“This is truly a sad day for the horse community in New Jersey and the nation. There is no one person whom I have known who has worked more selflessly and tirelessly on behalf of horses, the horse industry and agriculture in the Garden State than Stephen P. Dey. I have been fortunate to have been able to call him a dear colleague and friend for over thirty years and will truly miss his insight, wisdom and wonderful sense of humor,” said Karyn Malinowski, director of the Equine Science Center.

     A lifelong supporter of New Jersey’s equine industry, Dr. Dey served as Vice Chair of the Center’s advisory committee, the Rutgers University Board of Equine Advancement. In 2007, he received the “Spirit of the Horse” award, which recognizes individuals whose lives have been profoundly changed because of their involvement with horses and who have acknowledged the impact by giving back to the horse industry. Please see full obituary below.

Obituary:
Stephen P. Dey II, DVM ALLENTOWN- Stephen P. Dey II, D.V.M., 74, of Heritage Hill Farm, well known equine veterinarian and farmer, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2010 in Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton. Dr. Dey earned a statewide reputation as a supporter of New Jersey agriculture and the equine industry.

He graduated from Allentown High School in 1954 and the NY State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell in 1960. He practiced for nearly 50 years in New Jersey, mainly on Standard bred racehorses, as well as breeding and foaling mares on his Heritage Hill Farm near Allentown.

He was a founding member and current president of the Horse Park of New Jersey, a member of the advisory board of the Equine Science Center of Rutgers, president of the Board of Managers of the N.J. Agricultural Experiment Station, and a longtime member and past chairman of the N.J. Equine Advisory Board. Dr. Dey was named "N.J. Horse Person of the Year" in 1990 and 2004 and was presented with the "Spirit of the Horse" award in 2007.

He served in numerous positions regarding agriculture in Monmouth County and statewide, and was currently serving on the State Agricultural Development Committee and the N.J. State Water Advisory Council. He was president of the State Board of Agriculture in 2003-2004. Locally, he was chairman of the Upper Freehold Board of Health, a member of the Freehold Economic Development Committee and a lifetime member and elder in the Allentown Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Dey is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; two sons, Stephen P. Dey III, V.M.D. and his wife Margaret, and Gregory S. Dey, D.V.M. and his wife Beverly; a daughter, Wendy D. Martin and her husband Brian; six grandchildren, Stephen Dey IV, Rachel Dey, Mitchel Dey, Troy Dey, Garrett Martin and Bridget Martin; his twin sister Mary D. Hayes, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at Allentown Presbyterian Church, 20 High St., Allentown. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 4 - 9 p.m. at Peppler Funeral Home, 114 So. Main St., Allentown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Horse Park of N.J., P.O. Box 419, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514.