DEWEY BEACH, Del. - Mayor TJ Redefer passed away at 58-years-old on Tuesday after battling pancreatic cancer. He was a friend to everyone he met. Business owners say he drove through town everyday to check on them. Now a black ribbon can be seen wrapped around the town's entrance signs as the community mourns and remembers the mayor simply known as "TJ."
"There's nobody that loved this town like TJ Redefer loved this town," says Starboard Owner Steve Montgomery. "Three weeks ago with coronavirus hitting our world, TJ was the one checking and calling on everyone, crying himself to sleep that the businesses had to close."
"He was our full-time cheerleader that honestly cared about all the people in his community and our wonderful town," says Jimmy O'Conor, who owns Woody's.
Both Mayor Paul Kuhns of Rehoboth Beach and City Manager Sharon Lynn worked alongside Redefer in the Association of Coastal Towns group.
"Working with Mayor Redefer this past year as part of the ACT group gave me a new perspective of professionalism in Dewey Beach," says Lynn in a statement to WRDE. "He was always prepared, and on point when voicing his concerns for the citizens of Dewey Beach and I will always remember him for his friendliness toward all.
Kuhns says, "TJ was so appreciated by not only his community, but the other coastal communities as we all worked together to provide positive experiences to our residents, businesses and visitors."
"He took the leadership roll when the town needed him most," says close friend and commissioner Paul Bauer. "He was awesome at building consensus and consistently doing the right thing."
"His talent was standing up for all the town stakeholders, even when those very same stakeholders were in the middle of a protracted political battles," says Commissioner Dale Cooke.
Cooke plans to take over mayoral duties until commissioners can vote in the coming weeks on which one of them will serve as mayor for the rest of the 2020 term.
Senator Ernie Lopez says Mayor Redefer made sure Dewey was welcoming to everyone and that the current repaving project on Route 1 is thanks to him insisting DelDOT come in to improve the town's roadways.
"We're built on our municipally elected officials here in the Cape region," says Lopez. "He was a consensus builder, a trouble shooter and someone who always brought people together."
Redefer was born at Beebe Hospital and raised in Dewey Beach. His son Jack Redefer will become the owner and operator of the family real estate company. He says his father's full mission in life was to make everyone feel welcomed in their community.
"I will forever miss our car rides around town, solving all the worlds problems by noon and most of all walking into our office each day to see his great big smile and for him to tell me welcome home," says Jack Redefer. "I will continue Dad's dreams and wishes for our family business Rehoboth Bay Realty Company."
Leigh Ann Redefer Winslow says she is thankful her father was able to give her away at her wedding in September.
"Thank you to everyone who has reached out, keeping my family in their thoughts and prayers while also giving us the space to grieve," says Winslow. "My Dad would not want us to be sad for long, so please take comfort in knowing the love you had for him is felt.
"Whenever he greeted anyone he always told them "Welcome Home," says TJ's wife of 32 years, Bobbie Redefer. " I am overwhelmed. What an amazing human I was honored to call my husband."
A family procession will bring Mayor Redefer through town for the final time on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. People who are already in Dewey Beach are invited to pay tribute from the sidewalks, but they must practice social distancing.