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Jones Beach Bums Gone, but not Forgotten


Ronnie Lancaster
 

At the beach c. 1972...at a party c. 1974...

Ronnie & Joanne at Uniondale Hotline, 1973

Ronnie with his daughters Michelle and Jenny,
and two of his three grandchildren, Donovan and Davion

Ronnie and Joanne Lancaster, a love story for the ages,
with Jenny, the child born of their great love.
 

Ronnie Lancaster passed away in early 2009 after losing a lengthy and valiant fight against liver disease. He left behind 2 daughters, three grandchildren, two brothers, many other loving relatives and friends, and a wife who had loved him since she was 15 years old. Ronnie was one of the most popular Beach Bums, and will always be deeply missed by all who knew and cherished his upbeat, generous, and gentle spirit.
...Shari

 
 
 
Tommy Rackovitch
Tommy at a party Tommy at the beach
Tommy hanging out

Tommy was a limitless source of excitement, passion for living, and enthusiasm and was always one of the most popular Bums. He introduced us to all his friends including the Vanderhalls. Tommy loved the Beach Bums, and we all loved him. In June '72, Tommy and I hitchhiked all the way out to the Colorado Rockies together. (Mr. & Mrs. Rackovitch entrusted me to monitor his medicine and I was so grateful to them for their blessing for our trip) We camped in the mountains (and ran into Scotty Weiss) with hundreds of hippies from the Rainbow Family Of Living Light, who still exist today. There were other adventures we shared as fellow Montreal Maniacs. Tommy was one of the most sincere, trustworthy, decent people I have ever met, and I will never forget him. My condolences to his parents and family. May he rest in peace.

....Uncle Scotty


"He was like my brother...To those who knew him, they truly saw his spirit and his courage".....Pete the Freak

"I can't believe he's gone...what a great person he was. My condolences to his family"...Andy Gay

"To know Tommy, with his big heart, was to love him"...Shari


Click here for more pictures of Tom

Tommy at the '91 reunion
recent Tommy
 
 
Fred Botway
Fred at a party             Fred Botway at the 1991 reunion

Fred (the Bed) Botway, one of the original Jones Beach Bums, passed away recently. One reason Fred will be remembered is that he would try anything, and we mean anything! There was never an adventure that Fred backed away from, including hanging from the scaffolding at Watkins Glen. His penchant for chemistry, his poetic meanderings, his nude photography, his parrot Taco and his many amorous adventures are some things Freddie was infamous for. Fred was part of United Mutations when he joined the Bums, along with Scott Weiss and Harlan Sparer... but Fred (and the UMs) were never quite the same when they met the Bums, and the Bums were never the quite the same as well. ....Dave T (Mole)  2004

To see some childhood pictures of Fred, click here
To see more pictures of Fred, click here

 
 
Dave Beechel
Dave Beechel at a party


Click here

to read about Dave Beechel
 
 
Bonnie Roth
Bonnie in her basement Bonnie at Shari's house
Bonnie at a party Bonnie laughing at a party
Bonnie Roth's high school yearbook picture Bonnie Roth (Uncle Scotty's younger sister) was from Plainview, a sweet and gentle soul, highly intelligent, a good and loyal friend. Bonnie was also one of my best friends in high school (and beyond). After graduating near the top of her class, she went on to college and excelled in every subject she studied. Then during a visit to France she discovered a passion for cooking, so she studied further at the Culinary Institute in New York. Bonnie eventually became a chef, living and working around the country. Unfortunately, she was so busy that she didn't notice the signs of Hodgkin's Disease until it was too advanced to be cured. We lost Bonnie at the age of 29.

...Shari (Friedman) Fuller
 
 
Dave Black
Dave at a party Dave at a party
Dave Black in a high school classroom Dave was also a gentle, spiritual soul and a very free spirit. During high school, his parents split up and moved far away. The family of Mole (Dave Title) generously allowed Dave to stay with them so he could finish high school in Plainview (he eventually became one of my best friends too). Dave packed a lot of living into his youth, graduating early and then marrying at the tender age of 17. (There is a picture of Mike Seifert and me about to attend his wedding on the Miscellaneous photo gallery.)
Barely 21 years old, while hitchhiking in Florida,
Dave was tragically hit by a car and killed. ...Shari Fuller
 
 
John Ohlrich
John at the beach John at the park
John at a party John at the beach
John Ohlrich at Uniondale Hotline

The many faces of Johnny Ohlrich!

John was a lovable, high-spirited partier and huge fan of the Rolling Stones. John left us at the age of 17. While hitchhiking, he was struck by a car and killed, for the first time forcing our tight-knit group to face the sad reality that even a young, exuberant life could end in a shocking flash.

"...the day we heard that John O died (was) the first time I saw teenage boys cry."... Randi Crovets

 
   
We love you all, and wish you were still here...
   

If you have any pictures or memories
that you would like to share,

Please Click Here


Photo galleries of old pictures
   
  the Beach
  the Park
  parties
  hotline
  miscellaneous
 
Reunion pictures and videos
   
  1991 (the Big One)
   2001
   2002
   2003
   2004
   2005
   2006
   2007
   2008
   2009
 
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