James Raylman

James E. Raylman, 69, of Manahawkin passed away on Sunday, March, 17, 2019.

Jim was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania on March 12, 1950.  He moved to Long Beach Island when he was 11 years old,where he grew up and graduated from Southern Regional High School, Class of 1968.  He enjoyed the summers on LBI where he worked many jobs and had his own business at the age of 15.  He clammed the bay in his 16’ boat, and he cleaned offices and painted for money at his early age.

He loved body surfing in the ocean and spending time with many friends in Beach Haven Crest.  It was there that he met the love of his life Margaret (Bunny) Partridge.   They fell in true love and were married in June of 1969.

They moved to Manahawkin in 1970 where their three children were born, and he immediately began putting down deep, extensive, and lasting roots. To Jim, Stafford Township was the greatest place on earth!  He called it “God’s Country” and forever strived to make it a wonderful place to live and raise a family.  He was always part of the solution and not the problem.

Jim became involved in Troop 23, as Assistant Scout Master, while he was a newlywed, with no children of his own. He became involved again in Scouts a few years later, as a Den Leader of Pack 61 when his boys were participants.  Soon it was back to Troop 23, where he became the Scoutmaster for 10 years.   He mentored many boys during that time, through monthly camping trips, weekly meetings, and overall character building.

As his children entered the Stafford Schools, he felt the need to get involved in the educational process.  He served and made lifetime friends on the Stafford Township Board of Education for 10 Years. His love was the Buildings and Grounds Department, where he made many improvements. Early on, he volunteered for Stafford PTA Fun Fair. He constructed and maintained every part of the event.  It was just the beginning of countless projects for the youth of the town, for which he volunteered, never expecting anything in return.

He was a much welcomed asset for the Southern Regional High School Junior Class Prom. For 23 years, he assisted in building waterfalls, suspending vehicles, and creating anything the class prom committee dreamed up.  They loved all the cordless tools he would bring, to help make the job easier for all.

Jim was an integral part of Stafford Little League, serving as player agent, equipment manager, and coach for 10 years.  He also volunteered as a coach for the Stafford Soccer League.

He was the founder of Stafford Hockey League in 1999 and continued to serve as the league’s commissioner until his passing, with his heartfelt thumb on everything that affected the league.  The hockey rinks on Doc Cramer Boulevard were recently named for him and the complex will be forever known as   The James E. Raylman Hockey Complex.

He played a vital part in managing the growth in Stafford, as he served for 25 years as Chairman of the Stafford Township Planning Board.   It was with great pride that he worked on the countless developments and shopping centers coming into town.  His goal was to never let Manahawkin lose the flavor and feel that he loved.

Jim loved St. Francis Parish. He served with Bunny, as a member of the RCIA program for many years, where he mentored adults who were interested in becoming members of the Catholic Church.

He handcrafted and installed the oak hymnal racks in the St.Francis Church in Brant Beach. He also created and installed the beautiful frames for the stained glass windows which hang in the Loveladies Church of St. Clare. He and Father Francis designed the installation allowing access to the bottom for opening. It was his honor to construct all of the crosses, that are still in use today, for the Good Friday services.

He believed in faith, family, and community.   He was a helper and champion for those in need. He would mow the neighbors’yards, shovel their snow, and even installed a roof one time, as a surprise, to someone in need!

Jim loved everything Disney, Classic Mustangs, Vintage Ford Good Humor Ice Cream trucks, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Dolphins.  When retired, he looked forward to spending some time in Vero Beach, Florida.   He became part of the community there, working hard to make his beloved Adria better and better.

Jim worked at the Ocean County Educational Media Center(servicing all the schools in Ocean County) for more than 40 years, serving as its Director.  He was the owner of Bun-Jim Ice Cream where he kept a fleet of 50 year old Good Humor Ice Cream trucks, servicing the beaches of LBI, in tip top condition.  He was the chief mechanic, freezer guy and hands on owner.  He literally was the fixer of anything and everything.

In 2015 he thought it would be fun to buy a new business.  So,he started operating JB Awards, supplying trophies, plaques and awards to local schools and townships. It gave him the opportunity to use his problem solving skills and mechanical ability to achieve yet another goal. Plus he still felt the connection to the youth and schools that he loved.

Jim is survived by his sisters Beverly Frenkiewich and her husband, Ron, and Ginger Schlorer and her husband, Chuck.

He is also survived by his wife of 50 years, Bunny; three children, including Doug and his wife, Cindy; Missy and her husband, Jim; Kevin and his wife, Susan. The true lights of his life, though, were his 7 grandchildren, Kristina, Emily, Nicholas, Matthew, Abby, Molly and Christopher.  He was always busy supporting all of their sporting, academic, choral, drama events, or just spending time hugging and tickling them.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Jim’s favorites:

Troop 23 or Stafford Roller Hockey

Mail checks to:

133 Beach Ave., Manahawkin, NJ  08050

Visiting hours will be Friday, March 22, 2019, 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 9pm at Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home, 573 Mill Creek Rd, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 23, 2019, 11am, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Brant Beach, NJ. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beachview Ave., Manahawkin, NJ.