John Spodofora has been telling people for many years that he is the “Jon” in RonJon Surf shops.  He told the Press of Atlantic City newspaper this in 2010:  DiMenna and his next-door neighbor, John Spodofora, who is now a Stafford Township committeeman, opened Ron Jon Surf Shop in Ship Bottom in 1961.   The question remains, is there any truth to this story?

 

      From the RonJon website:  Ron Jon Surf Shop was founded in 1959 on the New Jersey shore when a bright young man named Ron DiMenna was just discovering the sport of surfing with fiberglass surfboards. His pastime soon became a passion and homemade surfboards would no longer do. When his father heard that Ron wanted his own custom surfboard from California, he suggested, "Buy three, sell two at a profit, then yours will be free." Dad was right, and Ron Jon Surf Shop was born.  "The Original" Ron Jon Surf Shop opened in Long Beach Island, New Jersey in 1961
Keep in mind that John Spodofora was 13 years old in 1959 and 15 in 1961.

 

       In a NY Times article from 1999 Ron DiMenna (Founder and CEO of RonJon Inc.)  is quoted:  ''I asked him to come into business with me, but his father said, 'No Way.' Must have thought I was a bad influence at the time.''  Mr. Spodofora does not regret the business decision.
So what can be gleaned from this is Ron DiMenna and John Spodofora knew one another.   Ron DiMenna offered Spodofora a job but Spodofora’s father  would not allow it. In other words he was NOT in business with Ron DiMenna.. 

 

       The following are direct inquiries to RonJon Inc. and the ensuing replies:

 

Question:    Everyone knows that Ron Dimenna is the "Ron" in RonJon.  Who is the "Jon"?
Answer:      Thank you for your email. Regarding your question. There is no Jon in regards to the name of Ron Jon Surf Shop. It was a name that Ron DiMenna picked for the name of his company.

 

Question:     Hello,  I am of the understanding that Stafford Mayor John Spodofora is/was the "Jon" in RonJon?  I have heard this from several people that he has claimed this and given his track record I wanted to find out if this was true.
Answer:    We have no records of an official association between Mr. Spodofora and Ron Jon Surf Shop. We suggest you contact him directly regarding this matter and any other in question.

 

Jacquie Youngs
Corporate Administrator
Director, Intellectual Property
Ron Jon Surf Shop
jacquiey@rjss.com
321-799-8866
321-799-8874 fax
www.ronjons.com

 

    In conclusion we have the words of Ron DiMenna himself and   correspondence from corporate with the official record of  the TRUTH behind RonJon Surf Shops.  John Spodofora is clearly not the “Jon” in RonJon. 

 

Like they say on Myth Busters…  consider this one BUSTED !