David 'Puffer' S. Dalrymple

David ‘Puffer’ S. Dalyrmple, age 60, of Annandale, NJ, passed away on May 20, 2025 at Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Twp., NJ.

He was born on June 2, 1964 in Easton, PA and was a lifelong resident of Hunterdon County, NJ.

He was the son of Rosemarie Milligan of Annandale, NJ and the late Thomas Dalrymple.

He was the husband of Lindy Cooper.

David dedicated his life to emergency services. He was a career EMS provider with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and St. Peter’s University Hospital Emergency Medical Services in New Brunswick, NJ. He volunteered as a firefighter, EMT, and rescue technician for Clinton Rescue Squad (South Branch Emergency Services) in Clinton, NJ, where he served as rescue captain for over 10 years, as well as chief.

David devoted his life to helping his community.  Even in his death, David continued to help others as his organs were used to save multiple lives.

David had a passion for teaching rescue education. He owned and served as executive educator for RoadwayRescue LLC out of Annandale, NJ, where he taught and assessed motor vehicle rescue to various schools and emergency service departments in North America, Europe, United Kingdom, and South Africa. David was the previous instructor for vehicle rescue programs at Hunterdon County Emergency Services Training Center, and an executive member of the Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee. David was the team captain when Clinton’s team won the world vehicle rescue challenge in 1998. In addition, he had taught at FDIC since 2003.

David created educational seminars and published articles on motor vehicle rescue locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. One of his publishings was a column for Fire & Rescue magazine in the United Kingdom titled “Best Practices for Vehicle Rescue”. David was also a contributing author for the Penwell Firefighter I & II textbook, as well as three seasons of extrication training minutes for Fire Engineering.com, and a three DVD educational series on vehicle rescue from Penwell/Fire Engineering. His dedication and excellence in teaching his fellow first responders motor vehicle rescue earned him the coveted Harvey Grant Excellence in Rescue Award in 2007.

Additional memberships include the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) task force on Hybrids & Electric vehicles for first and second responders. He volunteered as a fire/rescue technician for Sports Car Club of America-Northern New Jersey region and was actively involved in emergency response at performance rally events with American Rally Association. He was also a member of the International Council of Motorsport Science. His ESRS rally rescue program holds SFI accreditation.

In addition to his passion for emergency services, David was also history buff and had a love for the American Civil War. He was writing a book on the Fergusson rifle before his passing. 

Survivors in addition to his loving mother include one brother, Robert Milligan, and his wife, Lisa, of Mooresville, NC. One nephew and two nieces, Alexander, Bri, and Spencer Milligan. One uncle, George Cottman, and his wife, Priscilla, of Ephrata, PA. Cousins; Dawn Struthers, and her husband, Ian, of Jamesburg, NJ and Nick Struthers. 

He is predeceased by his step-father; Robert Milligan and his cousin; Mary Cottman Martin. 

Calling hours will take place on Friday, May 30, 2025 from 1pm – 4pm with Funeral Service at 4pm.  All at Scarponi-Bright Funeral Home, 26 Main Street, Lebanon, NJ.  Interment will be private.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to South Branch Emergency Services, PO Box 5265, Clinton, NJ 08809.

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