George Naame leaves legacy of goodwill
Posted by Jersey Shore Breaking News at Wednesday, August 06. 2008 and is filed under Current of Downbeach,Current of Egg Harbor Township,Linwood,Northfield,Current of Somers Point 
By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer
MARGATE – George Naame, 76, of Egg Harbor Township passed away Friday, Aug. 1, leaving a long and storied list of accomplishments.
Naame was a member of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol and for years worked the busy South Carolina Avenue beach.
Scott Abbott, an attorney in Margate and Naame’s nephew, was his mascot on the beach as a child. On Wednesday, he reflected on a life well spent.
Abbott said Naame was in the U.S. Army in the 1950s serving in Europe, and after leaving the military he took a job as a cruise line director.
“He would set up the activities for the guests on the ship and be their tour guide when they got off. This was during the Cold War, and he traveled to Russia and South America,” said Abbott. “He really did travel the world.”
He said his uncle learned to be the perfect host on the cruise line, something that served him well when he opened up his first bar, the Lafayette Lounge on Kentucky Avenue in Atlantic City. He added the Elbow Room on Amherst Avenue.
“He bought that building from Dutch Funk. It was a rooming house and he turned into the Elbow Room and brought in big acts like the Soul Survivors, and people were shoulder to shoulder on the street,” Abbott recalled.
In 1970 he bought Maloney’s Tavern from the Maloneys, and added Maloney’s Beef and Beer right next door two years later. Naame wanted to be able to use the liquor license from the tavern to allow him to serve liquor in the restaurant. Abbot said his uncle took the case all the way to the Superior Court of New Jersey and prevailed when the court held that the one liquor license was sufficient to cover both buildings.
“Maloney’s was a great place where everyone went, and I would say thousands of people met or courted their spouses at Maloney’s, myself included,” said Abbott. “It was a good place to go for a good meal, reasonably priced.”
An athlete his whole life, Abbott said his uncle was the first person he remembers running on the boardwalk.
“He enjoyed staying in shape,” Abbott said. “My uncle came up with the idea of the Maloney’s Bike-a-thon that was really a great event, and people came from all over to ride it.”
The event raised more than $2 million dollars over its 30-year run.
Naame and his wife, Barbara, had an affinity for antiques, and he loved everything about Atlantic City, so he naturally looked to the old hotels for a way to share their charm as they were to be destroyed. The large window at Maloney’s Restaurant came from the Chalfont Hotel, stained glass chandeliers were from the Chelsea, and the tables were from Heilers, bringing old Atlantic City to Margate.
Maloney’s closed its doors in 2005 when Naame sold the property, and the day was marked with a party the likes of which Margate had not seen in many years. The street was closed, and the many friends who frequented the famous restaurant and watering hole came by to raise a final glass to a long tradition.
Four separate times Naame was honored by the city of Margate by proclamation for his charitable efforts. Aug. 17, 1984 was declared George “Big Wheel” Naame Day, and again in 2002 he had another day on his 70th birthday.
These events were spearheaded by his lifelong friend and fellow lifeguard, former Mayor Bill Ross.
Again in 2004, Naame was honored by the city of Margate when he was chosen as the Christina Rush Foundation Angel of the Year for his generous support of the American Cancer Society.
Dede Hiltner of Margate said of Naame, “He was small in stature but he was a big man. He was a friend to so many, and never talked about himself.”
Naame had a heart attack Friday, Aug. 1, and though he had been battling other health concerns his nephew said he had them all under control. His death was a shock to his family and the legion of people who called him a friend.
He leaves behind his wife, Barbara, of 46 years; his daughter, Renee Swain and her husband, Jerry and sons George T. Naame III and wife, Chrissy, and Damon Naame and his wife, Robin; a sister Marjorie Cook and husband, Howell. He is predeceased by his sister Nancy Miller and his father Judge George Naame.
Services were held at the George H. Wimberg Funeral Home in Linwood Aug. 6.
The family is asking that donations in his memory be made to the American Cancer Society, 626 N. Shore Road, Absecon, NJ 08201.
Staff Writer
MARGATE – George Naame, 76, of Egg Harbor Township passed away Friday, Aug. 1, leaving a long and storied list of accomplishments.
Naame was a member of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol and for years worked the busy South Carolina Avenue beach.
Scott Abbott, an attorney in Margate and Naame’s nephew, was his mascot on the beach as a child. On Wednesday, he reflected on a life well spent.
Abbott said Naame was in the U.S. Army in the 1950s serving in Europe, and after leaving the military he took a job as a cruise line director.
“He would set up the activities for the guests on the ship and be their tour guide when they got off. This was during the Cold War, and he traveled to Russia and South America,” said Abbott. “He really did travel the world.”
