The ‘Angels’ from Toms River Local 137
When NJ FMBA Past President Bill Lavin began his presenta-
tion about the Where Angels Play Foundation at the 2018 NJSPBA
Convention in Boca Raton, Jesse Robertazzi was all ears. Having
participated in four playground builds for Lavin’s charitable foun-
dation, which honors children who have tragically passed away,
the Toms River Local 137 State Delegate knew the impact of the
organization firsthand and was excited to hear Lavin share it with
NJ State PBA members.
In the middle of the inspirational presentation, Lavin told the
story of Brendan Tevlin, a 19-year-old boy who was murdered by a
Muslim terrorist in West Orange in 2014. As Lavin shared the plans
to build a playground for Tevlin in Lavallette at the end of Septem-
ber, Robertazzi immediately began drafting an email to Local 137,
asking for as many members as possible to volunteer at the build.
“We’ve done a few of them before as a Local and each person
that’s participated has gotten the experience of a lifetime,” Rober-
tazzi shared. “Whenever I put out information about it, they al-
ways want to be part of it again.”
At the top of the priority list of people to alert about the build
was Shaun O’Keeffe, a former Local 137 State Delegate who Rober-
tazzi knew had a close relationship with the Tevlin family. O’Keeffe
was thrilled to hear the news and made sure to spread the word
even further to get members involved.
On Sept. 26, the day after Robertazzi’s return from the conven-
tion, more than 20 Local 137 members showed up at the building
site on Bay Avenue in Lavallette to create a playground that would
keep Tevlin’s memory alive forever.
“Mike Tevlin (Brendan’s father) insisted that the playground be
built in Lavallette,” noted O’Keeffe, who grew up in West Orange,
where he got to know the Tevlin family. “Brendan grew up surfing
there. It was the perfect spot. He loved Lavallette.”
In addition to its ideal location at Tevlin’s favorite summer get-
away, the playground’s blue and white colors paid tribute to the
scholar’s pride for Seton Hall Prep. The Local 137 members went to
work on the four-day build, making sure they got the job done for
the Where Angels Play Foundation.
Robertazzi’s brother and former Berkeley Township Local
237 State Delegate Joe Robertazzi also lent a hand by getting a
much-needed cement mixer donated from a Home Depot in Lac-
ey Township for the duration of the playground’s construction.
“Bill Lavin is an amazing human being,” Joe Robertazzi stressed.
“We jump at the chance to work with him and for this foundation.”
On Sept. 30, everyone who participated, including many mem-
bers of Lavallette Local 372, were reminded of how rewarding each
Where Angels Play project is, as they watched dozens of children
laughing and playing on Tevlin’s playground during the dedication
ceremony. O’Keeffe and the Local 137 members felt great pride
knowing that they had taken part in giving something to the com-
munity that would bring many children joy while paying tribute to
an amazing young man.
“What happened to Brendan is extremely unfortunate,” O’Keefe
declared. “But the future of Lavallette will always see him in a posi-
tive light and the family will have a great way to remember him.” d
Lavallette Local 372 made a $1,000 donation to the Where Angels Play Foun-
dation at the Brendan Tevlin playground dedication ceremony.
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