Obituary of Robert N. Toft

Robert N. Toft, 96, of South Dennis, NJ passed away on Sat. Oct. 9th at home with his family by his side. Born in Keyport, NJ he was a resident of CMC since 1961. After graduating Rutgers University with a BS in Education in 1940, he found work teaching math in Puerto Rico. His childhood sweetheart, Ruth, soon joined him there in marriage. Chased from Puerto Rico by WWII, they returned home and he served in the US Navy in the Philippines until discharged in 1945. Back in the US he worked as a related math teacher in the Middlesex County Vocational Technical School system. He coached the first baseball team, served as union president, and received his Masters degree in 1947. He was evening school principle at the Woodbridge School and worked summers as an Iron Worker. In 1960, he traveled to Cape May County and interviewed to become the Superintendent of the proposed Cape May County Vocational School. If he accepted the challenge of beginning a new school, he and his family would have to give up their outdoor fishing, crabbing, and clamming paradise on Island Beach State Park. His grandfather had built a fishing shack on the island and the family obtained squatters rights when it became Island Beach State Park. He was having dinner with his wife after the interview at the Tuckahoe Inn as they were deciding on whether or not to make the move from their newly built home in Morganville, NJ. The restaurant overlooks the water, and as they ate a striped bass broke the surface in plain view. With that, the decision was made, and the modern era of Vocational Education began in Cape May County, with Robert Toft at the helm. The Franklin Street School in Cape May became the startup location for the county's first Vocational Technical School. Through his efforts, successful programs soon expanded throughout the county. In 1969 a new shared-time Voc-Tech High School was constructed in Cape May Court House – The Robert N Toft Vocational Technical Career Center. He served as Superintendent there with several expansions until his retirement, and the school is still a premier educational institute for the students of the county. Upon his retirement, he settled into a life of fishing, farming, and hunting with his family. He also traveled extensively with his wife Ruth until her death in 2002. He continued saltwater surf and boat fishing, fly fishing, camping and traveling with his family. Robert Toft caught his last fish on Sept 16th, 2016, while camping with his son. It was a striped bass. Surviving are his sons: Karl and Hans and his granddaughters: Rachael, Hanna and Holly. Contributions in his memory may be sent to the Cape May County Animal Shelter, 110 Shelter Rd, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210. To share condolences, please visit www.evoyfuneralhome.com. .