By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Thousands of mourners filled the pews last Saturday at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia to say a final, somber goodbye to Jerry Blavat, the legendary “Geator With the Heater.”
An overflowing crowd packed the Oar House Pub in Sea Isle City on Wednesday night to also say a final goodbye to Jerry Blavat, but this time in a way that the iconic Philly disc jockey would have loved – with music, dancing and laughter.
“We told them to leave the tissues at home and to bring their dancing shoes,” Fox 29 TV personality Bob Kelly said of Blavat’s fans while drawing a contrast between the funeral and the upbeat “Celebration of Life” at the Oar House.
Kelly, host of Fox 29’s “Good Morning Philadelphia,” served as emcee of the Celebration of Life.
Blavat died on Jan. 20 at the age of 82 following complications related to myasthenia gravis, a nerve disorder.
He grew up in South Philadelphia, but his career as a DJ, music promoter and radio and TV personality had a huge connection to Sea Isle, Margate, Atlantic City and other towns at the Jersey Shore for more than 50 years.
For the last three years, Blavat served as DJ during the Wednesday night dance parties at the Oar House. Before that, the crowds would jam the former LaCosta Lounge in Sea Isle for his Sunday night shows that began in 1997.
Jimmy Bennett, owner of the Oar House and LaCosta Lounge, developed a close friendship with Blavat. The Geator became his mentor in the nightclub and restaurant business over the years.
“He told me, ‘Bennett, don’t let anyone get between us. Don’t get an agent. Call me directly,’” Bennett recalled of how Blavat didn’t want anyone interfering with their business dealings or friendship.
As much as anyone, Blavat “brought star power to Sea Isle,” Bennett said.
“There’s no one who can replace Jerry Blavat. He’s a legend,” he added.
Among his last wishes, Blavat insisted on having a dance party that doubled as a Celebration of Life for his boisterous final send-off at the Oar House, Bennett noted.
“He would love it. It was exactly what he wanted,” Bennett said.
As classic oldies like Martha and the Vandellas’ “Heat Wave” blared over the music system, Blavat fans well into their 70s danced at the Oar House like they were “Yon Teenagers” again. Blavat relished calling his legions of fans “yon teens,” a reference to his 1965 oldies album, “Jerry Blavat Presents: For Yon Teenagers.”
On the Oar House stage, a video montage of Blavat showed him posing for photos with fans, signing autographs and playing his role as high-energy DJ.
Joe Civitillo, a Blavat friend who lives in Sea Isle, said Blavat easily mixed with the fans who adored him.
“A lot of DJs develop just a shtick, but he was for real,” Civitillo said.
Civitillo and his wife, Pat, met Blavat years ago after popping into a Philadelphia bar and finding Blavat uncharacteristically sitting there all by himself.
“We talked to him for an hour. He was unbelievably nice. My wife and I were so happy just to get to know him,” Civitillo recalled.
In recent years, Civitillo would become a regular at the Oar House to catch Blavat’s shows on Wednesday night.
Carol Tempesta, who worked as Blavat’s secretary, began a friendship with him going back to the 1970s, when he would stage dance parties at Philadelphia’s St. Maria Goretti High School, where Tempesta was a student.
“He asked me, ‘What’s your name?’ Then we really got friendly,” Tempesta said.
Tempesta also got to know Blavat by appearing on his TV dance show in the 1970s.
Fighting back her emotions, Tempesta, 68, described Blavat as a family member, as close to her as a brother.
“I go to the office and see his empty chair now and I cry,” she said of Blavat’s Philadelphia home at the Society Hill Towers that doubled as his office.
Following Blavat’s death, the big question going around Sea Isle was who replace him for the Wednesday night dance parties at the Oar House.
Bennett revealed that Bob Kelly will take over as DJ on Wednesday nights. Kelly, though, stressed in an interview that no one could truly fill Blavat’s shoes.
“I’m not looking to replace Jerry Blavat. I don’t think anyone could do that. My goal on Wednesday nights is to keep the music alive,” he said.
