Class of 1965 Reunion Book

In Memory of Rolf DeCou In Memory of Rolf DeCou: Last October 2014, Rolf suffered a massive stroke and died on the 18th, five days after being taken off life support. There was a wonderful Memorial Service for him on October 25th in the Moorestown Meeting House. Rolf ’s children, Josh and Erin, his ex-wife, Wendy, and devoted friend, Suzanne Posner, attended. Also in attendance were his five surviving brothers and sisters and their families, along with many friends from Woodstown, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Many spoke to Rolf ’s sincerity and thoughtfulness as a friend to many with whom he worked and associated. He had many interests which he pursued with typical enthusiasm.

On the 17th, while Caroline and I spent time with Rolf ’s children, sister Tina, friend Suzanne, ex-wife Wendy, nephew and sister-in-law, many stories were shared. Josh and Erin, graduates of Wilmington Friends School, were especially interested in his time at Moorestown Friends.

I told them that Rolf and I started at Moorestown Friends School at the same time. Mrs. Stiles was our teacher in the Second Grade room in the old Elementary School Building which has since been demolished. That room was memorable because of the sliding board which we used for fire drills. I need a classmate from that year to confirm my memory from that spring when Mrs. Stiles tied “Bobby S” to his chair with clothesline that she retrieved from the closet behind her desk and gagged him so he could not talk. Another memory is of Bert Williams taking an early leave from school and causing turmoil because he could not be found.

Beth, Bob M…were these memories real or imagined?

Not to be forgotten was the time in fifth grade when Rolf and I were sent by Mrs. Borton to Mrs. Clawson’s office. We were reprimanded for selling fireworks to classmates that the older DeCou brothers had brought home.

I remembered that it was always fun to be at Hilltop Orchards which included hours of playing catch, hide and seek, trying to ride ponies that only wanted to run away when they were saddled, drinking cold cider on tap in the packinghouse, watching the older DeCous and cousins and friends play vigorous games of basketball, volleyball and playing tag in the swimming pool After College, Rolf worked in Mexico for the American Friends Service Committee and later he was in Honduras with Save the Children. Rolf became fluent in Spanish while helping these two groups. Next he lived with me on Fellowship Road while he raised corn and other vegetables for sale to local stores. I remember his enthusiasm while he bought his equipment, seed and started to plant, irrigate and harvest from his farm on Kresson Road. I stopped by once while he was cultivating his corn and he showed how good it was by snacking on the raw corn while we spoke about his marketing plan.

Rolf left a few years later and started farming in California. I visited with Rolf while on a search for fruit grading equipment. He ended up near Santa Cruz raising apples. It was impressive climbing in his hillside orchard which would have qualified as a ski area in the East.