Planned statue means 'Wildwood Days' will live on for 60s teen icon

WILDWOOD - Bobby Rydell is coming home for good.

The nonprofit Bobby Rydell Foundation is raising money for a memorial statue as a tribute to the famed singer and actor, and a final resting place for his cremated ashes.

Rydell cemented his connection to Wildwood with one of his 34 hit songs, "Wildwood Days." Released in 1963, it reached 17 on the Billboard charts.

The famous singer's two top hits were "Wild One" and "Volare," both released as singles in 1960.

Rydell starred in the movie, "Bye Bye Birdie" in 1964 with actor and dancer Ann-Margret. His icon status was memorialized in the movie, "Grease" with the film's fictional Rydell High School named for him.

Rydell, of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, was 79 when he contracted pneumonia and died April 5, 2022, from complications in Abington Jefferson Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Born Robert Louis Ridarelli in South Philadelphia in 1942, he was a military veteran who performed in USO tours for troops in Vietnam and was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

How much will the Bobby Rydell statue cost?

Rydell foundation spokesman Thomas Corniglio recently announced the first fundraising goal of $20,000 had been reached, allowing the preliminary process for statue planning to begin.

The total cost is projected at $185,000. Other foundation plans include scholarships and support for The Gift of Life in Philadelphia to promote organ donation awareness.

“This is much more than just building a statue. We are looking to preserve Bobby's music while also funding education programs to allow the next generation of talented musicians to succeed," explained Coniglio, a 26-year-old singer better known as Tommy C.

In 2021, Coniglio made joint recordings with Rydell of "Sway" and "Wild One."

“Bobby was such an icon to the Wildwoods and he performed many times on the island,” said Coniglio. “The Foundation can think of no better place for this statue."

Bobby Rydell's widow heads the foundation

The foundation has finalized its board of directors members with Rydell’s widow, Linda Hoffman, serving as president, and has hired Philadelphia sculptor Zenos Frudakis to create the bronze statue.

Joseph Montello, the owner of Joey M's nightclub in Wildwood and an entertainment promoter and longtime Rydell friend, is the foundation vice president.

"It was Bobby's wish that his ashes be sprinkled in Wildwood," Hoffman, Rydell's second wife, said in a phone interview.

Instead of sprinkling them, however, she said his ashes will be permanently enshrined in a heart inside the statue's chest.

Possible sites for his statue are Fox Park on Ocean Avenue a few blocks from the Wildwood Boardwalk or a site close to the city convention center, according to Hoffman. The park has a scale model of the Vietnam Wall and is adjacent to the Doo-Wop Museum.

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"Wildwood Days" put Wildwood on the national map and blares over Boardwalk loudspeakers during summer tourist seasons. Rydell was introduced to the shore resort as a child, staying during summers at his grandmother's boarding house long before he broke into music and appeared on "American Bandstand. "

Rydell continued to tour and perform until his death.

For more information or to make donations to the project or buy limited, autographed merchandise to support it, visit https://www.bobbyrydell.com/br-foundation/and thevoiceoftribute.com.

Carol Comegno loves telling stories about South Jersey life, history and military veterans for the Courier Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Have a story to share? Call her at 856-486-2473 or email  ccomegno@gannettnj.com and support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Wildwood statue will honor 60s teen icon Bobby Rydell