LITTLE EGG HARBOR — Rodney R. Haines, the longtime Township Administrator and Municipal CFO for Little Egg Harbor Township, died Nov. 24 at his home in Tabernacle. He was 57.
Township officials announced his passing with “great sadness,” noting that Haines, who joined the municipal team in July 2018, was a dedicated public servant who “put his all into providing our community with the best leadership.” The township asked residents to keep his family and friends in their thoughts during the holiday season.
Born March 13, 1968, in Mt. Holly, Haines grew up in Tabernacle and graduated from Shawnee High School in 1986. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance from Drexel University in 1991 and later became a certified public accountant. He was also a member of the Registered Municipal Accountants Association.
Haines began his career with accountant Kevin Frenia, eventually becoming a partner in the firm, where he focused on municipal and nonprofit clients. He later transitioned fully into municipal government, holding positions in Tabernacle Township, Waretown and Little Egg Harbor.
Public service ran deep in the Haines family. Following the path of his father and brother, he was a lifelong member of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, beginning after high school and remaining active throughout his life.
Haines is survived by his wife, Shannon; their sons, Nathaniel and Maxwell; his parents, Ricky and Eileen; his brother, Mike, and sister-in-law, Eva; nephew Timothy and his wife, Devon, and their son, Greyson; and nieces Michelle and Angela. He was preceded in death by his grandparents.
An avid outdoorsman, Haines enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family at their Pennsylvania campground. He was a longtime member of Tabernacle United Methodist Church and a 30-year Mason, serving as Past Master of Central Lodge #44 in Vincentown. Friends recalled him as the “heart and head chef” of Sunday morning breakfasts at the shop, where neighbors gathered weekly.
He also invested decades in youth sports, serving as commissioner of the Tabernacle Athletic Association and coaching baseball. His work helped strengthen the organization and left a lasting impact on local families.
Officials said Haines will be remembered not only for the position he held, but for the person he was — “a steady presence, a mentor, and a good man.”
