Wayne Mowry

Wayne Mowry, age 70, of Morris plains , NJ passed away unexpectedly on Friday August 12, 2022.

Wayne was born in Woonsocket, RI and was one of two sons, to Mason and Cecelia Mowry.  Wayne’s family moved from Woonsocket to Boynton Beach, FL when he was a young boy.  At the age of only fourteen, Wayne’s father, Mason, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.  Wayne’s mom Cecelia later remarried a man by the name of Dick Dunphy who had four children of his own.  After getting married the family moved to Teaneck, NJ together.  While living in Teaneck, Wayne attended Teaneck High School and graduated with the class of 1970.  

Following his high school graduation, Wayne attended CW Post College, now known as LIU Post University in Long Island, NY.  There, Wayne studied business and earned his bachelor’s degree in business.  After receiving his degree, Wayne found employment quickly and went to work for his stepfather Dick Dunphy at his company “Dick Dunphy Advertising.”  Wayne worked alongside his stepfather for more than twenty years.  Wayne later worked for Verizon for a few years then in 2005 he took the opportunity to start his own advertising/marketing business, “Mowry’s Promotions.”  One of his largest and most loyal accounts was the New York City Port Authority.  Wayne worked closely with the NY Port Authority by way of advertising and marketing throughout the years following the events of September 11.  Wayne owned and operated Mowry’s Promotions for the last seventeen years until his passing.  

In the late 1970's, Wayne was introduced by some mutual friends to an attractive young lady by the name of Ute Neumann.  The two went out on a blind date and hit it off great.  A couple of years later they became husband and wife on September 20, 1980.  The newlyweds first settled in Garfield then moved to Lincoln Park, NJ.  Wayne and Ute spent the next thirty years calling Lincoln Park their home and raising their two daughters, Kenna, and Kara.  Wayne was a truly devoted father and grandfather.  He was not only devoted to his family but was also dedicated to his Catholic Faith.  He was an active member and a Eucharistic Minister for St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lincoln Park for many years.

One of the favorite past times of Wayne’s life was surfing.  Wayne’s love for surfing prompted him to purchase property with his brother David in Mexico where he would vacation with his children and surf.  Wayne is a legend at the ranch and Saladitia  where everyone knows him for his neon green surf shorts! And even has one of his old surf boards on display in the Florida Surf Museum!

His surf vacations also led him to Puerto Rico, Florida, and other exotic locations.  Travel was also something that Wayne and his family treasured doing together.  Wayne and his family have traveled to a variety of destinations around the world including Europe, Florida, Canada, and other destinations throughout the Western United States.  Wayne had a highly anticipated vacation planned with his family to Budapest and Prague, that had been postponed numerous times due to Covid. Wayne’s business allotted vacation time every year during the holiday season.  Throughout the years his family would often wake up early on Christmas morning, open their gifts, then rush out the door to catch a plane for their vacation.  Aside from travel and surfing, Wayne treasured golfing, painting, and felt right at home in the kitchen after taking cooking classes in the city, cast iron bread was his specialty.

Wayne was a reserved and quiet man who definitely “marched to the beat of his own drum.”  He had an offbeat sense of humor and was not concerned with what others thought of him.  Wayne loved to push the envelope and believed “rules were meant to be broken, not followed”. To know Wayne was truly to love him.  He was kind, gentle, generous, and had the biggest heart. He truly treasured spending time with family and friends. Wayne was spontaneous and adventurous, he would never turn down an invitation; however usually showed up at his own leisure, always with a smile on his face.  Aside from all of Wayne’s hobbies, talents, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Wayne than spending time with his children and grandchildren.  Wayne was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be truly missed by everyone that knew him.  

Wayne is survived by his two daughters; Kenna Petruska and her husband Eric of Pompton Lakes, and Kara Gilchrist and her husband Steven of Somerville, NJ, one brother David Mowry and his wife Anne of Houston, TX, two grandchildren; Penelope Petruska and Peyton Petruska, and two twin grandchildren on the way.  He is also survived by two stepbrothers Richard Dunphy, and Paul Dunphy, one stepsister Irene Dunphy, his former wife Ute Mowry, and his loyal service dog and best friend Bretagne.

In lieu of flowers the family kindly asks that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association in his honor.  American Diabetes Association. PO Box 15829, Arlington, VA 22215,http://www.diabetes.org