Brewster Remembered for Commitment to Westfield Youth During Field Dedication

Once again, Mother Nature prevented baseball, with Saturday’s heavy rainfall eliminating a dandy of a matchup that would have seen a 9-3 Union City squad from Hudson County taking on a 10-2 Westfield team in a battle of two of the top Group 4 programs in the state.

What that did, however, was allow for a bit more reminiscing when the Westfield varsity baseball facility at Edison Intermediate School on Rahway Avenue was officially named the “Bob Brewster, Sr. Memorial Field.”

Bob Brewster, Sr., who passed away last April, was a huge supporter of Westfield athletics. His son Bob Brewster, Jr. is in his 29^th season at the helm of the Blue Devils baseball team in a highly-successful coaching tenure that began in 1983.

“It was very fitting to a man who really did an awful lot for the youth of Westfield,” Bob Jr. said about his dad. “My father was not a soccer fan, but they were Westfield kids and he would support them. It didn’t matter what team or whatever, he would go out and support the kids.

“I used to tell the umpires before the game, if there was ever a close call and you’re not sure, there’s a man sitting down there with white hair, he’ll tell you what the right call is.

“That was my dad.”

Because of the rain, the field dedication began inside the Westfield locker room with third son Daryl Brewster leading the introductions.

It was announced that four generations of the Brewster family were in attendance.

A large turnout of Brewster family members and friends and Westfield baseball alumni included those who made the trip from as far away as Washington, D.C. and Alabama.

“This is what community is all about,” Westfield Athletic Supervisor Sandy Mamary said. “It’s about the generations that have played on that field.”

Bob Brewster, Sr. was a founding member of the Westfield Baseball Association, president of the boys football league for over a quarter of a century, a member of the Booster Club for 40 years, a founding board member of the athletic hall of fame, a long time recreation commission member and the founder of an annual scholarship at Westfield High School with his wife, Marjorie.

“When he was younger he was always very supportive of the players, the team, everything, you name it,” Bob Jr. said. “He was Westfield through and through.”

“There is a lot of tradition here in Westfield, so you don’t name a field after someone that easily,” Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan said.

“Bob Brewster, Sr. was a man who attended over 2,000 Westfield athletic events. We found a man that for over decades was devoted to the athletes in town and not just the ones that played in high school.  

“We want this to continue. We want to continue to emphasize team work, commitment and working together.

“It is appropriate that this baseball field is being dedicated to Bob Brewster, Sr.”

Westfield Baseball League President Leo White announced that the organization will make a donation to the Brewster Foundation.

“The Brewster Foundation is a charitable organization and they have always contributed money to the Westfield Rescue Squad, the Methodist Church and also for baseball, which were the three things that were very important to my dad,” Bob Jr. said.

The final part of the dedication that took place indoors was the unveiling of a plaque in honor of Bob Sr. and the chair that he used to sit in while watching Westfield sporting events.

Everyone then went outside to see the unveiling of the sign centered at the top of the visiting dugout. It reads: “Bob Brewster, Sr. Memorial Field” for all now to see when they approach a Westfield baseball game in person.

Marjorie threw out the first pitch to Westfield senior catcher A.J. Murray.

The Westfield baseball team along with the Brewster family also posed for pictures underneath the new sign.

“The last thing I remember saying to him (Bob Sr.) before he passed away was, ‘we beat Union today, it was a tight ballgame (tongue in cheek), we won 18-2,’” Bob Jr. said. “He (Bob Sr.) said, ‘well good, we beat Union.’

“That was his final memory about Westfield sports, so that was great.”