OPINION: All local townships and school boards, state,
and federal representatives of the people need to be
more like Dave Kulig and less like gamers, directors,
and supervisors ... serving the entire community first and
foremost with representation, open process, and
the conversation of democracy.

Our House is Burning

I stand outside our burning house and I scream to those inside the house that our house is on fire. And yet those on the inside ignore my words. They instead yell back that have it all under control in complete ignorance saying all is fine. They close the windows and doors to silence my words and work among themselves. I continue to try and have my voice heard wanting to help those inside to save our and the other houses from the growing fires. But still all I get is those in the house telling me to go away. With every passing minute the fire spreads. I am powerless to do anything except be a spectator to our house going up in smoke. If only those on the inside listened, heeded warnings, and worked with us outside who see things in a different light and perspective. The house is burning and all we get to do is spectate. Something's wrong here and I am tired of no one listening to my voice. What is it that makes those inside so much better then we outside? If only we worked together as one instead of divided as two. The house is burning. What do we do? How do we open the doors and windows? Scream louder from the outside or force our way in to save our house? The rule book and common sense makes it clear that the house does not belong to those inside - but to all of us and it is our house to save.

le sheppard

David Kulig, Representative

What made David Kulig so special to me was HEART. But what is missing in governing at every level is HEART. Instead of working for a plan, pledge, and one party, David fought to listen and work for the people with compromise, consideration, compassion, and most of all the open and respectful conversation, he believed as much as I do that the process of the responsibility of a representative government to serve the voice of the people first and foremost and not some greater good of the few is missing in every level and board of government. But listening, understanding, and serving others takes a lot HEART. All others should use my friend David Kulig as a role model for how to be a friend ... and how to serve one's community. We need to stop working for those things that divide us and finding ways to work together on those things that unite us. But - one of my heroes has left us today. My teacher, my role model, my support, and my dear friend David Kulig has left.

le sheppard

Former Upper Makefield Supervisor
David Kulig dies suddenly at his home LINK
By Christian Menno Staff writer
Posted: Saturday, February 4, 2012 6:29 pm

Former Upper Makefield Supervisor Dave Kulig passed away Friday morning after a fall at his Colts Neck Drive home. He was 64.

According to police, Kulig was rushed to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown after his wife called 911 to report the incident. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Kulig, a Republican, was a longtime Upper Makefield official, serving on both the planning commission and the board of supervisors. He resigned from the board in May 2010, to care for his first wife before she eventually succumbed to cancer. He was reappointed to the board in January 2011 after former Supervisor John Silvers resigned. Kulig remarried in January of this year.

Supervisor Dan Rattigan - whom Kulig supported in last year's election after Kulig failed to win a nomination for himself in the May primary - said Saturday that Kulig had suffered another fall at his home about a year ago.

"Dave was one of the smartest people in Upper Makefield," Rattigan added. "He graduated first in his class for engineering at Penn State. He helped guide a lot of the boards and commissions in the township. He had a way of looking at things that many of us learned to emulate. He was an expert in zoning and was just a major asset. We were going to ask him to come back and join one of the boards to help out Ñ which he wanted to do. He's going to be sorely missed."

My words ...

David never represented me directly (except in the Jointure) but David NEVER let that get in his way of listening and respecting my voice. In this day and age, THAT is impressive.

With all due respect to all the others who have served our communities especially in my 14 years in Wrightstown Newtown area of Bucks County, I say with full confidence and conviction he was a stand out and the standard all others should adhere to now and in the future.

He always was there for me through it all and we both believed in a process of open and fair government in the light of day working in compromise, consideration, compassion - but most of all in the conversation of democracy with the inclusion of all people - not this win at any cost for plan, pledge, and party.

Mistakes? Welcome to being human. When others ignored me, bashed me, disked me and abused the process I believe in so strongly, David's emails were always therein my inbox to say "BRAVO Le" and "SPOT ON Le" to give me the confidence to continue fighting a battle with no win in sight. He use to say I was his reminder of how thinks are suppose to me and kept him honest - which to there was no bigger compliment.

