of a number of volunteers, without the amazing creativity of Judi Buncher, stylist and garment restorer, the current exhibit would not have reached its acclaimed reception and positive reviews. Judi earned an Associate Degree in Art (Commercial Art) at Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Georgian Court University. She has been a long time volunteer (24 years) at Allaire Village, Wall Township, and started the Fibre Arts Guild making period clothing for men, women and children from as early as 1836. She is also a state certified Social Worker and is nationally certified in Therapeutic Activities. She helped found the Monmouth and Ocean Counties Activities Directors, serving as Vice President. She also was Vice President of the National Remotivation Therapy Organization, Inc. where she brought out the best in all her patients from the severely handicapped to Alzheimer’s. Her creative talents range from drawing, sculpting, painting, designing, fiber arts of all types, especially Tatting, lace making and the lost art of Ecclesiastic Vestment and Embroidery. She absolutely delights in restoring garments of historic significance. Along with her husband, Stuart, a noted historian, reenactor and restorer, they share their creative energies and talents for the enjoyment of others. Residents of Tinton Falls, Stuart and Judi are long time supporters of Shrewsbury–the Shrewsbury Historical Society, the Allen House, and Christ Church Shrewsbury. The Shrewsbury Historical Society and its members and guests are indeed blessed to share in their talents, enthusiasm, and generosity.