Teresa Tilton, Judith Tilton, Robert Sakson, Carla Sakson, and David Tilton
By Teresa M. Tilton
Long before I was born, our family fell in love with Long Beach Island. This began when our grandfather, George Sakson, discovered LBI as the family vacation spot in the late 1950s, early 1960s. One of the first houses my family rented was in Brant Beach. That decision by my grandfather to vacation on LBI shaped all our lives. We embraced the stories of the early days. My mom and uncle would tell us of their memories of when you could hear the clatter of the wooden plank bridge as you crossed from the mainland.
My mom, Judith Tilton and Aunt Mary Sakson or “Mimi” would take daily dips in the ocean at sunrise with the fashion accessory of the day, their bathing cap, appliqued with flowers, usually before anyone in the house was up. Mom would say, she had to “unlock the ocean.” Mom loved sitting on the beach, reading with her large sunglasses and straw hat, exploring for shells and sea glass. Mom would take every opportunity to go for a “dip in the ocean” as she would say, regardless of the water temperature. My grandmother, Teresa Sakson, or Nanny, loved reading on the beach, floating in the ocean and cooking the family the most amazing meals. Nanny’s homemade chowder’s faded recipe has been passed down and I still use it to this day.
Joan Bellis, Aunt Mary “Mimi” Sakson, Grandmother Teresa “Nanny” Sakson, and Judith Tilton
Our vacation dinners were full Sunday dinners. We would reminisce on the day’s events and invite the evenings’ festivities. The sea air, sun kissed faces and laughter made for the most relaxing of times together.
Uncle Bob would share his painting excursions. He would go about the Island with his paints and easel, set out for the morning and paint familiar places, Kinsey Cove, Kelly’s with Old Barney in the background, the fishing fleet, The Shack, Wizard of Odds and Dutchman’s to name a few. After painting, Uncle Bob would come home, lay out his paintings and put a hamburger in the frying pan for lunch before heading to the beach; I still remember the smell of those burgers.
Judith Tilton and The Barnegat Lighthouse
Mom and her brother, Uncle Bob, Robert Sakson, adored all things LBI. His paintings capture the Island and long forgotten places that are exhibited in his work. Some of mom’s favorite shops were Things a Drift and Andy’s at the Light which were a must stop. On one such stop to Things a Drift, when mom saw the book, Long Beach Island Rhapsody, she struck up a conversation with Cheryl, the owner, letting her know she was the sister of Robert Sakson, one of the watercolor artists in the book. Mom was his biggest fan. Mom connected Cheryl with Uncle Bob and from then to this day, Uncle Bob’s paintings are featured in Things a Drift and Echoes of LBI Magazine; always a favorite read of mom.
My brother, David and I were born in the 1970s and in a way, it was as though we grew up on LBI. We spent August in Harvey Cedars on Gloucester Avenue and have fond memories of the sound of the car pulling into the gravel and the clapping of the wooden screen door. The family traditions continued with us, days were spent on the beach, swimming, or floating and riding waves on the raft. The raft was usually heavy canvas with the rope on the sides. It was indestructible and scratchy when adorned with sand. Hunting for shells and sea glass was part of the day. David and Uncle Bob would watch the surf for schools of fish, and they always had their rods, at the ready. Evenings were magical, with family outings and sunset cruises on the Miss Barnegat Light, usually followed by pizza and ice cream. Other nights our destination was Flamingo Golf.
Judith Tilton, 2019 Lighthouse Monopoly Champion
When David and I were kids, the few days not spent on the beach were either at Tumble Town as the family watched us bounce off the trampoline, missing the steel springs and landing in the gravel only to jump back on again or afternoons at an Island water park getting a bit scrapped up on the concrete water slide when we fell off our mats before landing in the water. There were Monopoly and Scrabble tournaments. Aunt Carla, Uncle Bob’s wife, was the reigning Scrabble champion and mom, her tournament rival, was awarded Lighthouse Monopoly Champion in 2019; this could not have been more appropriate as mom was smitten with lighthouses, especially Old Barney. I would be remise if I did not mention lobster night. A full bib-on experience!
Our last family vacation was in September 2019 on East Connecticut Avenue, down the street from Pinky Shrimps, a favorite seafood spot for our family. As always, our trip ended at the bench. The bench was a special place for us. We would gather for one last look upon the ocean.
