By jane waterhouse
Staff Writer
FARRAH MAFFAI Brothers Thomas C. and Joseph R. Hintelmann have spent a combined total of 95 years at their alma mater, Red Bank Catholic High School, where they retired in June from their respective positions as chairmen of the History and English departments.
RED BANK — The Hintelmann brothers have fond memories of the time they spent in high school — a total of 95 years between them — first as students, then as teachers and administrators at Red Bank Catholic.
When Joseph R. Hintelmann, former chairman of the English Department, and Thomas C. Hintelmann, longtime chairman of the History Department, retired this June, the event marked an end to nearly a century of combined service to the school that was both their alma mater and spiritual home.
"Our whole family was devoted to RBC," Joseph Hintelmann remarked. "I graduated in ’48. Tom graduated in ’54, and my brother Jim graduated in ’56." Their brother, Paul, also an RBC graduate, is now deceased.
Like many kids, the Hintelmann boys were drawn to sports.
"I played basketball, and Tom was the manager of the basketball and football teams while he was in school," said Joseph, adding that another lifelong passion was kindled during his college years at Holy Cross. "I was fortunate to have a wonderful teacher named Father Brennan, who introduced me to Shakespeare. Both made a lasting impression on me."
After obtaining his degree, Joseph spent several years in the Army, stationed in southern Bavaria in Germany.
"That’s when I got the travel bug," he admitted. "During that time I visited 13 European countries."
But eventually all roads led back to Red Bank.
"When I returned from the army, the principal at RBC offered me a job teaching in the English department. I told him I’d try it. That job lasted for 47 years," Joseph laughed.
From the start, the elder Hintelmann brother discovered that his love of sports was a perfect counterpoint to academic life.
"My first ambition was to be a sports writer," Joseph said. "For a while I was actually a Shore area correspondent for the Newark Evening News and the Star-Ledger. I covered high school football for the Asbury Park Press and did a column on the Monmouth Park Racetrack for the Daily Register." Joseph also has freelanced for the Two River Times, where his younger brother, Jim, is a feature writer.
The English teacher began running the scoreboard for RBC home games in 1960 — a practice which he continued for over 40 years. He also found time to give brother Thomas a leg up in his own career.
"I’d been an education major at Fairfield University," said Thomas. "But after leaving the Army reserves, I was unemployed. Then one day Joseph said, ‘I got you a job.’ I was hired to fill in for a teacher on maternity leave. The course was basic biology."
He shook his head at the memory. "The following year I began teaching in the Social Studies Department, where I stayed for 40 years."
Although he soon rose to the position of chairman of the History Department, Thomas said he treasured the moments spent in front of the classroom.
"There are no better students than the ones at Red Bank Catholic," he declared. "It’s been both fun, and a privilege, to interact with them — to deal with their personalities and unique talents and watch them develop."
"Ditto," said Joseph. "That’s what I’ll miss the most."
The two brothers agreed on something else. When asked what it was like to grow up in Red Bank in the ’40s and ’50s, their response was uniformly enthusiastic.
"It was the perfect town," said Joseph. "Anywhere you needed to go, you could walk," added Thomas with a nod. "You wanted to shop, you went downtown," Joseph said. Thomas picked up the thread.
"You felt like seeing a movie — there were two theaters — the Strand, that was the flea house."
"They had Grade B westerns and adventure movies," Joseph explained. "Or you could go to the Carleton," Thomas chimed in, "That was the classy place, the first-run house."
The Hintelmann family home was on Irving Place.
"Our mother passed away not long ago at the age of 96," said Joseph, a note of sadness creeping into his voice. "We’re just in the process of selling it now."
Thomas said that their father, Joseph P. Hintelmann, an attorney who had worked for the government during World War II, lived long enough to see him get elected to the Borough Council.
"I was happy that he did," Thomas said, "because he’d run for the council in ’38 as a Democrat and lost. Then he ran and lost again in 1940."
While his father’s bids for Borough Council were never successful, they instilled in Thomas a lifelong interest in politics.
"I joined the Democratic Club at Fairfield University, and I also worked with the Kennedy Presidential Club, helping to get JFK elected."
He recalled seeing John F. Kennedy in a railway station.
"I only got a fleeting glimpse of him, but it’s something I’ll always remember," Thomas recounted. "Later on I joined the Democratic Club here in Red Bank. I was president for a time. I ran and won a seat on the Borough Council in 1974, and since then I’ve won 10 elections," he smiled. "Although there was a close one back in ’80 when Reagan was president. I won by 39 votes that time."
Both brothers spoke of the changes they’d witnessed in the borough over the years. "Red Bank had a period of decline," said Joseph, "but now look at it."
Thomas attributed this resurgence to the leadership of Mayor Edward J. McKenna.
For the past 37 years Thomas has been married to Maureen Dougherty Hintelmann, daughter of George Dougherty, a former captain of the Sea Bright Police Department.
"She started out as a teacher, then became the principal of St. James Elementary School," he said. "Now she’s the director of admissions at RBC."
The couple have two grown children — Thomas, who lives in Tinton Falls, and Nancy, who lives in Red Bank — and 3 grandchildren, Sean, 4; Matthew, 2; and Thomas, 6 months.
"And my daughter has another one on the way," the patriarch added with a smile.
Brother Joseph, on the other hand, is still single.
"That’s the reason I can travel so much," he joked. "I’ve taken 24 cruises. I’ve been to Europe seven times — three times with student groups from Red Bank Catholic. And if all goes well, I’m planning to go back to Europe this winter."
As for Thomas, in addition to his councilman duties, he is also the police commissioner of Red Bank.
"Oh, and for the past 40 years I’ve had a summer job tending bar at the Sea Bright Beach Club," he said. "I like the people. It gives you a good rest, you know, talking to everybody and hanging out. By the end of the summer, you’re anxious to get back to school again."
Councilman Hintelmann paused and exchanged a meaningful look with his brother Joseph.
"This September, it’s going to seem strange," he said.