Obituary of David Macauley

David Robert Macauley became an angel of the Lord on January 1, 2014. He succumbed peacefully in his sleep to unknown causes. He was the loving husband of his cherished wife Kathryn Brandt Macauley, and the devoted father of the miracle of his life, his daughter Molly. Vacations spent with his family skiing, in Wildwood, NJ or at a water park were true highlights. He is also survived by his father, Robert Macauley; his sister Susan Brunetti, her husband Antonio and her children Rebecca and Isabella; his brother Craig Macauley, his wife Donna and his children Kira and Kevin. He is further survived by his cousins Gail Rawcliffe and Stephen Piersall and their families plus his aunt, Lindalee Macauley, and her children Bonnie and Christina. On his wife's side, he is survived by his mother-in-law Joyce Sharpe, his sister-in-law Virginia Brandt and her children Emily and Clarissa, and his brother-in-law Clark Brandt, his wife Dee, and his children Crystal, Susan & Racheal. David was born on July 19, 1960 in Glen Ridge, NJ. He graduated from Bloomfield Senior High School in 1978, was 9th in his class and was a member of the National Honor Society. David continued his education at Hamilton College where he graduated cum laude in 1982 with a B.A. in Physics. He was awarded the College's prestigious Physics Award. At Hamilton, he played on the light weight football team and was a member of the stage crew for the College's theatre program. Throughout his life, David was an avid Star Trek fan. His professional life began training to be an actuary, but he soon returned to his scientific roots and began a long career at Bell Laboratories, now part of AT&T working on communication systems for the government. David's favorite sport was skiing and through work, David joined the Bell Labs ski club. Eventually, he ran or participated in far flung skiing trips to Europe, Canada and all over the U.S. and he also taught skiing to Special Olympics participants. He was active in the Telephone Pioneers of America, the charitable arm of the AT&T where he helped build community projects. David was active in Pierce Memorial Presbyterian Church, acting as Clerk of the church and as an elder. In the past, David was actively involved in Boy Scouts as an Assistant Scoutmaster of several troops. He attended and worked at several National Jamborees as a Scout, leader and demonstrator. David attained the highest rank in Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout. His true passion outside of his family was blacksmithing and he maintained his own forge. He was a member of the New Jersey Blacksmiths Association and worked at Allaire State Park in the historic village known as the Howell Works. He gave demonstrations of blacksmithing as it was practiced in the 1800s. Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Sunday, January 5, 2014 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 10:00 AM funeral service on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Pierce Memorial Presbyterian Church, 42 Main Street, Farmingdale. Interment to follow in Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions are being accepted for Molly's education, in care of her grandfather, Robert Macauley at 79-4 Turnberry Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com