Custer’s Next Stand: Sea Isle’s Go-To Person in City Hall Plans Active Retirement

Custer with Mayor Lenny Desiderio and City Council President Mary Tighe at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Community Center in May 2024.......

and with coworkers in the Tourism and Recreation offices (in the Department of Community Services) touring the future Community Center in July 2025.

It’s time for Katherine Custer to take a bow. And a breath.

Well-earned retirement came May 1 for Sea Isle City’s effervescent director of community services and public information officer, who authored an inspiring work ethic.

For the last 50 years, ever since taking a babysitting job in May of 1976, Custer was either employed or in school.

And for the last 20, Kathy honored the public-relations blueprint of facilitating others on behalf of Sea Isle City. She spotlighted local newsmakers, ensured they come off well in public, and avoided credit for the success she’d helped orchestrate. That’s the job.

Although high-profile officials are pictured at big events, whether that’s Mayor Leonard Desiderio, a member of city government or a local organization, it was Custer shooting those pictures. She was the person pitching story ideas to the media, handling information requests, and having the ear of top officials.

It is fitting, therefore, that Custer did not regard herself as a feature-story subject.

“I am deeply honored and humbled that you have selected me,” she says, “but I honestly don’t know who wants to read about me.”

Katherine Custer with her husband, Ron at the dedication Mass at St. Joseph Church.

More people than she may think. Even while steering attention away from herself, Custer was in the midst of significant, news-making developments here.

Custer performed effectively during Sea Isle City’s massive infrastructure growth, capped by its signature unveiling of the $22 million Community Center this spring. Along the way, she followed the blueprint prescribed by Irene Jameson, who recruited her in 2007.

“Doing public relations for the city means being involved in every city event,” Custer indicates. “You have to know what’s going on in your town, who the people are and what they are doing. It’s also important that you live here,” adds Custer, a Sea Isle City resident along with her husband Ron since 1993.

“Because this is a small community, people would get to know me and ask questions about other things here,” she continues. “People would come up to me at church, restaurants or the supermarket and have a question about the town.

“I also got calls that started with, ‘I don’t know who the person is that I should ask this question, but I’ll start with you.’”

Custer would lead them to the right department or answer the question herself.

Residents saw her closely involved with significant municipal building projects. That includes the Fishing Pier & Kayak Launch at Dealy Field, Sea Isle’s Dog Park and the multiyear process that produced the Community Center. She was a communications flashpoint for a project that spanned public meetings, votes, bids, construction, and the public opening.

Custer also contributed to developments like adding lights to the lawn at Excursion Park, purchasing signs for the town’s entrances and parks, helping to organize events, and working on Sea Isle’s Master Plan Reevaluation.

Because she worked closely with every department, Custer was the go-to source for Sea Isle City information.

“My job was hectic, but very rewarding. Between the PR work and being director, I wore a variety of different hats over the years, including city photographer, which I am probably best known for, because it’s difficult not to notice a 6-foot-tall woman who constantly has a camera around her neck,” she says with a laugh.

Custer also was a liaison to the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and other civic groups, coordinator for the fireworks shows each July Fourth and festivities on New Year’s Eve.

During her tenure, technology enhanced the means of informing the public.

Since 2010, Custer compiled the town’s excellent bi-weekly e-newsletters, which are sent to approximately 7,600 recipients. The newsletters contain an in-depth message from Desiderio, a rundown of project developments and an overall borough snapshot. Custer never missed a deadline in more than 15 years.

Outside the workplace, she’s been a board member at Volunteers in Medicine of South Jersey for more than 10 years. Also, she and her husband are Eucharistic Ministers at St. Joseph Church.

Katherine Custer (in front) with members of the SIC Chamber of Commerce & Revitalization following her final meeting as city liaison to the Chamber in early April 2026.

Katherine Custer, Sea Isle City’s longtime director of community services and public information officer, was recognized for her distinguished and long-term service during the April 28 City Council meeting. Mayor Leonard Desiderio and members of City Council presented Custer with a commemorative plaque, thanking her for her years of dedication and commitment to the community.

The free time Custer finally saw May 1 was a long time coming.

Kathy Custer was raised in Glenside, Pa., the youngest of eight children. Sadly, two of her sisters passed away in recent years. Her siblings remain her strongest allies.

Custer initially attended Widener University in Chester, Pa., as a nursing student. Two years in, she decided nursing was not for her (“partly because I didn’t want to accidentally kill someone – seriously”). Custer went to The Art Institute of Philadelphia and earned a degree in fashion merchandising.

She would become a visual merchandise manager for JCPenney in Audubon with duties that included hanging holiday decorations, dressing mannequins, and implementing the store’s merchandising plan. She was also part of JCP’s “advance team,” traveling to other regions/states to help set up new stores.

She transferred to the Mays Landing store before moving here with Ron.

When JCPenney downsized, Custer took a severance package and started a painting business called Wall Concepts. She painted murals and specialty finishes on home interiors.

In early 2007, she was approached by Jameson, who was retiring from her public-relations role for the city and seeking a replacement.

To test Custer’s writing skills, Jameson directed Custer to a freelance job at the Cape May County Herald, producing a weekly article about Sea Isle City. In the spring of 2007, Custer was hired as Jameson’s assistant. After Jameson retired later that year, Custer became Sea Isle’s public information assistant, and later its public information officer, a title she held until retirement. In 2012, shortly after Superstorm Sandy, Desiderio made her Sea Isle’s director of community services.

From all these directions, Custer became a natural borough ambassador.

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of Sea Isle City. I love this town and I have always said that it’s the people of Sea Isle City who make this community great,” she indicates. “Ron and I are blessed to be here and to belong to St. Joseph Catholic Church, where we have many friends and have been active members since we first arrived.”

Over the years, she has served on many parish committees, including Parish Council and the Building Committee. Custer also was involved with the construction of its new house of worship, which was completed in 2011, not to mention 25 years serving on the parish’s decorating committee.

Custer worked her entire city tenure for Desiderio and with business administrator George Savastano. She considers them the best bosses she’s ever had.

Desiderio echoed similar respect for her.

“Katherine is the best of the best,” Desiderio says. “She is a true professional who has represented our community in great fashion over the years. She never looked at the clock or worried about whether it was 4:30pm, 5:30pm, or 8:30 at night. She was always ready to represent Sea Isle City in a positive way. On weekends, she would always tell me she was available to cover an event in town and even if I said she didn’t have to, she would say, ‘I am available if you need me.’

“We are going to miss her, but we know she is going to be around Sea Isle City.”

Desiderio and Custer spoke daily, often several times. They met nearly every day. He considered her a confidential aide.

“It’s an honor to be her friend,” Desiderio adds. “Kathy took her job seriously and she is no nonsense. She also has a great sense of humor.”

True. Especially when it comes to recollections of “The Godfather” movie.

One of Custer’s retirement goals is to complete her goal of visiting all 50 states with Ron. They have tabbed 35 and can now plan at leisure. Also, she now is a contributing writer for Sea Isle Times. Her next era has already begun.

Custer can also reflect on a job well done. Given her professional history and a sense of helping, rather than controlling situations, Custer is not likely to seek any retirement spotlight. That’s why it’s important that one found her now.