Dewey Beach Mayor TJ Redefer succumbs to cancer

I have very, very disheartening news, Mayor TJ Redefer has passed away due to pancreatic cancer. The resort community is in total shock. TJ was the heart of Dewey. His countless contributions to the community and to the town of Dewey Beach leave us in a much better state that we’re in today. It was TJ’s big smile that I will remember most. During my 18 years as a Realtor I chose Dewey Beach as my target marketing area. I’ve had many transactions over the years with TJ. TJ was my most direct competition in so many of my listing appointments. We both knew it and we had so many laughs about it that spanned over the years. Real estate transactions have many obstacles that we sometimes as agents have to overcome. During some of those sometimes stressful times TJ still always wore that “big smile” accompanied with his easy going attitude. TJ was involved in so many community activities and was always there to help anybody. His heart and soul was Dewey Beach. As Mayor of Dewey Beach TJ’s leadership shined through as he was able to use his gifted talent of negotiation to overcome so many situations. I’m going to miss TJ as an agent but so much more for the decent, honorable and happy man that he was. The community and Dewey Beach will not be the same without him. There will be a funeral procession through the town of Dewey on Sat. 4/11 at 10:30. People that are attending are cautioned on staying your safe 6′ distance or stay in your car. I’ve read many articles in social media and the local newspapers but nobody said it better than Ellen Driscoll in the Cape Gazette on 4/11/20. If you knew TJ please read the article, it was very fulfilling. Out of state friends please beware that corona 19 road blocks are going to be in full effect this weekend so if you were going to attend you probably will go through one of these. Our state rules are a self mandatory 14 day quarantine. Traffic backups were for miles long last weekend. NOTHING is open. You can’t even walk on any beach and they are patrolling with drones and vehicles. Local officials are requesting everyone to stay home and don’t visit. Did you ever think that we would hear such news? As Americans we all remained strong and for the most part followed the CDC guidelines THUS hopefully reducing the amounts of deaths so that we can all enjoy another time at the beach. In closing RIP TJ it was an honor to be your friend.