OCEAN COUNTY – For decades, Normandy Beach resident Albert “Al” Della Fave directed press conferences for three separate law enforcement agencies: the New Jersey State Police, NY/NJ Port Authority Police, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office.
By the time Al Della Fave retired from the state police in 2009, he had risen to the rank of major and was the Commander of the Regional Operations Intelligence Center Task Force.
He hasn’t exactly left center stage – but now commands it in a much different way. Della Fave has switched from giving news updates to holding people’s attention during travel excursions as a trip escort.
As Al Della Fave recounted the origins of his encore career, his smile grew wide. The journey began in 2009 when Al and his wife, Diane, decided to celebrate her parents’ anniversary by taking them on a bus trip to Atlantic City. The plan was to see a Frank Sinatra impersonator, a perfect choice since both he and Diane’s family hailed from Hoboken, just like the legendary singer.
After the concert, the couple let the other passengers get settled before they boarded themselves. It was then that Al noticed a microphone. He grabbed the mike without a second thought and began serenading the group with a Frank Sinatra favorite, “The Way You Look Tonight.”
“When I got done, everybody started clapping and going crazy,” said Al. “Bill Miranda, who owned that bus company, then came up to me with a very stern face and said he needed to talk to me when we get back to Toms River.”
Al felt sure he was in trouble and said Diane wasn’t exactly pleased that he couldn’t be just an ordinary passenger. She worried they’d be banned from future bus trips.
However, what followed was entirely unexpected. Rather than admonishing him, Miranda offered Al a job as a trip escort, intrigued by his ability to engage and entertain passengers. The role ultimately involved ensuring the smooth operation of trips, from guiding guests to managing logistics, all while keeping the experience enjoyable and secure.
The retired cop chuckled as he remembered his initial uncertainty. Nevertheless, he accepted the offer, embarking on a three-day journey to Washington, D.C., with Diane by his side.
“On the first day that we arrived in D.C., a gentleman looking up at the Capitol dome missed the curb and fell down,” Al Della Fave shared. “He broke his hip.”
Al Della Fave has been like a guardian angel for people on trips. (Photo courtesy Al Della Fave)
Al said his state police training kicked in, and he began stabilizing the passenger and arranging for help. After finishing the day’s activities, Al found transportation to the hospital’s emergency room to assess the injured person’s condition. He reached out to the individual’s son, who promptly traveled from New Jersey to assume responsibility.
From his perspective, Al sees himself as a guardian angel for the people he leads on various trips. One of Al’s favorite photographs was taken in front of a display in Portland, Maine, featuring massive angel wings, which Al feels captures his mission perfectly.
He lives by what he refers to as the “Outfit” creed shared by the late Col. Clinton L. Pagano, 9th Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. That is, “A Trooper’s stock and trade is in their ability to protect themselves and others.”
Sometimes, the job goes beyond entertaining the passengers with songs and stories.
“I’ll see a group that gets off the bus, and they’re uncertain what to do from there,” Al shared. “The other ones who are explorers will just take off and go their own way. I’m there for both sets of people.”
Al’s role as a guardian angel and his dedication to his trooper motto and training often come into play – sometimes unexpectedly.
“We were out on a bus trip in Branson when a woman called me on my cellphone at midnight,” said Al. “She said she felt like she was having a heart attack. I ran down to her room and got her to the hospital within thirty minutes. A month later, she was back on another trip with us.”
For more than ten years, Al has escorted countless trips within the United States and other countries. His genuine dedication to his passengers’ well-being and his natural ability to entertain and uplift has earned him a reputation as a standout bus escort.
Following his first gig working as a tour escort, Al moved on to teaming up with Gary Cohen of Fun on Wheels in 2017. Business was great until COVID came, and a lot of people backed off on bus excursions because of the virus.
As things began to reopen, more people felt at ease signing up for guided tours, especially those from senior communities who continue to make up a significant portion of Fun on Wheels’ clientele.
Many specifically ask for Al as their escort due to his charismatic personality and ability to make them feel comfortable.
While Al feels honored when people personally request him, he’s also quick to highlight the tour company’s other fantastic guides. Among them is his wife, Diane, who joined the team after her retirement as a teacher.
Al’s leadership tendencies often take over when he’s on a trip. He recalled an instance during an excursion to Rome when his job was to get guests through the airport in Italy. Another tour company was scheduled to take over from there.
“We got there early, and instead of giving the group a little tour since we had some time before checking into the hotel, the Italian tour guide dropped them off in the lobby at 10 o’clock in the morning,” Al said. “We couldn’t check in until two, and all the people were just standing around. He left them like that.”
The scene didn’t sit well with Al, who gathered everyone around and decided to use the time to explore the outskirts of Rome. Al said the group followed him like little ducklings, and he later discreetly pulled the other tour guide aside.
“I told him what he did wasn’t right and that he was the guide for the duration of the trip,” shared Al. “He listened and fell in line and did a good job from that day forward.”
Al’s ability to take charge comes as no surprise. Aged 68, he became a trooper and academy instructor for the New Jersey State Police in 1985. After that, he spent fifteen years as the Director of Communications for the same law enforcement agency before becoming a major.
In 2020, Al Della Fave was honored as the Former Trooper of the Year.
Ultimately, Al’s positive reputation led him to his roles within the Port Authority and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office. He recalled how he first came to work with former Prosecutor Joe Coronado.
“A four-year-old shot a six-year-old,” Al explained. “Joe Coronato was only on the job a month. I didn’t know him, but he was friendly with Lt. Col. Frank Rodgers, whom I worked very closely with at the state police.”
Rodgers recommended that Coronato call Al to do a press conference to address the media. That single event resulted in Al Della Fave becoming the voice of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office for five years.
“I figured I was doing a favor when I helped out and was glad to do it,” said Al. “I was surprised when Frank Rodgers called me and said the prosecutor wanted me as his press officer.”
Al said he got a good feeling from Coronato during that first meeting and stayed with him throughout his tenure as prosecutor.
Fast forward to today. What started as impromptu singing has blossomed into a heartwarming tale of a retired law enforcement officer finding purpose, joy, and connection on the open road.
For information on upcoming trips, click here.
The post Tour De Force: From Cop To Tour Escort appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
