Sidney Maxwell, prize fighter and friend

Sidney Maxwell, prize fighter and friend. I met Sidney Maxwell 20 years ago. He owned the local laundramat in the Town of Manasquan, New Jersey. My wife Peggy and I lived with our family in the Manasquan Shores Section of Wall Township, just over the border line into Manasquan. Public sewer was not available at the time so we had to go to a Laundramat.

So the first person I met in the laundramat was Sidney Maxwell. I place our clothes in the machine and wait for cleaning and drying. After a while Sidney said that he would take care of loading the clothes for washing and drying. I went home and told my wife about him. She was very curious about the prize fighter and the laundramat. Sidney told me that he was a light weight champion boxer. He was on the same billing as Jack Dempsey the world famous heavy weight champion of the world.

She decided to make him dinner as a thank you for his assistance. So every sunday like clock work I would bring the clothes to the laundramant and Sidney would have them washed, dried, and folded. He loved the home cooked meals. Eventually the laudramant was closed. Sidney asked me if we could become friends. I said, yes of course.

He lived in a small rented house near the railroad tracks. So two or three times a week I would Sid for coffee, lunch, or dinner. I was notified that Merv Griffith Casino was having free seminars for their executives, law enforcement, and eduators. I asked Sidney to join me. When the attendants found out that Sid was a world class boxer he became an instant star. The staff would come and get my car and give Sid special treatment.

Our relationship became stronger and took walks down the beachessd in Point Pleasant Beach and Manasquan. Sidney was very witty. He would make a joke and see if I could the punch line. He caught me many times, not getting it.

Sidney got to know all of our children and family. He attended social functions and my daughter's wedding. He was the best dressed man at the event. Sidney lived to be 96 and died in 1998. It was a terrible loss for the community but especially for my family and me. I will always remember Sidney Maxwell. God gave me a special friend and confidante.