Contributions to the tribute of John D Polhemus

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In Memory of

John D Polhemus

1940 - 2022

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Thursday

February

Visitation at Funeral Home

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Warren Hills Memorial Home

234 W. Washington Ave.

Washington, New Jersey, United States

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Friday

February

Funeral Service

11:00 am

Friday, February 18, 2022

United Presbyterian Church

224 Mansfield St

Belvidere, New Jersey, United States

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Final Resting Place

Hazen Cemetery Association

911 Brass Castle Rd

Belvidere, New Jersey, United States

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Ryan Sturm posted a condolence

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

I had the pleasure of getting to know John after dropping my son at Bolton Hill Nursery and walking back towards Mount Vernon, where John would take a daily stroll to Eddie's market to get a newspaper. Although I wouldn't expect that I had much of a lasting impact on John, I quickly became very fond of our conversations, and really enjoyed running into him. I had wondered about him often over the past two years, and am glad to hear that he had relocated closer to his daughters during the strangest of times, and hope that he was able to spend a lot of quality time with family. Although I'm saddened to hear of his passing, it has only solidified what a great person he was, by the impact he has had on so many. In just a few dozen brief encounters, John touched me enough to think about him when I hadn't seen him in a while -- that sure says a lot about him, that he had such an impact on somebody 50 years his junior. Rest easy, John. It was a true pleasure getting to know you.

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Frank and Murnie Dragotta posted a condolence

Saturday, February 19, 2022

So very sorry to learn of John’s passing. He was a fine man and a very good friend. Our condolences to Teresa, Susan , and Tina and the entire family. Frank and Murnie Dragotta

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Ann McKennna Rhinesmith posted a condolence

Saturday, February 19, 2022

When I became the Extension Home Economist for Rutgers Cooperative Extension in 1976, Harry Serfass and I worked on several onsite projects at the farm together. He became a good friend. He was such a wonderful and ethical person! May God bless him

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Joe jackson posted a condolence

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

John and I were fellow gardeners in Baltimore's Druid Hill Park City Farm, and I am profoundly grateful to know that he regarded me as a "real gardener". As I read the obituary and the remembrances shared so far, I realize why John and I always clicked. Somewhere along the line we'd both picked up a similar habit. The Boy Scouts taught me to leave the campground a little better off than it was when I arrived. Clearly John did the same. I am actually surprised at how hard this news is hitting me, regretful that I did not have as thorough an association with him as others did. We weren't neighbors. He and I would see each other at the garden or a Farmer's markets on occasion. But my impression ALWAYS was "the world can't be that bad a place if it's still producing folks like John".

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Leonard Lance posted a condolence

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

John was a distinguished public servant here in New Jersey. His contributions to White Township and Warren County were significant. I send my sincerest sympathy to his daughters on his passing.

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Carl Stafstrom posted a condolence

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Our dog, Lucis, who passed away in 2019 was ever grateful for the doggie treat John would throw over the fence, EVERY DAY (!) for 6 years, straight. Lucis was also thankful for the spring-fall Sunday steak BBQ smells which penetrated the backyard. Our dog couldn’t quite understand the smoked eggplants and peppers that John cooked up, but nevertheless, knew that they had to be delicious. Expect a big wag and lick when Lucis spots you in the heavens, John – bring a treat.

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Rob Kasper posted a condolence

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

John made gardening enjoyable. He and I had plots at the community garden in Baltimore's Druid Hill Park and one of the best parts of going to the garden was talking with John. Not only did he know a lot about growing vegetables, he knew a lot about big picture agricultural and political goals. In between weeding and watering we shared outlooks on the woeful state of America and how to fix the world. He was exceptionally generous with his time and his knowledge. He and I were fellow combatants in the garden's war against ground hogs and just before he moved, gave the garden the ground hog trap. Over and over again he would help fellow gardeners with their problems, but he was never pushy. If you asked him he would help, but he didn't wade in uninvited. He could be mischievous, regaling me with tales of how he smuggled rare peppers in from South America, or how he and Elwin became unwitting barons of a small forest of saplings which were stored on one of the garden's paths. He gave plenty of vegetables away to friends and neighbors, but told me he was guarded about giving away flowers because that might prove to be a source of gossip. He was proud of his former farm ( had photographs of it hanging on his walls) and delighted in sharing stories and gardening know how with his girls. Gardening hasn't been the same without him, but memories of my time with him are strong, and they make me smile. Rob Kasper Baltimore

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Linda Rittelmann posted a condolence

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

"Farmer John" was my dear friend and Bolton Hill neighbor for 16 years. Lived across the alley from me. He told wonderful stories of his travels, made a mean loaf of bread, and was the kind of neighbor who would just open the door for a glass of wine and share whatever he had on the stove or was coming out of the oven with you if you so much as stopped by his gate for a chat or to return a dish. I was the grateful recipient of dinners (his baked chile rellenos were a specialty of the house and a personal favorite), herbs, starters plants, and buckets of late summer tomatoes, peppers and eggplants for many years from his abundant garden in Druid Hill. He will be missed. Love to his daughters and grandchildren of whom he was SO proud and spoke of often.

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David Grimm uploaded photo(s)

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

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“Farmer John”, as we called him, lived across the parking lot from us for 13 years in Bolton Hill. He was always very friendly and kind, and he was especially sweet to our two little girls. He taught them about farming and regularly brought them vegetables from his garden (pictured). I saw John on my daily walks, and he was always ready with a smile and a chat. He was one of the best parts of Bolton Hill, a neighborhood with many best parts. We’ll miss you, Farmer John.

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Jean Liang posted a condolence

Monday, February 14, 2022

Being John's direct neighbor in Bolton Hill's "Lion Park," we shared many stories about our lives which inevitably led to stories on raising teenagers. John told us marvelous stories of his raising his three daughters. And he was beaming with pride, when he mentioned the "best mother ever" card he received from his girls one Mother's Day. Our deepest condolences to Teresa, Susan and Tina. I know you meant the world to him, and I'm sure it was mutual. We are holding John's memory in the Light Jean Liang and Carl Stafstrom

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Elwin Guild posted a condolence

Monday, February 14, 2022

John Polhemus Saturday 12 February 2022 I met John 23 years ago. He was my neighbor on Bolton Street and also Druid Hill Community Garden, Baltimore. Together we erected nearly 300 feet of picket fencing in Bolton Hill, chain sawed firewood on his Belvedere "Crossroads" NJ farm, worked vegetable gardens in Druid Hill Park, attended the annual Middle Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (bought out the dealers inventory at show’s end), prepared Five Star Dinners for each other, and shared good wines and breads. Every day John walked halfway crosstown to get the morning paper. He loved the Baltimore Farmer’s Market and always engaged the farmers. Every year John brought us apples from his favorite orchard, Northern Spy. John brought Joan and me beautiful vegetable and flower “starts” each Spring on his way to his “girls” in Boston. John’s pepper and Hosta plants were fabulous! While visiting John would always walk our farm’s fence-line and if Joan were close by, he’d lean toward me and whisper, “Round-Up!” Like me, John was the product of the US Peace Corps. That fact, more than anything, defined our bond. John was not an easy door to open, but once he let you inside, you were “home” for life. Elwin Guild and Joan Giesemann Hubbard Farmstead Portland CT

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The family of John D Polhemus uploaded a photo

Monday, February 14, 2022

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