The sketchy weekend weather cleared up just in time for the Sunday morning celebration of June 1st being "Bob Popovic's Day" down in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township. Family, friends and employees of The Shady Rest did a wonderful job preparing the outdoor area for the celebration.
They opened the garden at 8 am and a great crowd came to view the roses Bob had worked so hard on for years. While maybe just past their prime time of blooming there was enough color there to brighten the spirits celebrating a man who had touched and done for so many for so many years. Kudos to Kate and Alley's in Forked River who catered the event and put out a great spread of breakfast sandwiches, bagels, donuts, coupled with some sangria, mimosas, and coffee.
The crowd shifted from the patio to inside the bar area to the overflow area in the parking lot. It was nice to see people reunited and reminiscing about Bob as his video played on the screen above the outside bar. He was there, and I am sure he was proud of what he saw.
One person I did get to spend some time with was Ed Jaworowski who I swear Bob mentioned in every article, book, and interview I've heard him give. Ed filled me in about his decades old friendship with Bob. It was Jaworowski who co-authored Pop Fleyes with Bobby in 2001 and
penned the introduction to Fleye Design in 2016. In it Ed writes about Popovic's, "I don't profess to fully understand this creativity, any more than I can understand the talent of a great composer or painter, but I have observed it for decades, and I admire and appreciate it". It was nice finally being able to meet and talk with Ed, another one of the original OG's in fly fishing.
Around the patio were paintings and photographs mostly the works of photographer Tom Lynch who has captured the essence of Bob Popovic's from the vice, to the beach, to the rose garden.
The picture below just really tells the story of a man and his love of his garden, and how the fruits of all of his labor have been the setting for thousands of people who sit there enjoying good food, good drinks, and good times.
It was bittersweet to see the guys I accompanied up to Martha's Vineyard with each June. Joe, Gerry, and Dick were all there and I am sure Steve was there in spirit as well. I couldn't pass the opportunity to let them know I was days away of keeping the tradition alive, and teased the idea of getting the band back together for one more trip next year. That would be a very special trip for me.
Theresa and I said our good-byes and caught up with Alexis who was graciously spending time with everyone who approached her. While we owe so many things to Bob Popovic's it all wouldn't have been possible if Alexis hadn't allowed us to steal him from her for so many times
over the years. He described her to me as his rock and partner, in life, in business, and even in fly fishing. All she would have had to do was tell him to shut it down and he would have. In Pop Fleyes Bob dedicates his part of the book to her, "For my wife, Alexis, who has always allowed me the freedom to pursue my fly fishing passion- Bob". We all owe her gratitude and thanks for the gift of Bob.
As we left I turned around to see the crowd starting to migrate out and away from the garden. The restaurant opened at 11 am and work had to be done to get it ready for a busy Sunday afternoon crowd. Hopefully people sat in the garden and enjoyed what we had celebrated earlier in the day, a beautiful setting created by a beautiful man. Who knows what will be the future of The Shady, as Bob called her, will be as all things future are unknown. What is known and palpable are the memories of people, places, and times that have left an indelible mark on our hearts and in our minds. We are all better for knowing Bob, Alexis, his family, and The Shady Rest.
