The Coaster

Coaster Photo Larry Cross is retiring as a bus driver for the Ocean Township school district after almost 20 years

A familiar face will soon be missing from Ocean Township students’ morning commute.

Veteran township bus driver Larry Cross plans to retire at the end of the month after almost 20 years of service.

Cross, 61, of Neptune City, began his career as a bus driver in 1988 after retiring from his first career in banking.

“I was a branch manager at a bank. I retired from that after 20 years,” he said.

“I was looking for something to do and a friend of mine suggested I try this,” he continued. “He retired a long time ago but he got me into it.”

Cross says, however, that his gig on the bus wasn’t meant to turn into a new career.

“[It was supposed to be] kind of temporary,” Cross said. “But I just loved the kids. They get into your blood. What can I say.”

Cross, who is also in his fifth year sitting on the Neptune City Borough Council and has served on the Neptune City Fire Department for over 30 years, says driving the bus was the best of all his jobs.

“It was a great job. It didn’t have all the normal tie ups. It was just an enjoyable job with the kids,” said the grandfather of one. “When I started banking it was a totally different world from when I got out. Being a fireman and councilman are totally different from being with the kids. With the kids it was just always a pleasure going to work everyday.”

“The ones I had were always good kids,” he continued. “I’ve been on the same run for 12 years so I’ve watched these kids grow up. They and their parents have been so great to me. They’ve made my job very simple and enjoyable.”

Cross said his decision to give up his seat behind the wheel comes on the heels of his wife Colleen’s retirement from teaching in Neptune City last June.

“We plan to do some traveling,” Cross said.

Cross couldn’t pull himself away from the children completely, though, and will still drive part time when the district needs him.

“Hopefully I’ll see the kids periodically,” he said.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 2:04 pm and is filed under Ocean Township. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.