Stephen P. Dey II DVM, 74, of Heritage Hill Farm, well known equine veterinarian and farmer, died Monday, February 28, 2011 at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton.  Dr. Dey earned a statewide reputation as a supporter of NJ 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 nearly 50 years in NJ, 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 NJ, a member of the advisory board of the Equine Science Center of Rutgers, President of the Board of Managers of the NJ Agricultural Experiment Station, and a long time member and past chairman of the NJ Equine Advisory Board.  Dr. Dey was named ""NJ 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 state wide, and was currently serving on the State Agricultural Development Committee and the NJ State Water Advisory Council.  He was President of the State Board of Agriculture in 2003-2004.  Locally, he was chairmen 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.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth; two sons, Stephen P. Dey III, VMD and his wife Margaret and Gregory S. Dey, DVM 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 held 10am Saturday, March 5 ^th , at Allentown Presbyterian Church, 20 High St., Allentown.  Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery  Friends may call Friday, from 4 â?? 9pm at Peppler Funeral Home, 114 So. Main St., Allentown.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Horse Park of NJ, P.O. Box 419, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514.