Smile, You’re in Sea Isle… A Family Tradition
Richard Brasch and daughter Natalie in 1986.
Among the great things about the Jersey Shore are the family traditions. There are tons of them … all along the coast, every town. Some traditions stretch back for generations. Others are just beginning. Regardless of how old the traditions are, they are all special to those who have them or are living them. They all share one common thread; it might be a family house, or a significant beach, maybe a special restaurant. This is one of those stories. It is in its third generation and still evolving. This one is about a photograph.
This story dates to about 1984 or ’85. The Brasch family from Harleysville, Pa., found their special summer place in Sea Isle City. Their vacations included everything that you’d normally expect in Sea Isle. And somewhere along the way – actually it was Aug. 18, 1986, to be precise – it included a very special photo.
Richard Brasch was posed on the beach with his daughter Natalie, who was about 1½. At the time, the photo didn’t seem the least bit extraordinary. It’s safe to say that there are thousands of similar photographs taken each summer. Toddler with parent on the beach. You probably have some of your own. In the photograph, Richard is holding Natalie, by the Spinnaker, and he was wearing a souvenir Sea Isle City hat that he picked up in a novelty shop. Cute photo, you’d probably agree. And no one really gave the photo another thought for, say, 34 years.
Natalie grew up, graduated from college and married Brendan Filippone, whose family had its own summer tradition across the Townsends Inlet Bridge in Avalon. This branch of the Fillipone family would end up spending their vacations in Sea Isle City. “I just feel really comfortable there,” Natalie explains.
About a year-and-a-half ago, Natalie and Brendan added to this seashore legacy when Alessia was born.
“This spring my dad dug out this old photo of him holding me on the beach and said, ‘Hey, look how much that Alessia looks like you at this age,’” Natalie says from her home in Pennsylvania. “He was right. I thought to myself, we have to get that shot again.”
Natalie and Brendan spent about 10 weeks in Sea Isle earlier this summer. If there is any silver lining in this COVID-19 nightmare, it’s that so many “summer” visitors have gotten to experience extended stays in their special summer places.
Natalie and Brendan Filippone with daughter Alessia.
“Yes, I contacted a realtor and we found a condo that was available for 10 weeks,” Natalie adds. “We were in. Eventually we’d like to have our own home so that we can go down all of the time. But for now … ”
Natalie set out to restage the photo of her and her dad, only this time with Alessia and her dad, and especially with her grandfather. Same spot on the beach. Same Sea Isle City hat. But how do you find a novelty hat that was sold three decades ago? You don’t. Sure, they still have Sea Isle City hats, but not like the one that Richard wore in the photo. So, Natalie did the next best thing: She used the photo as an example and had some made.
“They look great, but I had to order a bunch because they can’t make just one,” she says.
Now the hats are in place and the vacations are arranged. Summer isn’t over yet! Natalie, Brendan and Alessia were heading back to Sea Isle City the last week of August. And by now, you’ve probably guessed that Richard will be in town that same week.
“We’re going to recreate our special Sea Isle City photo,” Natalie says. Only this time, little Alessia will continue the tradition started by Natalie and pose with her father and grandfather.
If you’re around the Spinnaker in late August or early September and you see a family wearing some retro-’80s Sea Isle City hats and taking lots of photos, you’ll understand that they’re just continuing their own family tradition that’s based right here in Sea Isle City. And it just so happens that they live that slogan from the water tower – they’re all smiling because they are together in Sea Isle City.