Former Caldwell Auditor Dies at the Age of 59

A former Caldwell auditor for more than a decade died suddenly this week in his home on Long Beach Island.

John Ezyske, a partner with Livingston-based McEnerney, Brady & Co. LLC, who had been Caldwell's auditor until last December, died in his home in Harvey Cedars Monday. Ezyske, who suffered from throat cancer, was 59 years old.

Ezyske, who also had a Morris County home in Chester, is survived by his father Theodore, his wife of 33 years, Marianne, his children Casey and Kelly and her husband, Michael Roman.

Services will be held at William J. Leber Funeral Home (15 Furnace Road, Chester) on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass will be held Friday at St. Lawrence Church in Chester at 10:30 a.m., followed by burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

Ezyske, who played football at the University of Pittsburgh before earning a bachelor's degree in accounting from Monmouth University, was a practicing CPA and registered municipal accountant.

But some members of Caldwell's governing body had questioned Ezyske's accounting practices and his lack of cooperation after Nisivoccia & Co. LLP took over as the borough's new auditing firm this year.

Caldwell Mayor Susan Gartland said Tuesday the borough has been working with Francis McEnerney, the managing partner with Ezyske's firm, to recover the information needed by the municipality's new auditors.

Gartland said she didn't consider Ezyske to be a close friend, but felt the criticisms of him were not justified.

"I thought he was very competent, but it appeared his billing was not sufficient for the current majority on our council," Gartland said. "I found him to be responsive and cooperative, but I think other members of council blew everything out of proportion."

Council President Ann Dassing had only met Ezyske a few times, but always received positive feedback when she would speak of him to colleagues in his field.

"He was very respected in his field," Dassing said. "Whenever I mentioned his name to someone in his field, he was always looked upon highly."

Ezyske was most recently the auditor for Franklin Township in Somerset County. According to the town's Web site, Ezyske held the position from Oct. 27, 2009 to June 30, 2010. 

A message for Franklin Township Manager Kenneth Daly was not returned on Tuesday.

A message with Ezyske's firm was also not returned.

Gartland said that while all of Ezyske's work may not have been perfect, he served the borough well for about 12 years.

"There were some differences that were brought to our attention and he worked to correct them," Gartland said. "Does it mean everything he did was perfect? No, but I think he did a very good job."

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ezyske's memory are requested for the John Ezyske Scholarship Fund, c/o County College of Morris, 24 Center Grove Road, Randolph, N.J. 07869.

For Ezyske's full obituary, click here.