When I lost my painful ugly dirty political election, David along with few others called me immediately and said "you won Le - you won".

David meant so much to me and my plight to get the process right - as wrong as it was and is on all local boards. Very few come close to David Kulig.

All residents and future representatives (township, school board, state, and federal) should study and admire and emulate a true and sincere servant of the people.

What a friend I have lost ...

le sheppard

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It is with tremendous sadness that I share the horrible news captured in today's Bucks County Courier Times. Dave was an incredible friend as well as a stellar asset and driving force in our community. He selflessly dedicated countless hours and unparalleled energy to preserving and protecting our community, with a focus on making sure that Upper Makefield would remain the very special place that has been for the past 200+ years. Dave's outstanding intellect was matched by his unshakable integrity and his unwavering determination to do the right thing for our community.

It is truly a very sad day. We will very much miss our extraordinary friend, exceptional mentor and eloquent community advocate.

Best regards to all, with sadness ... Carol Stuckley

Bucks Local News.com / The Advance
Upper Makefield mourns the loss
of former township supervisor David Kulig
Monday, February 6, 2012 / By Petra Chesner Schlatter

Upper Makefield Township is mourning the loss of former longtime supervisor Dave Kulig. Mr. Kulig died at his home on Friday, February 3rd.

Kulig, whose term expired in December, had just been recognized by the board of supervisors for his service to the community.

"It's a tragedy - especially since he had just started a new life," said supervisor Conrad "Bud" Baldwin. "He had just got married a month ago."

Baldwin said Kulig's new wife, Mary Joe, "was going to move down here. She was tying up the loose ends in Hazleton and come down here. It's a traumatic event even if you're not emotionally involved. He was a close friend."

Describing Kulig, Baldwin said he was a good friend first. I started serving with him on the planning commission in 2001. Then he ran for supervisor and won. "He was first of all very very bright," Baldwin said. "He was able to comprehend things. He was able to stand back and see the whole perspective on things."

Kulig served on the planning commission from May 2000 until his election to the board of supervisors in 2006. His term concluded at the end of 2011. During his term on the board of supervisors, he played an instrumental in revising the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO); he helped rewrite the Comprehensive Plan of the Newtown Area Jointure; and assisted in the establishment of the $3-million Riparian Restoration and Preservation Grant Fund to help preserve water quality and reduce flooding in the township.

Baldwin said Kulig "had a mind like a steel trap. He was able to give you the date and time of things that have happened. He was unbelievable when it came to understanding the financial end of things."

Kulig, Baldwin said, was respectful of other people's points of view. "He would listen. He had his own opinion of things and let you know it. He was a good person," Baldwin continued.

"To know what he had gone through with Joanne (his late wife passed away 1 1/2 years ago) and come out the other side and marry a woman who knew him and Joanne - to have this happen - that's the tragedy," he said. Baldwin said Kulig will "absolutely" be missed. "In fact, he was ready to work on a commission or another function for the township," Baldwin said.

He wanted to stay involved, yet he was looking forward to the joy of being married and Mary Joe moving down here. "He'll be sorely missed as a good friend and also a person I learned a lot from," he said. "It's hard to say what's going on in your head and in your heart," Baldwin said. "I was speaking from the heart. I'm getting lot phone calls from people."

Details of his funeral services were not immediately available.

Bucks Local News.com / The Advance
Supervisor David Kulig remembered
in a moment of silence at Upper Makefield meeting
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 / By Petra Chesner Schlatter

The traditional moment of silence at the board of supervisors meeting was dedicated to the late David Kulig, who passed away on Friday, Feb. 3 at his home.

The moment of silence took place at the board's regular public meeting on Tuesday, February 7th.

"Our moment of silence will be for David," said board chairman Daniel Rattigan.

"We will definitely miss David. David was a leader here." Rattigan announced that there were two other key people in the township who had recently passed away - former supervisor John Kupits and Paul Wojciechowski, owner of All County surveyors, which is located in Washington Crossing.

