Brick Township, NJ - The Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee is proud to announce that we have chosen Stephanie Mongiello Wauters of Toms River to be Grand Marshal for the 33rd Annual Celebration. Each year the selection is difficult because there are several worthy individuals nominated and reviewed by the search committee. After carefully reviewing each of them, the search committee has chosen Stephanie Mongiello Wauters. This year’s Columbus Day Parade will be held on Sunday, October 13, 2024. The three-day Italian Festival begins on Friday, October 11, 2024. There are several fundraisers held through-out the year including our Annual Dinner Dance, where the Grand Marshal will be honored and two other individuals or groups will receive our Italian American Service Award. Receiving the Service Award this year will be The D’Onofrio Family and Anthony Scuorzo. That event will be held on Thursday, August 15th.

Stephanie Mongiello Wauters was born in Hoboken, NJ to Stephen and Lena (nee Pierro) Mongiello. She and her brothers Peter D. and Michael A. Mongiello J.M.C (Ret.) were all raised in Hoboken. Her grandparents immigrated to the United States around 1897 from the Italian Regions of Puglia and Campania, in the Provinces of Foggia and Avellino. Stephanie is married to John P. Wauters, a Toms River Certified Public Accountant. They are blessed with two sons and daughters-in-law. Additionally, they have four wonderful grandchildren.

Stephanie graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Hoboken. She continued her education and graduated from The College of Saint Elizabeth, Montclair State College and Rutgers-Camden School of Law. While raising her sons, she first taught biology at Toms River High School South; then attended law school; and clerked for the Ocean County Superior Court Judges. In 1998 she opened her law practice, after serving 10 years as a prosecutor in the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office where she specialized in Environmental and Interfering with Custody cases. During her last five years in the Prosecutor’s Office Stephanie also served on the Prosecutor’s Administration Team. In November of 2004 Stephanie Mongiello Wauters was nominated and confirmed as a Judge. Judge Wauters served as an Administrative Law Judge until July of 2009 when she was appointed as a Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey. She served in the Criminal and Family Courts in Ocean County until her retirement in 2015.

Judge Wauters served on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Women in the Courts and the Women’s Committee of the Ocean County Bar Association. Stephanie was the Co-Founder and President of Ocean County Citizens for Clean Water. She also served on the Advisory Board of Ocean County Catholic Charities and Providence House. Stephanie was honored by the Ocean County Soroptomists and other organizations for her professional, community and charitable work. In 1998 she received the Ocean County Observer’s "Pride in the Community" award.

"Stephanie stood out among this year’s nominees because of her commitment to her Italian Heritage and Culture" said screening committee member Pam Santamaria. "We are confident that this extraordinary individual will uphold the fine tradition established by her predecessors. We are looking forward to having Stephanie lead our Thirty-third annual celebration as Grand Marshal during this year’s celebration." Santamaria added.

Parade Chairman Michael Blandina noted that "over the years we have had several distinguished and highly respectred individuals serve as Grand Marshal. We believe that Stephanie Mongiello Wauters will continue serving with distinction and will make us proud of our Italian Heritage and Culture." Blandina added "We will also be presenting two individuals with our Italian American Service Award. The D’Onofrio Family has long roots in Ocean County and has made us proud to be Italian. Anthony Scuorzo is President of an Italian American Club and a tireless fighter for our Heritage and Culture. They will receive this very special award for their commitment to Italian American Heritage and Culture, as well as their continued support of the Annual Parade and Festival."

Please join us as we celebrate the 33rd Annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival and the past and future successes of the Committee on Thursday August 15, 2024. We will also celebrate Stephanie Mongiello Wauters selection as our 2024 Grand Marshal and recognize the other honorees at this Annual Dinner Dance. This special event will take place in the Atlantis Ballroom, located at the Days Hotel on Route 37 in Toms River, New Jersey beginning at 6:30 pm. To commemorate the Dinner Dance and the selection of Stephanie Mongiello Wauters as Grand Marshal as well as honor the D’Onofrio Family and Anthony Scuorzo we are looking for sponsors at the annual dinner dance and other events leading up to the parade. If you or your business, would like to show your support at the Dinner Dance as a Sponsor please call Michael at 732 477-6507. The deadline for Sponsorship is Thursday, August 1, 2024

Anyone interested in attending the dinner dance, sponsoring the event, joining the Parade Committee, or wanting any other information regarding this year’s Parade and Italian Festival and accompanying events may contact Michael at 732 477-6507 or e-mail the committee at info@columbusnj.org.