Bob Evans at the Red Bank Centennial picnic in 2008.
Former Red Bank Parks & Rec director Bob Evans has died at age 50.
Evans was found dead of an apparent heart attack in a locker room Monday, days after having pitched in a over-40 baseball game on Cape Cod, according to a blog post by borough resident David Prown.
In a move that surprised some residents, Evans was squeezed out from his borough job in late 2009. No official explanation was ever given.
Here’s the obituary in Thursday’s Asbury Park Press:
Robert M. Evans, 50, formerly of Middletown, died suddenly Monday, September 5, 2011 in New Brunswick. He was born in Perth Amboy, and lived in Edison and Middletown. He attended Edison High School and went on to St. Leo’s College and Kean University where he played baseball. Robert last worked as a Director for Keansburg Water Park. Prior to that he worked as Parks and Recreation Director for the Borough of Red Bank, Hillsborough Township, Branchburg Township, and the Borough of Highland Park. He was an avid Men’s Baseball player in the Jersey 40’s, and loved to work out at Retro Fitness in East Brunswick.
Surviving are his 2 sons – Bobby and Craig Evans of Belford, and their mother – Karen Evans also of Belford; his sister – Linda Mahoney of Franklin Park; his aunt and uncle – Dorothy and Robert Anderson; aunt – Patricia Alicki ; uncle – Michael Evans; and 2 cousins – Karen Schmidt and Eric Anderson.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Eileen Evans.
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 9, 2011 from 7 pm to 9 pm at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown. In lieu of flowers donations to the family are requested. For more information, to send condolences or for directions, please visit www.pflegerfh.com.
Here’s what Prown had to say:
I got the call late this afternoon that my friend (and friend to many Red Bank Kids) Bob
Evans passed away on Monday at the young age of 50.
He leaves behind a wife and 2 kids, Robert Jr. and Craig.
I 1st met Bob when on the interview committee for the RB Parks and Recreation director
some 7 years ago. Our committee was totally blown away by his level of experience,
enthusiasm, contacts and ideas compared to all the other candidates combined.
Got to know Bob over the years as a someone that always said “Yes” when it benefited
Red Bank kids.
I was totally shocked about 18 months ago when he called me one morning letting me
know he was just terminated by the boro. I am just as shocked right now.
Went to watch him pitch in East Brunswick about a month
ago (fast pitch baseball – see story below). And then chatted with him a few times on
the phone as he was helping me set up a trip to bring 30 Red Bank kids to the Keansburg
Water Park where he works full time in the summer as a manager.
He also shared with me that he had been umpiring lots of baseball games from kids
level thru high school and loving it.
He spent this past weekend pitching in a tournament at Cape Cod (he was often
asked to pitch for various teams around the east coast and beyond). Apparently he
drove back to NJ on Monday and later in the day went to the gym to work out and
they found him in the locker room dead of a heart attack (His Dad had passed away
of heart disease I think at age 53).
Not sure if I ever met anybody that was so supportive of his own kids. Never
a negative word about either of them…he was extremely proud of them.
Outside of his family, no doubt his 1st love was baseball and played it at a very high
level. In fact, his Jersey 40’s team started their playoffs this past weekend (after winning
their division). He is an amazing fast pitch pitcher with an arm that throws serious heat
yet rarely gets sore.
Here is the story I wrote about Bob 2 years ago:
http://www.redbank.com/2009/06/04/rb-parks-and-recreation-director-throw…
Visitation is this Friday night at John F. Pflegler funeral home on Tindall road in Middletown
from 7-9 pm. http://www.pflegerfh.com/services/
Just one of the “good guys”.
