Farewell to Everyone’s Friend, Glen Ortman

Glen Ortman lived his life like every person actually intends to.
A true family man, a supportive and caring friend, an accomplished professional, a dedicated athlete, and a knowledgeable sports fan, he embodied maturity, responsibility and generosity.
He was a leader in service organizations, coached Little League, and donated his time and resources for any endeavor which made his community a better place.
Throughout his 55 years, Glen never showed an ounce of bitterness or jealousy about the serious illness which almost enveloped him as an adolescent. His big heart may have finally given way on Aug. 28, but the thousands of area residents whose lives he touched shall never forget his kind and calm demeanor.
We grew up together in the Rio Grande of yesteryear along with a bunch of neighborhood kids who enjoyed a zillion care-free hours of self-made, sandlot recreation.
The memories came rushing back as I shockingly read the abbreviated account of his adult life in the morning newspaper. We’d seen each other on occasion and always exchanged a nostalgic story or two with a chuckle. We shared the frustration of being Eagles’ fans and we’d always intended to play a round of his beloved golf. I so deeply regret never having made the time to do so.
Back in the day we sort of divided Delsea Drive into two factions for our legendary games in every sport. It was baseball, football, hockey, basketball, tennis, and even bowling at the long-departed yet still-revered Rio Lanes.
I can still see Glen as a kid on his family’s riding lawn mower rumbling away from his family’s Cresse Avenue home and bouncing across Route 47. He was headed for Railroad Avenue and the often overgrown outfield grass at former “Green Rio” baseball field behind the old Monaghan Tire building. We kids manicured that field just like we independently did at many of the game-site parcels we used in those less litigious days.
Perhaps it was a time before insurance companies and lawyers started preventing children from using empty and/or abandoned lots, but back then we routinely skinned our knees on neighborhood yards and any open space we could find within bicycle distance.
We built our own baseball diamond, complete with wooden backstop, on the drive-in theater property next to Shop Rite. Back then the short cut from the neighborhood behind Marilyn Manor Shopping Center to the popular grocery store was through the seashell parking lot of the drive-in and across the grassy lot next to Country Motel. That well-worn path served as our home run “fence.” The lack of a vertical marker certainly caused its share of arguments but we always worked it out.
Glen was a tremendous athlete through all of our Rio Grande pick-up games before competing at a high level for the Middle Township High School baseball and football teams.
When he got his driver’s license Glen came home one day with a used Volkswagen Beetle. It wasn’t exactly a “muscle car,” but I quickly took notice of the manual transmission. I studied him intently as he smoothly navigated the four speeds while pressing the odd third pedal on the narrow floor. To this day I have only owned manual transmission vehicles.
Glen was my older brother’s age. I was actually very good friends with his younger sibling, Steve. He and I worked many years together on the Cape May beach and at the former hub of Rio Grande family dining, Grasso’s Four G’s Restaurant. Glen had worked on the beach for a couple of summers but he “got real” well before Steve and I did.
Glen was a Rutgers man and the finest accountant anywhere. He was a CPA and earned partner status at his firm. His integrity and ethical standards made him a highly-regarded businessman who gave unvarnished and unparalleled financial analysis and advice within the supremely challenging world of municipal government and other public entity operations.
Like childhood friends regrettably do in the hurried and hectic world ours has become, the Rio Grande kids of the late ‘60s and ‘70s went their separate ways but the memories live on.
To the end Glen remained introspective and reserved about his fate. He counseled others rather than vice versa. He was that kind of guy. This region is much poorer for the loss of such a gentle and caring man who gave so much.
Rest in peace, my friend.