Point Me in the Direction of West Orange NJ - A True Fan Attends David Cassidy Day and Visits David Cassidy Way: Photos and Videos

By Suzanne "Suzee" Ordas Curry

(Suzee is a movie producer, director and David Cassidy Super Fan)

I felt the sunlight on my face....

I’ve been to see David Cassidy several times in concert, never as a child or teen, only later in life. My first David Cassidy concert I believe was in Atlantic City. I’ve written about this concert so I remember it well; it was basically all moms at the concert having a night out from the kids. We were huddled near the stage, singing the songs, and groping his legs. (My husband has photographic evidence of me doing the latter.) The final time I saw him was at New Jersey Performing Arts Center which was not long before he passed in 2017.

Flash forward to 2025, and I read a notice in a hyperlocal online news media that stated that his hometown of West Orange, New Jersey was memorializing him with some special markers and events. There were two days of festivities scheduled.

West Orange was very proud to be hosting "David Cassidy Day." I learned that the idea for it and the events themselves were largely organized by two of his super fans,  Karen Raneri and Barb Schlamp Collentine. The mayor and the town of West Orange also put their hearts into this event.

While dreaming of David Cassidy as a young girl - I probably thought he lived in California. Now, I realize he was a Jersey boy and perhaps we passed each other at a rest top on the Parkway.

I’ve written about David Cassidy on this website in the past, he was my first crush and I can never forget that feeling. I couldn’t wait till Friday night when the Brady Bunch and the Partridge family came on ABC. I watched David Cassidy with the adoring eyes of a tween and a teenager. He was on a poster above my bed (sharing that one with the late great Bobby Sherman), on the other three walls, on the door to my room and on my ceiling.

I didn't really BUY the posters. I didn't have a lot of money so the posters were from Tiger Beat magazine. I would go to the local candy store (Cardie's in Lodi), look through the magazines to see if they had any articles on David Cassidy or a bonus, insert poster in the middle and buy that issue with the money I had saved from my lemonade stands or chores for my mom around the house.

I got the vibe that all of these people at his concerts were in love with him when they were young just like me, and that David Cassidy still had a very special place in their hearts. I was amongst my friends. I’ve watched a lot of music documentaries and the fans are always adoring for the people that they love. 

But I feel David Cassidy has a special place in fandom because even though his personality was not like what it was on the show we thought it was so we were falling for not just him, but his character, his songs and of course, his very cool, oh so blowing in the wind hair. This was decades before social media, so our view of him was shaped by the show and the made-for-teens interviews in the magazines.

DAVID TRIVIA! Did you know that his fan club was larger than any other artist or group, even bigger than Elvis and the Beatles?

It was a very hot summer morning but I woke up early to get to one of the first events - the marker dedication at the baseball field where he played Little League. I was a little late because I went to the wrong Colgate Field, but I didn't miss much. I got parking easily. There were probably close to 200 people there - more silver hair than I expected but that made sense. There were tents and chairs set up on the baseball diamond. The organizers and the town of West Orange provided water and did all they could to make the event run smoothly.

We heard speeches to start. David's daughter Katie Cassidy was very honored to be there. You might recognize her from Arrow, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Black Christmas and most recently A Christmas Crush on Hallmark. She's definitely following in her dad's steps as an actress. In her speech she said that it was "an overwhelming beautiful ceremony and experience." She said that "you are such dedicated fans and have touched our hearts in so many ways." She also added that "my father had a huge heart, and was such an incredible person..... he IS touched".

You can find the full speech here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bRcs3Vc5Nnk

Beau Cassidy, half-brother of Katie, also gave a speech, struggling through his tears. This talented singer, songwriter, actor and writer - is another child following in the footsteps of his dad, and there's quite a resemblance! He was next to speak and struggled through his tears when he spoke. He thanked the crowd and talked about his dad and their good times together. He stated, "There's something that everybody found in my father, and that's that childhood innocence and kindness, that people fell in love with." He also said, "one of the biggest things we had in common was that we love baseball, and he was my Little League coach, and that started here."

You can see the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zLjhI5jrvk8

Next Katie read a letter written by their Uncle Shawn Cassidy (another teen heartthrob for those a bit younger than me).

David Cassidy's beautiful kids. Beau has his smile - and his hair.

The marker was unveiled on the street and all the fans gathered around taking pics. Katie and Beau stood proudly by the marker. I could tell they were truly happy to be there, and seeing all the fans adored in or with David Cassidy and Partridge memorabilia touched their hearts. I had brought my Partridge Family lunch box and my "Shopping Bag". The lunch box didn't get used but the "Shopping Bag" did well holding some needed ice to cool down my phone. 

The next event was a walk up the street to the church that David sang at. The pastor gave a short sermon about David and our collective humanity.

After that, people were invited to walk the other way to his house - about a 5 block walk. The thing is, it was really, really hot with a heat index of over 100 degrees. I was shocked at the amount of people - including myself but I don't mind the heat - that took the long hot walk, pointed in the direction of 23 Elm Street. However, people were offering rides to each other even though they had never met them prior.

As I walked there, I imagined David making the same trek. It did not strike me that the neighborhood had changed that much as most of the homes were older. I also enjoyed meeting fellow fans on the way. I don't think there is a name for David Cassidy fans, it was not the thing to do back then, but there still COULD be a name for us. Partridgeheads? Cassfans? Not sure.....

I felt much joy standing under the additional street sign on Elm Street, now called "David Cassidy Way." Then I walked up to his house at 23 Elm and sat on his stoop. The mayor had told us how welcoming the current residents would be today, and how they were also accepting of fans that come their way.

Fans from North Carolina

Super fans from Great Britain

I met women from North Carolina that made the trip up and were attending all of the events. I also met a women that had travelled all the way across the pond from Great Britain. I did not know there was a fan club in Great Britain - you can check out their Facebook page.

I had a chance to talk to them and find out what brought them there, and a little bit about their own life journeys. (Article about them coming soon!).

There were other events, among them was a gala that night at the Highlawn and a bus tour the next day. 

Overall, I think I’m going to have to go start listening to some of his albums again to put me in that lovely. lovely preteen mood when the world was a fine happy place and David Cassidy made us happy. The Partridge family made us happy and we knew as a child we had all these wonderful things in life to look forward to. Love, happiness, family, the unknown. My life was a blank salte back then.

It was such a bittersweet time in life and I think that’s why the David Cassidy fans came out in droves not just because it was just a remembrance of him but also because it was a reminder of the innocence of their childhood, listening to his music, dancing to his music and watching him on The Partridge Family. Heck, as a kid I even "played" The Partridge family (no video games back then) - and we pretended we were them singing or acted out the shows.

I hope that his family realizes that to have made such an impression on so many people is a blessing a gift.

As the song says, "C'Mon get happy".  and - on David Cassidy Day - I truly was.