John F Laezza Jr.

John F. Laezza, Jr., CPA, RMA
Township of Clark Business Administrator, 90 

John F. Laezza, Jr. of Cranford, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2021.

Friends and relatives are invited to attend the funeral Mass at 10:00 am on Thursday, May 27th at Saint Joseph the Carpenter Church in Roselle with internment to follow at Saint Gertrude Cemetery located in Colonia on Inman Avenue. Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 26th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at Higgins and Bonner on Springfield Avenue in Westfield.

John was pre-deceased by his Father, John F. Laezza, Sr. and mother Edith (nee Williams). 

John was the loving husband of Joan for 63 years, father of Edie Merkel (Jack), Maria Singer (Bill) and Joan Genova (Frank), grandfather of Katie Cannon (Patrick), Joy Merkel (Praveen Rajasekaran), John Merkel (Tabitha), Will Singer (Nadia), Robert Merkel (Erin O’Dowd), Vincent Genova and Mary Rose Genova, great-grandfather to Emily, Clara and Liam Cannon, Ellis Jonah Daniel, John Philip and Yael Fay Merkel.

John graduated from Rider College with a BS 1952, MA 1974, and IBM Schools 1955-1956. He served in the United States Army, SP3(T), in Europe from 1955-1957, and continued in the Army Reserves until 1963.

As per New Jersey Municipal Bond News, 1996: John F. Laezza, Jr. was perhaps the best known municipal accountant in the entire State of New Jersey. John was a certified public accountant, a registered municipal accountant and a public school accountant. His RMA certificate had the distinction of being numbered 1. John served as the Administrator/Clerk/Director of Finance for the Township of Cranford and held the title of Senior Advisor to the accounting firm of Hutchins, Laezza, Farrell and Allison. 

John came to statewide prominence in 1970 when he was named Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs under the administration of Republican Governor William T. Cahill. His service as Director spanned the years from 1970 to 1979, since he was continued in the post when Democratic Governor Brendan Byrne took office in 1974. Upon leaving public office, John became a partner in the accounting firm of Arthur Young & Co. (which later became Ernst & Young). He retired from that firm in 1990. Those who knew him know that John was not the “retiring” type. In 1990, he became managing partner in the accounting firm of Hutchins, Laezza, Farrell and Allison. In 1992, he went back into public service in Cranford as the Administrator. He served as Business Administrator for the Township of Clark from January 1, 2001 until his passing on May 22, 2021.

John always dedicated himself to the betterment of local, county, school districts, authorities and state government in the areas of fiscal integrity, accountability and education to improve the efficiency of governmental entities. He was responsible for the development and administration in New Jersey of the Federal Revenue Sharing Program, Community Development Block Grant Program, Safe and Clean Neighborhoods Program and the Qualified Bond Program.

During his time as a public servant and while in private practice, John was known for his wealth of knowledge and judgment. He was always direct and to the point. All local government officials relied on his advice and his word. He was one of the few people who stood out as having a positive impact on the fiscal policy of local governments in the State of New Jersey.

When asked to sum up his contributions over the years, John said “I always took hard line stands on fiscal issues to protect the financial integrity of local governments. I would like to be thought of as an individual who upgraded the municipal finance profession and helped establish high standards for municipal finance professionals to meet in the discharge of their duties.”

John had a passion for golf and enjoyed many years as a member and past president of Echo Lake Country Club.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Fresenius Medical Care Foundation, by visiting FMCNA.com/Foundation for information. Mail-in donations can be sent c/o Fresenius Medical Care Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 789236, Philadelphia, PA 19178-9236

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