Raymond A. Hayser

Honorable Raymond A. Hayser, J.T.C. (Ret.), 77, of Shark River Hills, NJ entered into eternal rest on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Judge Hayser served in the Superior Court (Monmouth and Mercer Counties) and the Tax Court of New Jersey, having been appointed as a judge in 1993, and having served in the capacity for nearly eighteen years. Upon his retirement, he returned to his law firm Ansell, Grimm & Arron, in the position as "Of Counsel." The author of numerous reported court opinions and a frequent legal education panelist and lecturer, Judge Hayser previously served in a variety of public positions, including first assistant and acting corporation counsel of the City of Jersey City, the first director of law of the Township of Dover (Toms River) and municipal attorney for the Borough of Belmar, Township of Howell, Borough of Sayreville, Township of Colts Neck and Borough of Englishtown, as well as Board Attorney and Special Counsel for numerous municipalities in Monmouth County. As corporation counsel of Jersey City, he negotiated on behalf of the city its first waterfront development contract, and as a municipal attorney drafted New Jersey's first mobile park rent stabilization ordinance and numerous ordinance initiatives in such areas as environmental protection, zoning, and land use. As a judge, he particularly enjoyed working on children's issues, such as in the "Children in Court" project. He previously served on the Board of Trustees of St. Peter's College Alumni Association, from which college he graduated in 1967 with a Magna Cum Laude Degree in Political Science and Government, served as the first Chief Justice of the Student Judicial Council and was the first recipient of the Commencement John F. Kennedy Award for Leadership and Academic Excellence, presented to him by R. Sargent Shriver. Judge Hayser also served on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of the United States and Archdiocese of Newark, and for his service was the recipient of the National Honor, Eagle of the Cross. He was past chairman of the Archdiocese of Newark and Hudson County Council of Catholic Young Adults. He was an honors graduate of Marist High School, Bayonne, NJ, where he was the recipient of the National Elks Youth Leadership Award and served as a student Mayor of Bayonne. He also served as Youth Chairman of Bayonne's New Jersey Tercentenary and Conference of Christian and Jews Committees.
Judge Hayser was the loving son of the late Francis and Rita Lorraine Hayser (Hayzer). He is survived by his brother Frank Hayser, niece Elizabeth Cicchino, his two nephews, Michael Hayser and Dr. John Hayser and their spouses, as well as six grandnieces. He was also the "Patriarch" of a larger "Family" of eighteen law clerks, their spouse and significant others, as well as their children who knew him as "Uncle Ray-Ray," as well as many long-term friends, associates and their families.
Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Thursday, February 16, 2023 and Friday, February 17, 2023 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at Orender Family Home for Funerals, 2643 Old Bridge Road, Manasquan, NJ 08736. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Saturday, February 18, 2023 at St Denis Church, 90 Union Avenue, Manasquan, NJ. Entombment to follow Mass at St Catharine Mausoleum, 1100 W. Chicago Blvd Sea Girt, NJ. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.