Supervisor Conrad "Bud" Baldwin said at the meeting that Kupits "worked very diligently. He was one of the people who helped put the jointure together in the late 70s -- early 80s.

"Paul Wojciechowski did a lot of work as a surveyor and engineer in the area.

Regarding Kulig, supervisor Tom Cino said that he "made a major contribution to our township. He had always taken the time to listen to all sides of an issue." Cino added that Kulig would present the position in the best interest of the township. "Professionally, we're going to miss him and personally many of us considered him a friend," he said.

"We will miss him very much," Cino said.

Supervisor Baldwin said that Kulig's mental skills "were just unbelievable. He remembered things a lot of times with his engineering background and was number one in his class [at Penn State]. "He was able to put his mind around a problem," Baldwin continued.. "When he talked, he listened. He was a good man - a very good man," Baldwin said Wednesday that Kulig's wife is in the midst of making funeral arrangements and that he would probably know the details later in the week. "There's nothing cast in stone," he said.

Meanwhile, supervisor Kupits was an Upper Makefield supervisor from 1978 to the late 80s or early 90s, according to Baldwin. "He was one of the very first people who were on the grand floor of The Jointure," he said after the meeting. He was one of the first chairmen of the Jointure, which is a joint zoning council, which consists of supervisors from Newtown Township, Wrightstown Township, Newtown Borough and Upper Makefield. Newtown Borough is no longer part of the jointure. "He worked on the conceptual part of it when they started putting the ordinances together," Baldwin said. "That was at the time when we were first in the state to put together four different municipalities. It was a grand time. "Of course we had the Toll Brothers suit that we finally won in the (state) Supreme Court," he said. "John was very much a part of this. He had a heart attack in the mid-80s, but he got back on the board. Kuptis was 90 years old. Wojciechowski was 62 when he died. Baldwin said he was a land surveyor and an engineer as well. "He would help the township out," Baldwin said. "He did a lot of easements. "He would walk the extra mile for the people," Baldwin said. In addition to being a consultant for Upper Makefield, Wojciechowski worked for developers. He would do the initial survey for them. Sometimes he would do the engineering for developers. Baldwin said Wojciechowski was a "great person." Wojciechowski's wife is named Mari.

Bucks County Herald
Upper Makefield supervisors dies in fall
Thursday, February 9, 2012 / Jodi Spiegel Arthur

Former Upper Makefield Supervisor David Kulig died Friday from injuries sustained in a fall at his Colts Neck Drive home. He was 64.

Kulig was remembered fondly in interviews and at the beginning of Tuesday's supervisors meeting, where there was a moment of silence in his memory. He also was memorialized on the web.

"It's a shock and a tragedy." Supervisor Vice Chairman Conrad "Bud" Baldwin said of Kulig's passing. "He was a very good man, a very good man." Baldwin said he considered Kulig a very good friend.

Kulig was pronounced dead at St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown, police said. His wife, whom he married only last month, called 911. She was in the process of selling her house and moving to Bucks County.

Supervisor Tom Cino said Kulig had made a major contribution to the township. "He has always taken the time to listen to all sides. Professionally, we are all going to miss him. And personally, many of us considered him a friend/"

Baldwin said he admired Kulig's intelligence and his memory. He said Kulig had graduated first in his engineering class at Penn State. He was retired from Exxon Mobil, where he had worked as a chemical engineer.

Supervisor Chairman Dan Rattigan called Kulig a "brilliant man." "We had the utmost respect for the man," Rattigan said. "He was one of the smartest people I ever met."

He said Kulig was the person many people new to township business went to for advice when they were appointed or elected to township boards and commissions.

"Dave was like a teacher. He'd educate you ... but he'd leave it up to you to come up with your own conclusions," Rattigan said.

He said Kulig could provide helpful documents when asked questions about township business from the past. However, Baldwin said Kulig often didn't need the documents because the information was in his head.

"We will definitely miss Dave," Rattigan said.

