51 Years Later, Lost Watchung Hills Class Ring Washes Ashore

WARREN, NJ — It's been 51 years since Jim Keelen lost his Watchung Hills Regional High School(WHRHS) graduation ring at the Jersey Shore. Last week, a Point Pleasant Borough resident made a "miraculous" discovery and helped reunite Keelen with his ring.

It was the summer of 1972 and Keelen of Warren had just graduated. Keelen had gone down to the shore with his high school friends to spend time at a house on the beach in Point Beach.

"We did what young kids do and I lost my ring that weekend," said Keelen, who only had his ring for a few months prior. "I figured if it was lost on the beach it was toast. I considered it was gone all these years."

That was until Anthony Dimaria-Sadorski made the chance discovery. Dimaria-Sadorski of Point Pleasant Borough went to the Beaver Dam Creek behind his home off Cohocton Avenue to take photos of the sunset.

"I just caught a glimpse of the stone in the sunlight," said Dimaria-Sadorski. "I thought, 'Wow, that's weird' and lo and behold it was the ring."

The ring was located right next to the creek opening where the water would be, said Dimaria-Sadorski, who figured it came in on high tide.

Seeing the date on the class ring, Dimaria-Sadorski wanted to find its owner. He made a post on Facebook on June 8 and within a matter of minutes, it was shared about 30 times including in the WHRHS alumni group.

One of the group members tagged Keelen who verified the ring was his.

"Oh my goodness I couldn't believe it," said Keelen when he realized his ring was found. "This is crazy."

Keelen theorizes that since the ring was lost on the beach it must've been Superstorm Sandy that brought the ring inland.

"Maybe it washed off the beach and was deposited inland and by chance - a miracle - he found it," said Keelen.

Dimaria-Sadorski and Keelen connected and the ring was shipped out and reunited on Monday, June 12.

The ring had some dings and was a little bent so Keelen brought it to a jeweler to polish the stone and resize it.

"I would like to wear it again since I lost it after only a couple of months," said Keelen.

Keelen is beyond happy to be reunited with his ring and said he couldn't thank Dimaria-Sadorski enough.

"It's miraculous that he found it. And then to make that special effort to find me - that's a special kind of goodness right there," said Keelen. "It's remarkable."

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