James W. Waitz

Jimmy “The Watch Man” Waitz has died.

James William Waitz died on Friday, April 19, 2024 of natural causes at the age of 71. He was born May 13, 1952 and was a lifelong resident of Burlington city and township. After graduating from Burlington Township High School in 1970  he began working in the family business, Waitz Jewelers, where he remained for over 50 years. 

Jimmy was apprenticed by his father and worked by his side for years. In 1982,  Jimmy took ownership and continued Waitz's longstanding tradition of service and professionalism. But this is where Jimmy’s similarity with other jewelers ended. He was notoriously generous with his time and efforts. Family and friends were never charged and others were barely billed the going rate. 

Jimmy never raised his prices nor did he ever take a vacation. He was the affordable, honest, skilled jeweler of peoples’ dreams and in the ensuing years his customers relied on him not only for his integrity but also for his bone-dry humor and honesty. If your watch battery wasn’t really dead, he wasn’t going to sell you a new one. And if you stayed for a chat, Jimmy was happy to fill you in on the gossip and give you a hefty dose of his own opinion. Many would say that if Jimmy were telling you a story you often had the suspicion you were being carefully reeled in by a master and could only wait helplessly to get snapped up by his droll wit at the finish.

In recent years, as many traditional watchmakers retired, Jimmy was a precious commodity. He would travel regularly to Jewelers’ Row in Philadelphia where he worked in the studios of other companies repairing new and old mechanical watches. As word of his skill grew, clients began sending repairs directly to Jimmy. 

Yet, Jimmy would say this obituary is starting with the dull stuff. He’d say it should start with fishing! Simply put, Jimmy lived to fish. Work was just something you did when you weren't going fishing. 

During the fishing season you could set your clock by Jimmy’s arrival at the shore of the Delaware River each morning and evening. Nothing could put a smile on that cigar-filled grin like a 44-inch striper. On Sundays (the one day of the week the store was closed) Jimmy would leave Burlington at 1 or 2 am, arrive at Belmar Marina at 3 am, climb onto Captain Cal’s boat for a nap, and by 7:30 am after the crew arrived, they would be pulling out of the marina. During these many trips friendships were forged that were to last a lifetime. 

Jimmy is preceded in death by his father James Waitz, his grandparents William and Bernice Waitz and Joseph and Louisa Boulton. He is survived by his mother Doris Waitz, his sisters Patricia Hucks (Timothy Hucks) and Judith Waitz (Peter Hsia), his nieces and nephews Benjamin Hucks (Danielle), Randall Hucks (Kathleen, children James and William),  Megan Norquest  (James, children Desmond and Ramona), Hetti and Lena Hsia, his ex-wife Carol Bernat and his longtime companion Jacqueline Fine, her sons Edward, and Timothy, and her grandchildren Jordan and Luke.

Join us in celebrating the rare and original Jimmy Waitz on Monday, April 29th at Page Funeral Home, 302 East Union Street in Burlington, NJ.  Visitation hours are 9:30 am  to 11 am followed by a service at 11 am.  Please bring stories for sharing.

In lieu of flowers,  please consider making a donation to Broad Street United Methodist Church (36 East Broad St. Burlington, NJ 08016) or street2streams, a fishing program for urban kids in Newark,NJ  (donations may be made on their website Streets2Streams, or you can send checks to Streets2Streams, 88 James Ave, Cranford NJ 07016).

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