The Man Behind The Music Will Be Missed

Over the years I have had the privilege to meet a number of wonderful people in my life. Some I have met through my various positions managing sales and service organizations who sold specialty equipment and apparatus to public safety agencies around the world and here domestically within the United States. Many of those I have stayed friends with to this day; they are a rare breed these men and women.

So, when I do meet visitors on the island and find that special connection because of my past, we tend to hit it off fairly quickly, and the connection is almost always evident from the beginning.

When I first met Rose Kraemer, I was immediately taken back by her wonderful talents as a vocalist. Her friendly manner and wonderful smile would immediately warm even the most aloof of patrons where she was entertaining. During one of her performances a few years ago while she was taking a break and the gentleman who was running her soundboard just happen to be walking by. He looked familiar to me, so I took the opportunity to introduce myself. He immediately outstretched his hand as we exchanged pleasantries.

I would explain that I thought I knew him and that his face was familiar. He explained he was Rose’s husband, Tom Kraemer, and the conversation would quickly switch to our former professions. He had been the longtime Police Chief in Union City, New Jersey. I had visited that community with one of our sales people out of South Plainfield on occasion to thank them for their continued business and had met Police Chief Tom Kraemer on at least two occasions when in the area.

It is a small world, one in which we are extremely lucky to meet gentlemen such as Tom who gave 35 years of dedicated service protecting the public on the job in the law enforcement field, eventually rising to the rank of Chief of Department for Union City, New Jersey.

But he would also give dedicated service to his beautiful bride, Rose. She was an exceptionally talented lady herself in the entertainment industry, but it could be easily said he was “the man behind the music” for the lady he loved. His talents running that soundboard were amazing, and together they truly “rocked the island” over the dozen years or so since their arrival here in 2010.

Tom and Rose will always be known a wonderful team in the minds of all who knew them. Together they made a difference in so many lives, whether raising monies for great causes here on the island or just helping to bring a smile to their local fans on any night they chose to bring the house down to the music islanders loved.

“Chief,” it was a pleasure to meet you so many years ago and once again here on the island you and Rose adopted as your second home. Your loss will leave a void within all that loved the music the two of you brought to us.