Theodore J. Hutler, Jr.

WARDEN (Ret) THEODORE J. HUTLER Jr., of Forked River, New Jersey and Sanibel Island, Florida died April 11th at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Mr. Hutler was in charge of Ocean County’s Correctional facilities for over 34 years and is the longest serving Jail Warden in NJ history. Prior to retiring to become the Master Keeper of the Keys of the Paradise Island Jail, he served for 32 years as the Warden of the Ocean County Jail, and two years as the Director of the County’s Juvenile Detention Center & Children’s Shelter. Ted began his 42 year Criminal Justice career as a police officer with the Lacey Township, NJ Police Department. He has also served as Ocean County’s Criminal Justice Planning Director and as an Undersheriff with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. The Warden presented programs at National, State and Local Corrections and Police training sessions.

Warden Hutler is a former Executive Board member of the New Jersey County Jail Wardens’ Association and has twice served as its President. He was a leader in getting legislation passed that mandated Corrections Officers be trained & certified by the New Jersey Police Training Commission. His past professional affiliations include serving as a member and past Chairman of the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts County Corrections Information System (CCIS) Policy Board, as a member of the New Jersey Parole Advisory Board and as a member of the Governor’s Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Advisory Council. He is a graduate of NJ State Police Municipal Class #138, New Jersey Corrections Officers Training Academy Class #V1, FBI National Academy Class #147, the National Sheriff's Institute Class #U-10 and the National Institute of Correction's Executive Excellence Program Class #4. Mr. Hutler earned his Bachelor's Degree at Moravian College and his Master's Degree at Rider University. He also received graduate certificates from the University of Virginia and Fairleigh Dickinson University.

As the head of the Ocean County Department of Corrections and its 250 Sworn Officers and professional staff, Warden Hutler was responsible for over 700 inmates housed in the County Correctional Facility and participating in the Inmate Community Work Program.

The Hutler family owned the Forked River Freezer, established in 1952. Ted graduated Central Regional High School in 1967, and is a member of the Central Football Hall of Fame. Throughout the years, Mr. Hutler was involved in numerous civic and political organizations. He was one of the founders of Lacey Pop Warner in 1976, and a charter member of the Lacey Elks. He was a member of the Lacey Township Republican Club, the Moose Lodge, Lacey Township Municipal Utilities Authority, was on Lacey’s first Beach Patrol, and played on the Lacey Men’s Softball league. In addition, he served twice of the Mayor of Lacey Township and was the first warden of Ocean County Department of Corrections and the longest serving Warden in the state of NJ.

He is predeceased by his parents, Theodore Hutler Sr. and Julia (Novak), his brother Stephen, and his mother in-law Catherine Koerner.

Ted is survived by the love of his life for over 55 years Susan Hutler (Wight), his three children: Jennifer U’Selis (Stephen), Becky Melanson (Robert Roma), and Theodore Hutler III (Kimberlee). His grandchildren Bryce, Brynne, and Brielle U’Selis, Payton Melanson, and Theodore Hutler IV. His sister in-law Elizabeth Hutler, his nieces Tara Katsianis and Rachael Tretola, his nephew Stephen Hutler, many extended family members and friends, and his faithful companion “Sheriff.”

lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to the New Jersey County Jail Wardens Association, P.O. Box 689, Woodbury, NJ 08096.

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