TOMS RIVER — John P. Wauters, a longtime certified public accountant, educator and community volunteer whose professional and civic work spanned decades in Ocean County, died Sept. 19. He was 82.
Downtown Toms River officials shared a notice remembering Wauters, who had been a fixture on Main Street for nearly five decades.
Born Aug. 15, 1944, in Jersey City to Antoinette and Felix Wauters, he grew up with his brother, Theodore. Wauters earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Pace University in New York City before eventually making Toms River his home in 1971.
Wauters initially taught accounting and taxation at Ocean County College for seven years. In 1979, he established his own accounting practice, John Wauters and Company, LLC, on Main Street in Toms River. The firm remained there for 47 years, serving clients who often developed lasting friendships with him.
His connection to Ocean County College also continued long after his initial teaching career. Wauters later returned as an adjunct professor, teaching evening courses for 18 years. In 2010, the college honored him as an outstanding faculty member.
Beyond his work as an accountant and educator, Wauters participated in numerous civic and charitable organizations throughout Ocean County.
His involvement included Outreach, Rotary, the Toms River Board of Adjustment and the Ocean County Democrats, where he served as finance chairman. He was also a founding member and treasurer of Ocean County Citizens for Clean Water, an organization involved in bringing public attention to pollution associated with the former Ciba-Geigy site.
Wauters also helped establish The House of Hope in Toms River and served as its treasurer.
He was married for 59 years to retired Superior Court Judge Stephanie Mongiello Wauters, whom he affectionately called “his bride.” The couple raised two sons, John Philip Jr. and David Stephen. During the years his wife attended law school, Wauters took a leading role in caring for their sons, according to his obituary.
Travel became an important part of the family’s life. Wauters and his wife visited destinations across the United States and Caribbean and traveled internationally to Europe, Polynesia, Antarctica, Africa and other parts of the world.
He also enjoyed golf and fishing and was remembered by former students for bringing humor into the classroom. His obituary noted some of his simpler favorites as well: blueberry crumb pie, mashed potatoes and No. 2 pencils.
Wauters is survived by his wife; sons; daughters-in-law Karen and Jennifer; grandchildren Ryan, Madeline, Alison and James; and members of the Mongiello family.
The family has requested that donations in Wauters’ memory be made to the Hope Center, 253 Chestnut St., Toms River, NJ 08753, in lieu of flowers.
Condolences may be submitted at ryanfuneralhome.com.