He said his uncle learned to be the perfect host on the cruise line, something that served him well when he opened up his first bar, the Lafayette Lounge on Kentucky Avenue in Atlantic City. He added the Elbow Room on Amherst Avenue.
“He bought that building from Dutch Funk. It was a rooming house and he turned into the Elbow Room and brought in big acts like the Soul Survivors, and people were shoulder to shoulder on the street,” Abbott recalled.
In 1970 he bought Maloney’s Tavern from the Maloneys, and added Maloney’s Beef and Beer right next door two years later. Naame wanted to be able to use the liquor license from the tavern to allow him to serve liquor in the restaurant. Abbot said his uncle took the case all the way to the Superior Court of New Jersey and prevailed when the court held that the one liquor license was sufficient to cover both buildings.
“Maloney’s was a great place where everyone went, and I would say thousands of people met or courted their spouses at Maloney’s, myself included,” said Abbott. “It was a good place to go for a good meal, reasonably priced.”
An athlete his whole life, Abbott said his uncle was the first person he remembers running on the boardwalk.
“He enjoyed staying in shape,” Abbott said. “My uncle came up with the idea of the Maloney’s Bike-a-thon that was really a great event, and people came from all over to ride it.”
The event raised more than $2 million dollars over its 30-year run.
Naame and his wife, Barbara, had an affinity for antiques, and he loved everything about Atlantic City, so he naturally looked to the old hotels for a way to share their charm as they were to be destroyed. The large window at Maloney’s Restaurant came from the Chalfont Hotel, stained glass chandeliers were from the Chelsea, and the tables were from Heilers, bringing old Atlantic City to Margate.
Maloney’s closed its doors in 2005 when Naame sold the property, and the day was marked with a party the likes of which Margate had not seen in many years. The street was closed, and the many friends who frequented the famous restaurant and watering hole came by to raise a final glass to a long tradition.
Four separate times Naame was honored by the city of Margate by proclamation for his charitable efforts. Aug. 17, 1984 was declared George “Big Wheel” Naame Day, and again in 2002 he had another day on his 70th birthday.
These events were spearheaded by his lifelong friend and fellow lifeguard, former Mayor Bill Ross.
Again in 2004, Naame was honored by the city of Margate when he was chosen as the Christina Rush Foundation Angel of the Year for his generous support of the American Cancer Society.
Dede Hiltner of Margate said of Naame, “He was small in stature but he was a big man. He was a friend to so many, and never talked about himself.”
Naame had a heart attack Friday, Aug. 1, and though he had been battling other health concerns his nephew said he had them all under control. His death was a shock to his family and the legion of people who called him a friend.
He leaves behind his wife, Barbara, of 46 years; his daughter, Renee Swain and her husband, Jerry and sons George T. Naame III and wife, Chrissy, and Damon Naame and his wife, Robin; a sister Marjorie Cook and husband, Howell. He is predeceased by his sister Nancy Miller and his father Judge George Naame.
Services were held at the George H. Wimberg Funeral Home in Linwood Aug. 6.
The family is asking that donations in his memory be made to the American Cancer Society, 626 N. Shore Road, Absecon, NJ 08201.
As there are thousands of great memories associated with George, I remember the small things that made him different. He would give a tap on a back to every single person he walked by. Please think about it for a second.. an owner of a restaurant, man of the year, and one of the most known individuals in Atlantic County stops in the dish room, squeezes through the dirty dishwasher just to say hi to dirty dishwasher. He shakes his hand looks up and asks: "Is everything OK". If you said yes, but didn't mean it, he would figure it out and say come here, while pointing to a bar stool. Then he sits down and tries to help out with any situation at hand - work related or personal - he always had an answer for everything. How do I know... because I am that dishwasher. So, while there are lot of things to remember George by, I REMEMBER HIS EXCEPTIONAL HANDSHAKE.
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George was a good friend and a great man.He enjoyed interacting with people on all levels . Some of my fondest memories are of George helping Barb and our Baccarat Cat Club friends set up and tear down the TICA Cat Shows that Barbara produced in the late 90s. With a smile on his face and an easy laugh, George would move about the boardwalk putting out fires and easing the way for a smooth running event. Another image that comes to mind is George mucking litter boxes and a second one settled in his chair with his dogs at his side . He was a wonderful man and great husband, Barbara's other half and a perfect father and grandfather to his children.He will be missed .
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He is a great example for being an extraordinary man and an extraordinary business man. I haven't got the chance to met him in person but I am a great cruise fan and I am very familiar with his work. I am actually considering to start a career in cruising industry and this man would be a great model to me.
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