David Schaefer

David Schaefer of Princeton, NJ passed away on September 28, 2024 at the age of 69. He laughed and found humor in the toughest pain and hardship, and he will be deeply missed by all those who loved him.

Born in Queens, NY on March 9, 1955 and raised in Wantagh and Roslyn Heights, David received his BA from Washington University in St. Louis in 1978. After a stint in Connecticut, he moved to New York City, where his sister Dari set him up with her roommate, Amy. It took a couple of dates for David’s charm to shine through, but he and Amy fell in love, and they married on November 12, 1989.

Their beloved son Jay was born in 1996. The family moved to Livingston, NJ in 2001, where they lived for nearly 20 years. David spent his life devoted to Amy and Jay as the family’s chef, game inventor, road trip driver, and beating heart and soul. David took everything to the hilt: challenging custom jobs for clients in the packaging business, setting up the notorious “poker dome” for many great nights of cards and cigars, and long voyages to Camp Luck in the Adirondacks to serve as Master Chef. David loved music, and passed his love on to anyone who would listen—especially to Jay, who picked up the guitar after many years of being regaled with classic rock in the car.

David kept a close circle of long-time friends that loved him for his deeply generous spirit, and his willingness to drop everything to support them when they needed. He is predeceased by his parents, Clifford Schaefer and Barbara Bennett, his stepmother Jean Schaefer and his niece Crissy Delakas. He is survived by his wife Amy and son Jay, his sisters Debbie Delakas and Dari Brennan, his stepfather Ron Bennett, and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws who loved him.

Donations in David’s memory may be made to Mercer County Meal-on-Wheels.

The family will be sitting shiva on Tuesday, October 1 from 2:30 to 5:30PM, and on Wednesday, October 2 from 10:30AM to 2:30PM at the Archer Hotel, located at 130 Park Ave, Florham Park, NJ 07932.