BY KAREN E. BOWES
Staff Writer
KEYPORT — Former Councilman Robert “Bob” Hyer, 64, died Oct. 4 after a battle with cancer.
Hyer served on the Borough Council from 2001 to 2004, but was charged in the Monmouth County corruption sting Feb. 22 along with 10 other government officials, including Mayor John Merla.
“It’s horrible,” Merla said a day after Hyer’s death. “I feel very bad for his family. He did a lot for the town. I hope that’s what people remember about him, despite the trash that was in the paper. Obviously, he won’t get a chance to clear his name, but I’m sure it was headed that way.”
Hyer denied the charges of bribery and was considered by many to be “a family man.”
Born in Perth Amboy, Hyer graduated from the Keyport school system and attended Monmouth College. He later served on the Keyport Board of Education.
Karen Christiana-Gunn remembered how helpful Hyer was when she was appointed to replace him on the Board of Education in January 2002.
“He was elected to the Borough Council and he couldn’t be on both boards,” said Christiana-Gunn. “He was so supportive. He told me all about orientation. He was very supportive of my son’s Boy Scout troop. He did whatever he could. He was that kind of guy. We’re going to really miss him.”
Board of Education President Ed McNamara recalls Hyer as “a voice of moderation and reason.”
“He was an alumnus of the schools and took a great deal of pride in the schools,” said McNamara. “He wanted the schools to be top quality for his grandchildren.”
According to McNamara, Hyer was active in the Buildings and Grounds Committee, working successfully to improve the physical condition of the schools.
Hyer was also integral in establishing a working dialogue between the Board of Education and the Borough Council.
“Years ago, there wasn’t a good relationship between the board and the council,” said McNamara. “He was at the very beginning of that process.”
Because of Hyer’s interest in politics, he was able to keep the Board of Education up-to-date on state and county legislation.
“He was definitely dedicated to the community of Keyport,” said McNamara.
A husband, father of one and grandfather of three, Hyer coached his grandson’s soccer team when no one else was available. Having never played soccer before, Hyer rented videos and read books on the subject.
“I’ve known Bob most my life,” said George Strang, Hyer’s running mate in a 2004 bid for Borough Council. “He was friendly with my father. I really got to know him as a friend during our campaign last year. He was a very good family man. He loved his grandchildren to death. I saw that firsthand.”
One resident will remember him for his well-mannered approach to politics.
“He treated all people well,” said Jennifer Henning. “If you disagreed with him or if you agreed with him, he was always courteous and kind.”
Hyer was the president and founder of the Bayshore Republican Conference, an honorary member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Monmouth Lodge No. 7 and an honorary member of the Garden State Law Enforcement Organization. He worked with the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office for the last four years.
A moment of silence was observed for Hyer at the Oct. 4 Borough Council meeting and again at the Oct. 5 Board of Education meeting.