By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor Blogfinger.net Re-post from 2020. Jack passed last week (Oct. 2025) , and we will miss him.
Many of you are familiar with Blogfinger’s “GIC”—Gadfly -In-Chief Jack Bredin. He has been in the thick of the struggle to bust illegal political activity in Neptune Township, especially as it pertains to the dreaded North End Redevelopment Plan.
Jack has had a large megaphone to make himself heard on Blogfinger. But he often attends Committee meetings at the Mother Ship where he speaks truth to power, and his truth is almost never acknowledged by our elected officials.
Jack addresses the Planning Board in Neptune . Paul Goldfinger photo. Click to enlarge
If you had been peeking through a keyhole at a Neptune Committee meeting, you would likely have seen Jack at the microphone. In this photo from a Planning Board meeting, Jack is wearing his Blogfinger T shirt. At BF he serves as reporter, researcher, friend, and opinion writer.
Some of you may not be aware that Jack has been sticking up for citizens in multiple places including many activist roles at his former home in Edgewater, NJ where he was standing up to developers who wanted to plant high rises on the edges of the Palisades, overlooking the Hudson.
Jean Bredin, Blogfinger reporter/photographer, knows Jack better than anyone, and this is what she shared with us today:
“If you think Jack is a fly-by-night protester, he is not. He has been diligently fighting corruption in land-use since 1977.
“This picture taken about 1980 was a protest against high rise buildings in Edgewater by the Hudson River. He protested the obvious illegal approvals of high density construction.
“His diligence sparked the interest of the FBI, which was able to investigate and phone tap the mayor who was taking bribes from developers. The Mayor spent one year in jail.
“Jack Bredin moved to Ocean Grove hoping to get a breather, but as long as the North End is in the picture, Jack’s eyes are peeled. “
Jack Bredin is also a well known artist, and his paintings are regularly premiered on Blogfinger.
Self portrait 2020.
2023 update: Jack has retired from his role as OG gadfly, but every once-in-a-while he erupts with a response to some issue which particularly sets his ire aflame. And when he does, he calls me at Blogfinger, and we consider his message, but we have to be careful not to burn our fingers.
THE CHIFFONS LOVE JACK:
BONUS MUSICAL TRIBUTE FOR JACK:
GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET. “Aren’t You Glad You’re You”. from The Story of Jazz.
Thank you Paul for your heartfelt tribute to Jack.
His retirement years were filled with going to Council Meetings,
(he never wanted to see high density development ruin the character of our town.)
And painting beautiful pictures of Ocean Grove.