By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
A plane circled overhead towing a banner that read, “We Love U Cheech!”
The banner immediately drew oohs and aahs from the crowd looking up in the sky.
But the biggest round of applause and cheers was saved for a sign that was about to be unveiled by the family of the late Frank P. Edwardi Sr.
Once the blue covering was removed, the sign revealed the name “Frank P. Edwardi Sr. Sea Isle City Marina.”
The once generically named Sea Isle City Marina was formally rechristened Tuesday in honor of the man who supervised it for 30 years and oversaw its transformation into an attractive hub for boaters.
“As we all know, this bayside stretch of land is where our friend, Frank Edwardi, spent many years serving as Sea Isle City’s marina supervisor. We also know that Frank was much more than just the man who ran our marina and ensured that boaters had safe harbor on these docks,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio said in remarks to the crowd.
Under Edwardi’s leadership, the 87-slip marina overlooking the lagoon on 42nd Place has been improved in recent years with new landscaping, docks, a boardwalk, an open-air pavilion and public restrooms.
“It took years and years of hard work to get the marina to where it is now. It’s a true honor to have it named after him,” City Councilman Frank P. Edwardi Jr. said of his father’s devotion to the marina.
The marina is regarded as one of the gems of the Fish Alley neighborhood, an enclave of family-owned restaurants and fishing boats rooted in the town’s early history as a small commercial seaport.
Edwardi Sr., 77, who was also well-known in Sea Isle as the former chief of the city’s volunteer fire department, died in July 2021 after battling leukemia and diabetes.
While living in Sea Isle, Edwardi also spent 25 years working at Mike’s Seafood & Dock Restaurant, the iconic Fish Alley eatery. He was affectionately known by the nickname Cheech.
In tribute to his old friend and the Edwardi family, Mike’s Seafood owner Mike Monichetti sponsored the plane that towed the “We Love U Cheech!” banner.
Monichetti smiled while watching Edwardi’s wife, Kathleen, his sons, Frank Jr. and Anthony, and his grandchildren unveil the sign for the Frank P. Edwardi Sr. Sea Isle City Marina.
Kathleen Edwardi, 74, said that she and her family were touched that her husband was remembered by the town in this way.
“I’m so thankful for this honor. It is a great tribute to a great man. It is well-deserved. He was so generous. He gave Sea Isle his all,” she said in an interview after the ceremony.
She also thanked Sharon Sanfosso, a family friend who started a community petition drive that collected more than 1,100 signatures and was the catalyst for city officials to rename the marina in Edwardi’s memory.
Sanfosso’s husband, Andrew, who was one of Edwardi’s closest friends and a fishing buddy, died in September 2020.
“I was teary eyed,” Sanfosso said of the unveiling of the marina sign. “I wish my husband was here to see this. He would have loved it. They both loved Sea Isle.”
At the same time he was supervising the marina, Edwardi was also a volunteer with the city’s fire department. He was a member of the fire department for 50 years and served as its chief for nine years. A fire truck was parked on 42nd Place during the unveiling ceremony, serving as a remembrance of Edwardi’s service with the department.
Mayor Desiderio, in his remarks to the crowd, said Edwardi established strong bonds with many of his fellow firefighters, some of whom attended the unveiling ceremony.
Desiderio also praised Edwardi as “a very special member of our community” and “a friend to all of us.”
In an interview after the ceremony, Desiderio recalled Edwardi’s generosity, saying he was always ready to help anyone in the community, particularly those who were truly in need.
“He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved Sea Isle City,” Desiderio said.
