Barbara Stack (Standing Far Right) and David Bennett (Seated Second Right) at the 12/15/19 Kearny Cottage Christmas Tea. Both Barbara Stack and Dave Bennett were long time Board Members of the Kearny Cottage Historical Association.
*File Photo taken 12/15/19 by Angel Robledo

The first time I encountered Bob Ned was when I was assigned to take pictures at the Valentine’s Day Event at the Olive Street Community Center for the Amboy Beacon. I did not know who Bob Ned was at the time, but I remember that he was dancing with a woman dressed in a beautiful red suit. I thought to myself: they could be dance instructors. I later learned that Bob Ned often took pictures (especially of all the activities at Olive Street since he was there almost every day) for the Amboy Beacon and submit them for publication.

After starting the Amboy Guardian, Bob Ned was one of the handful of people who was at our first initiation meeting. 

Bob loved taking pictures at sports events, and any activities involving families such as Family Day at the Waterfront or National Night Out. He loved taking pictures of families enjoying themselves. 

Another event he loved to photograph was  annual Fishing Derby. Whenever I asked Bob to take photos, he gladly accepted the assignment.

When his last companion, Madeleine Bishop, (who was the woman in the red suit he was dancing with) passed away, I remember Bob telling me that was his third ladyfriend he had whom he had survived.

He had a very hard time getting over the loss of Madeleine and would often park his car in a lot on Front Street to look at the view of the Waterfront.

Bob told me he enjoyed going to the dog park in Sewaren to watch people walking and exercise with their dogs.

There were so many outstanding photos that Bob Ned took and it’s so very hard to pick out any individual ones. All you have to do is go into the Amboy Guardian website and do a search on his name to see for yourself.

Bob appeared in a Looking Back Photo on May 16, 2012 when he was on the Perth Amboy High School track team. He was also the manager of the Amboy Harmony Club in 1957 which was a boys little league baseball team.

Bob provided articles and photos for the book Stories From Perth Amboy of the 1968 Perth Amboy High School Championship Basketball Team (by Katherine Massopust from Arcadia Publishing).

RIP. I know he and Madeleine are dancing up a storm in heaven together.

Last week, we lost two longtime members of the Kearny Cottage Historical Association Board: Dave Bennett and Barbara Stack. They both participated in the many events and activities of the organization over the years. Reading Barbara’s obituary, we were surprised to see all the charitable works she did almost up until her last days on earth. David Bennett was devoted to his mother, Claire, and was so proud when he spoke of her artwork and of the many awards she received for her paintings. Some of those paintings have been on display at the cottage. We were just as impressed as he was.

There were numerous tributes to both Barbara and David in the Flynn and Son Funeral Home website. Godspeed to Bob, Barbara, and David. Your lives while living were well spent and an inspiration to others as we saw in the written testimonies. C.M.

Bob Ned (L) accepts the Senior of the Year Award at the 2015 Shield Awards from the Knights of Columbus. Dianne Roman (R) who worked with the Senior Citizens at Olive Street Community Center nominated Ned for the award.
*File Photo taken 3/12/16 by Paul W. Wang