In Memoriam: Former Longtime Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye, 82

Former longtime Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 22, surrounded by his loving family. He was 82.

“Throughout his life, John Kaye was many things. Not only was he a respected attorney and prosecutor, he was a revered patriarch, a farm hand, an outdoorsman, a fisherman, a world traveler, and an artist. But above all else, he was a man who lived his life with curiosity, humor, generosity, and an appreciation for the people and places he loved.

“John had a wanderlust that took him across the globe. He experienced far-off destinations throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. He walked the Great Wall of China, stood in awe in Red Square, and explored countless places in the U.S., including fishing trips to Montana, Key West and the Adirondacks. Yet, despite all of those adventures and experiences, Freehold always remained at the center of his heart.

“John’s travels were not limited to the places he visited. As a voracious reader and devoted student of history, he traveled through books as well. He had a particular fascination with U.S. history, the Revolutionary War and the battles fought right here in New Jersey.

Being both well-traveled and well-read made John a wonderful companion. He was quick with a joke, a witty historical reference, or a funny story. With his charm and easy smile, he could strike up a conversation with anyone. Whether meeting a stranger or spending time with old friends, John had a unique gift for finding common ground and making a genuine connection. Those stories became especially meaningful around the family dinner table. Holidays with John were filled with laughter, memories, and tall tales gathered from a lifetime of adventures. He loved sharing his experiences with his family, and in doing so, he brought the world a little closer to all of us.”
Loved ones of John Kaye in his obituary

More about John Kaye from his obituary …

John was born in September 1943 and raised in Freehold, a community that remained close to his heart throughout his life. With his four brothers, he worked on farms owned by family members for multiple generations located near Lamb Lane, Sweetmans Lane and Gully Road.

The brothers slept in bunk beds and shared a bureau where each was assigned a single drawer for their belongings. He graduated from Trenton Catholic High School, University of Scranton and Dickenson School of Law. He married his beloved wife, Perpetua “Pepper” Kaye, in 1967, and together they built a beautiful family and shared many wonderful years.

John had a remarkable legal career. After graduating from law school in 1968, he clerked for the Honorable Elvin R. Simmill, A.J.S.C. The following year he joined the Freehold law firm of Krusen, Dawes & Murphy; and, in 1971, John opened his own firm, Kaye Davison, which soon became Kaye, Davison & Muñoz.

“In December of 1983, John was sworn in as the 26th Monmouth County Prosecutor and went on to be one of the longest serving county prosecutors in the history of the state of New Jersey, which is one of his greatest accomplishments.

“John was revered by the men and women of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office who knew him to be a loyal, generous, honest, and fearless leader who was at the forefront of innovative prosecution both at home and abroad.”

During his over 22 years of dedication to a career in law and public service as the Monmouth County Prosecutor, John had many accomplishments, including: establishment of the Monmouth County Task Force on Child Abuse and being instrumental in the creation of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center; implementation the Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) approach to drug crime investigation; creation of a Bias Crimes Unit to prosecute hate crimes, which was complemented by the creation of the Monmouth County Human Relations Commission; hosting of the first S.A.N.E. (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) pilot program in the state to assist sexual assault victims; launching of the Computer Crimes Unit; establishment of the MCPO Asbury Park Satellite Office; creation of the Professional Responsibility Unit to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by law enforcement officers and public officials; initiation of the Task Force on Drunk Driving; formation of the Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (S.C.A.R.T.); and organization of the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (M.O.C.E.R.T.).

John was also a leader in law enforcement among his peers nationally and internationally.

He was a past president of the National District Attorneys Association (1996-1997), the professional association of America’s Prosecutors and also served on the board of directors of the American Prosecutors Research Institute.

Internationally, John represented the United States as an executive board member of the International Association of Prosecutors from 1997-2005.

Locally, John was a member of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey, the Monmouth County Police Chief’s Association and was a past president, past executive director and current secretary of the 200 Club of Monmouth County, a non-profit providing financial aid within 24 hours to families of first responders seriously disabled in the line of duty.

After leaving office in 2005, John joined the firm of Lomurro, Davison, Eastman and Muñoz, in Freehold, specializing in victim’s rights, later becoming “of counsel” to the firm of Lomurro Law until his retirement from practice.

In his retirement and free time, “John also found great joy in the outdoors. He was an avid fly fisherman who tied his own flies and fished in freshwater streams and saltwater shores around the world. He holds four world records with the International Game and Fish Association, one for catching a 107 lbs. blue shark with a fly rod off of Barnegat.

“He understood and appreciated nature in ways that few people can. He could identify nearly any tree, plant, or bird native to New Jersey, and his knowledge reflected a lifetime of paying attention to the beauty around him.

“His appreciation for nature and the outdoors eventually found an outlet through art. As a self-taught painter, John transformed his experiences and observations into remarkable works of art. His paintings captured wildlife, landscapes, boats, fish, birds, and nostalgic scenes of little pockets of the timeworn Jersey Shore. Painting became much more than a hobby. It was his way of recording the nature he experienced, preserving the outdoors that he loved, and sharing his perspective with others. His talent was evident and well-received in one-man art exhibits, and his works now hang in many private collections, continuing to bring joy and reflection to those who experience it.”

Lastly, John was a fighter, surviving prostate cancer and colon cancer until finally succumbing to liver and pancreatic cancer. In the end, John passed away peacefully at the home he cherished in Freehold, surrounded by those he loved most. It was a fitting final chapter for a man whose life was so deeply rooted in family, friendship, and home.

John was predeceased by: his parents, Rose and John Kaye.

He is survived by: his beloved wife, Pepper Kaye; his two daughters and their spouses, Lisa and Keith Buttafuoco and Roxanne and Stan Paylago; his son and his partner, John and Jen Kaye; his four brothers, Steven, Bill, Jerry, and David Kaye; and his beloved grandchildren, Daniel Buttafuoco, and Grant, Eve and Cooper Paylago.

Family and friends are invited to attend his visitation on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Freeman Funeral Home, 47 East Main St., Freehold. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated on Monday, Aug. 31, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold. Burial of cremains will be held at a later date at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society and the 200 Club of Monmouth County.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Freeman Funeral Home