David B. Crabiel
Founder • 1930-2008
David B. Crabiel was a proud, lifelong resident of Milltown. His passion for funeral service was only equaled by his love of public service.
David graduated from the American Academy of Embalming and Funeral Service in 1955. In 1956 he opened his first funeral home, The Crabiel Home for Funerals, in Milltown. In addition he was the founder of Crabiel Inc., which operates funeral homes in central jersey: Gray Funeral Home in Westfield, Gray Memorial Funeral Home in Cranford, Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel in New Brunswick, Crabiel Memorial Funeral Home in Hightstown, and Gowen Funeral Home, LLC in New Brunswick. He was a member of the Middlesex –Somerset Funeral Directors Association.
David’s devotion to public service began in his teenage years, becoming the youngest member of the Milltown Rescue Squad. His commitment to serving the community never ceased as he was past President, and currently a 50-year member of the Milltown Lions Club. He was an honorary member of the Milltown Fire Department and Milltown Jaycees. He was a member of St. Paul’s Church, Milltown.
Dave, as he liked to be called, has also been in service as an elected official since 1960, when he became a Councilman in Milltown. He was later elected Mayor of Milltown in 1967, where he served for 11 years before being appointed to the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1978. He became Freeholder Director in 1994 – 1995 and from 1998 until his passing in 2008. While serving as Mayor of Milltown, he coined the phrase “Milltown – The Greatest Little Town in the Land”. When he became Freeholder he expanded to “Middlesex County, the Greatest County in the Land”.
He was past president of the NJ Association of Counties, and past member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Counties. He was Honorary Chairman of the Melvin H. Motolinsky Research Foundation, Honorary Co-chair of the Middlesex. County Human Relations Commission, member of the Bd of Directors of the Cerebral Palsy Association, Keep Middlesex Moving, North Jersey Transporation Planning Commission, and on the Advisory Board of the Raritan Valley Workshop and Board of Trustees of Middlesex County College.
Dave was the recipient of numerous social and professional awards including: the prestigious Charles A. Lindbergh Transporation Award, the Israel Peace Medal from the State of Israel Bond Drive, the National Conference of the Christians and Jews Brotherhood Award, the Middlesex County American Hungarian Democratic Award and the Hungarian American Foundation Award.
His daughter Paulette continues his storied tradition of both funeral and public service embracing all cultures and religions throughout the community.
