John A. Haas Jr.

John A. Haas, Jr., 66, passed away Saturday with his loving family at his bedside. He grew up in Carteret spending his summers in Seaside Park, where he made his home more than 40 years ago. A graduate of Monmouth University and Rowan University’s graduate program in environmental education, he was retired from his position as District Recycling Coordinator with the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management.

In 2005, the Solid Waste Management Association of North America recognized Ocean County for having the best recycling program in North America. He served on the Board of Directors of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers and taught courses at Rutgers University for municipal recycling coordinators.

Representing Ocean County on the NJ Pinelands Commission since December 2005, Haas was vice chair. He also served on the Borough Council, Board of Education and Planning Board in Seaside Park and on the Council of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Toms River.

In 2008 Haas was inducted into the Monmouth University Sports Hall of Fame. He tallied 1,470 career points and 1,560 career rebounds during his tenure with the Hawks. He registered the second highest field goal percentage in the nation (71.1%), which is still a Monmouth record.

An avid outdoorsman he loved fishing, especially fly fishing, and sailing on Barnegat Bay. He was a former commodore of the Seaside Park Yacht Club and a member of the Lake Solitude Fishing Club. He enjoyed skiing and cycling with his wife through wine country on the West Coast and Europe.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Deborah Coombe. He was the loving father of two daughters, Emily of New York City and Elizabeth and her husband Eric Mattern of Woodbury, CT. He also survived by two brothers, William of Monmouth Beach and Richard of Seaside Park, and two nephews, Andrew and Douglas.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2013 at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St., Toms River. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 7 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1500 Hooper Ave., Toms River.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia or the Seaside Park Yacht Club Memorial Endowment Fund, PO Box 428, Seaside Park, NJ 08752. Condolences may be made by visiting www.andersonandcampbell.com.