Kulig served first on the township planning commission and then twice as supervisor. His most recent term as supervisor ended in December. He had been elected in November 2005 but resigned from the board in the spring of 2010 to care for his first wife, who later died of cancer.

He became a supervisor again in January 2011 when he was appointed after John Silvers resigned, but he was unable to run for election last fall after he was defeated in the Republican primary. At his last meeting he said he was sorry to see his time on the board end, but he said he would remain available to help the township in any way he could.

Wrightstown resident Le Sheppard, in a posting on his web site, www.TrueToAll.com, called Kulig "one of my heroes ... my teacher, my role model, my support, and my dear friend." He wrote that all local, state and federal representatives should be more like Kulig.

Obituary / David Kulig

Graduating first in his class at Penn State. He began working for Mobil Oil in 1969 as a research engineer at their Paulsboro NJ lab. In '71 he relocated to Joliet IL to work as a process engineering supervisor for the start-up of Mobil's heavy Canadian crude refinery.

Dave met his wife JoAnne Kulig at there and they were married in 1975 until her death in Aug 2010 after a fight against breast cancer. In '76 he transferred to the Middle East Division and the family moved to Rye NY. For 20 years he directed oil and gas development projects in Indonesia, Nigeria, the North Sea, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He also headed numerous joint ventures with partners that covered the marketing, shipping, refining and blending of petro-chemicals.

While in Rye raising his family with JoAnne, David was active in local politics working on numerous commissions and boards.

In '96, after stints overseas in Qatar, Dave returned to the US to become the VP and GM of the Mobil Technology Company, the worldwide engineering, R&D division of Mobil in Paulsboro NJ and began living full time in Upper Makefield PA. Due to his extensive knowledge of Mobil's technology business he was an instrumental part of Mobil's merger with Exxon in '99.

Retiring in 2000, Dave and JoAnne actively traveled the world. Dave also reactivated his passions in local government, becoming a member of the Newtown Planning Commission from 2000 until his election to the Board of Supervisors in 2006. He served on the BoS until 2011.

Dave was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years JoAnne and sisters Loretta Justofin and Connie Spadell. He is survived by son James (Viviani) Kulig (James and Clara); daughter Carrie (Eric) Budke (Emma, Molly and Reed); new bride Mary Jo Belusko; sister Sharon (Paul) Matulevitch; sister Judy (Jim) Justofin; brother Norm (Kay) Kulig; and brother-in-law Angelo Spadell.

A service will be held at the Rye Presbyterian Church at 882 Boston Post Rd, Rye NY Thurs March 8th at 2pm

Published in the The Journal News on March 8, 2012

Obituary / David Kulig

Feb. 3, 2012 David P. Kulig, 64, of Newtown passed away unexpectedly Friday, Feb. 3, in St. Mary's Medical Center, Middletown.

He was born in Hazleton, son of the late Frank and Ida (Kepp) Kulig. A graduate of Hazle Township High School, Class of 1965, Dave continued his education at Penn State University, graduating first in his class with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1969.

Dave had a long and noteworthy career with Mobil Oil Corp. Starting as a research engineer, Dave climbed the corporate ladder and was eventually transferred to Mobil's Middle East Division, where for 20 years he directed oil and gas development projects in Saudi Arabia, the North Sea, Nigeria, Indonesia, Qatar and elsewhere in the Middle East. Dave's career came full circle when, in 1996, he returned to the United States to take the position of vice president and general manager of Mobil Technology Co.

Since retiring in 2000, he traveled extensively, including one special trip which included visits to all seven continents. He remained an active Penn State Alumni and, in 2002, he was the recipient of the Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award in chemical engineering. Dave also became active in his local government as a member of the Newtown Area Regional Planning Commission from 2000 until his election to the Board of Supervisors in 2006. He subsequently served on the Board of Supervisors until 2011. During his time on the board he was instrumental in various land preservation and water quality projects.

Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were his first wife, JoAnne (Sittner) Kulig; sisters, Constance Spadell and Loretta Justofin; and brother-in-law, Robert Justofin.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo (Belusko) Kulig; son, James Kulig and his wife, Viviana, Norwalk, Conn.; daughter, Carrie Budke and her husband, Eric, Rye, N.Y.; grandchildren James and Clara Kulig; and Emma, Molly and Reed Budke; sisters, Sharon Matulevich and her husband, Paul, Harwood; Judy Justofin and her husband, James, Soudertown; brother, Norman Kulig and his wife, Kay, Lansdale; brother-in-law, Angelo Spadell, Lattimer; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Saturday at noon at Frank J. Bonin Funeral Home Inc. Friends and relatives may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. to noon prior to the services. Interment will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Dave's memory to a charity of one's choice or Upper Makefield Township, c/o Riparian Fund, 1076 Eagle Rd., Newtown, PA 18940.

A memorial service will also be held at 2 p.m. April 22 at Upper Makefield Township Building, 1076 Eagle Road, Newtown.

David Kulig's Rememberance Service
and Tree Planting Ceremony on Earth Day in Upper Makefield

We had another wonderful memorial service for our beloved Dad/Grandpa Dave on March 17th in Hazelton. We would like to thank all that were able to attend. We really enjoyed connecting with family and friends and look forward to sharing more memories together.

We would like to take this opportunity to let you know of an upcoming Remembrance Service and Tree Planting Ceremony. Event will take place on Earth Day - Saturday, April 22nd at 2 pm at the Upper Makefield Township Building.

This informal but rather special Quaker style celebration is another chance we will all have to celebrate the life of the great man Dave was and cherish our treasured memories of him. Following the service and tree planting ceremony we will gather at The Pineville Tavern in Pineville.

On this Good Friday, we are all reminded of some important things about Easter and life. One of my favorite quotes about this date is from Clarence W. Hall. "If Easter says anything to us today, it says this: You can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. You can nail it to a cross, wrap it in winding sheets and shut it up in a tomb, but it will rise!". Many wishes for a Happy Easter! May the joy of Easter fill up your hearts today and forever.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the 22nd.

Community and Representation.
Process of Democracy. Serving the people.
TrueToAll.com
is all about be true to all people and not the few or provided or favored - and ALL having a voice and a government that listens to and is true to all in RESPECT and regard towards all. True to all means we ALL having a voice and a government that listens to all and is true to all in RESPECT and regard towards one and all.
LeSheppard.com
is all about opinions of Le Sheppard on Ryans Corner, Wrightstown Township, Newtown Township, Upper Makefield Township, Council Rock School District, Pennsbury School District, Harrisburg Pennsylvania, and our country - the United States of America.
WrightstownDemocrats.com EAST
is all about supporting candidates including my own runs for representative positions in the past and future.
WrightstownReview.com
is all about Wrightstown, Bucks County, PA and was created for the residents and peoples of Wrightstown Township, Upper Makefield Township, and Newtown Township. Personally on a local policy issue, I see the Jointure (the Newtown Area Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance of 1983) to be an old boys club promoting behind the scenes back room governing for a plan and NOT the process of democracy. On Wrightstown - it is SO much more then a one horse town that is has become. So sad that it is a ONE voice like a shepherd and his sheep.
Why bother getting involved?
Because this is a democracy and the many are suppose to rule and not the few. Residents and representatives NEED to learn HOW to have the conversation with respect. Residents and the elected are equals on township and school issues. People need to be aware and participate in saving and in the governing of our communities, states and our country from the games of politics in governing. The political games need to stop from all sides. The games to win at any cost machines should be turned off and the act of representing should be turned on. The games people play as part of professional politics MUST STOP if we are to listen to those we serve and give the residents a voice. Representation over supervision. Too many games.
The process our forefather created was not what the spin teaches, but was suppose to be a government simply run by and for and serving all the people equally. Before we tackle ANY issues we need to get the process right - the process of democracy.

Photographs and opinions by resident
Le Sheppard, Wrightstown, Bucks County, PA, USA

All songs written and copyrighted by
Le Sheppard © 2012 Le Sheppard