David Stempien

David Stanley Stempien David Stempien, a decades-long resident of Bridgewater, NJ, passed away at his home on November 29, at the age of 67 years, following significant medical challenges that he had successfully navigated with strength and perseverance. Dave was born in Bridgewater and was educated within the local public school system. He graduated in 1972 from Bridgewater-Raritan High School-East, where he was a goalie on the soccer team. Dave received an Associate degree in Forestry from Paul Smith’s College of Arts and Sciences in 1978. Over the years, Dave worked or consulted for a number of NJ-based companies and was very experienced in road and new building construction, storm water management, project management, landscaping, and land surveying. Since 2018, Dave had been working for the Department of Engineering in Neptune Township, with responsibilities for projects involving road and land use improvements. Dave was a much-loved colleague, friend, and neighbor, and was dedicated to his community. He served for a time as a volunteer with the Bridgewater Township Green Knoll Fire Company. He loved the outdoors and worked tirelessly to preserve historic land on the Washington-Rochambeau Trail in Bridgewater, for which he was recognized with D&R Greenway Land Trust's 2019 Annual Donald B. Jones Conservation Award (with his neighbors Bob Vaucher and Brendan Burns). This prestigious award is given to recognize selfless acts that result in significant land preservation and has been bestowed previously on a Governor and a Congressman. Upon receiving the award, Dave remarked, “What we accomplished is exceptional.” In 2020, Dave was appointed to serve on the Open Space Advisory Committee for Bridgewater Township. David was the son of Stanley and Jeannette Stempien and is survived and greatly missed by his sisters Mary Jean Stempien and Kathryn Harknett, their spouses James Stricker and Richard Harknett, respectively, and his niece Margot Harknett. Due to Covid-19 considerations, a brief graveside service will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, December 10, 2021 at Bound Brook Cemetery, 500 Mountain Ave. Participation by Zoom is encouraged. The zoom link will be available the morning of the service. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, and to honor Dave's green legacy, gifts can be made in memory of David Stempien to: D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540, or online at www.drgreenway.org.