Dewey Baywalk dedication set for July 28

Dewey Beach will come together Tuesday, July 28, to dedicate the newly finished Baywalk in honor of former Mayor John 'TJ' Redefer, who passed away this spring.

The date was chosen to correspond with Redefer’s birthday; he would have been 59 years old, said friend and Dewey Business Partnership President Steve “Monty” Montgomery.

“TJ was a beloved community member, and he worked tirelessly as mayor to ensure this Baywalk got constructed,” Montgomery said. “It is a spectacular amenity for our town, and we wish he was here to see the permanent contribution he has made.” 

Redefer was rooted in Dewey Beach from a very young age, having grown up on Cullen Street in his early years. Later, his parents bought a home on New Orleans Street, where he and his four brothers and sisters, as well as his extended family of cousins, spent summers by the seashore. He was the owner of Sky Jack Pics and a drone photographer, and he used these skills to capture many jovial moments in the town as well as beautiful landscapes of the place he called home. 

In 2016, he realized his lifelong dream of returning to Dewey Beach as a year-round resident. He and his wife, Bobbie, moved in across the street from his business, Rehoboth Bay Realty, where he was owner/broker. 

Redefer was also a lifetime member of the Dewey Beach Lions Club, where he served from 1999 until 2018, first as treasurer and later as president. He became a town commissioner in 2017 and was unanimously named mayor by fellow commissioners. He was re-elected to another two-year position as commissioner in September 2019, and served as mayor from 2017 for three years until his passing in April 2020. He made his wife Bobbie and children Leigh Ann Redefer Winslow and Jack Redefer very proud with his steadfastness to his beach community and his work within it. 

He is remembered fondly by friends and town members, including Jimmy O’Conor, who recalls, “TJ always had the community’s best interest at heart, and he was Dewey Beach’s best cheerleader.” 

It is only fitting that this project be dedicated to his memory, Montgomery said. Along with the Baywalk itself, there will also be signage, chairs, benches and tables to help dedicate the Baywalk in Redefer's memory for decades to come.  

The community is invited to come and celebrate the life of John ‘TJ’ Redefer at 7 p.m., July 28, at the Baywalk around Lighthouse Cove, 1301 Coastal Highway, Bayfront behind the Hyatt Place Dewey Beach. A bonfire will follow. Parking is free in the town of Dewey Beach on Tuesday evening from 5 to 11 p.m. Everyone in attendance is asked to observe safe social distancing practices and to wear a mask.