Robert Deeves
By PETE WALTON
Robert J. Deeves, who served as mayor of Neptune City from 1994 through 2003 and as a member of the Borough Council for a dozen years, died Feb. 27. He was 92.
Born in Neptune and graduating from Neptune High School in 1952, Deeves lived in Neptune City for most of his
adult life.
“I am saddened by the passing of my friend and mentor, Mayor Bob Deeves,” said Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone, who succeeded Deeves as ma
yor.
“Mayor Deeves was a true public servant, always looking to do what was best for the residents of Neptune City. In addition to his 12 years as a council member and nine years as mayor of Neptune City, Mayor Deeves was a proud U.S. Army veteran, serving his country with honor. As a Neptune City resident, I am thankful for his work in creating the Neptune City Community Center and the countless borough projects he spearheaded that continue to impact the lives of its residents.”
“Neptune City lost a great man with the passing of Mayor Bob Deeves,” said Mayor Rachel McGreevy. “So many people in town benefitted from Mayor Deeves’ mayorship an
d mentorship, including me. Mayor Deeves was gracious and generous with me as I became mayor and his advice and wisdom was invaluable. We should all learn from the example of Mayor Deeves who was energetic and engaged well into his 90s. My heart goes out to the Deeves family and his many friends and colleagues.”
“Mayor Bob Deeves was not only a great mayor and citizen of Neptune City, but he was a good man and friend to the Wardell family,” said former mayor Andrew Wardell. “Mayor Deeves succeeded my father Ted as mayor in the early 1990s and his impact was immediate to the community. May
or Deeves was responsible for the creation of Neptune City Day which was a yearly community event that was held every year for 25 years. He served Neptune City residents for over a decade and did so with class.”
“It was a true pleasure knowing Bob Deeves,” said former mayor Bob Brown. “Bob taught me so many importan
t skills. He was a true gentleman. I used some of the same skills when I served our residents. Bob truly loved our town and dedicated so much of himself to the community, and left accomplishments for everyone to enjoy for many years to come. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Deeves’ achievements in office included extensive improvements to borough roadways as well as completion of a new public works building and the Community Cen
ter on Union Avenue. He also served on the Monmouth County Board of Health.
“I cannot thank Mayor Deeves enough for taking me
under his wing when I first started as an elected official and I was honored to succeed him as mayor of Neptune City in 2004,” Commissioner Director Arnone said. “His legacy of community service is one I aspire to and will contin
ue to strive for every single day as an elected official. I join the Deeves family and the many members of the Neptun
e City and Monmouth County communities as we all grieve this tremendous loss.”
Andrew Wardell shared with The Coaster his memories of working with Deeves at one of Neptune City’s most well known landmarks.
“On a personal note, Mayor Deeves and I had the opportunity to work together for many years at Kelly’s Tavern,” Andrew Wardell said. “After his retirement from public life he took a job at Kelly’s where he was in charge of what we called the ‘banks’ meaning register receipts, change boxes, etc. I at this time worked at Kelly’s as a bartender and day time shift boss and therefore I had to go to see Mayor Deeves in his office and get the registers and change boxes for the day’s shift. It was here that I developed a much closer relationship with him and we talked everyday about Neptune City, our families, and life overall.”
“Mayor Deeves was a wealth of knowledge and offered very sound life advice to me,” said Andrew Wardell. “It was Mayor Deeves who often talked to me about getting involved in Neptune City government, and we spoke nearly everyday during both my runs for the Neptune City Borough Council and my first run for mayor as I was still working part time at Kelly’s then. The day I was sworn into office as mayor, he was there to congratulate me and I will always be indebted to him for his kindness and friendship to me. I will always remember fondly when I would enter his office at Kelly’s he would greet me each day by saying with such warmth ‘Andrew my boy!’ I will miss him very much. We not only lost a great ma
n, but I lost a good friend and mentor.”
Visitation is scheduled for Mon., March 10 from 11 a.
m. to 1 p.m. at the Reilly Bonner Funeral Home, 801 D St. in Belmar. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests donations to the Neptune City First Aid Squad or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
