Gail Patricia Quabeck

Gail Patricia Quabeck, 83, of Hillsborough, New Jersey passed away on Christmas night, December 25, 2022 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset with her son and daughter by her side.

Born August 21,1939, in East Orange, New Jersey, she was a daughter of Naomi and Charles Kamps. Gail was raised in East Orange and moved to Hillsborough shortly after getting married.

Unable to financially attend college, Gail took a job as a stenographer and bookkeeper following graduation at Adams Industries in Union, New Jersey.  Seven years later she became assistant controller. Her early exposure to purchasing, personnel and accounting prepared her well for her career to follow.

Moving to Hillsborough, NJ in 1961, she became involved in local government, serving as assistant clerk, a member of the Planning Board, clerk to the Industrial Commission, assistant to the tax assessor, custodian of school funds and treasurer as well as being actively involved with the local volunteer fire companies, rescue squad and rotary.

Gail was a pioneer in the wastewater industry. Gail initially volunteered her time while working as township treasurer and is credited with creating the Hillsborough Township Municipal Utilities Authority in 1965, continuing to serve as their Executive Director for 37 years until her retirement in 2003. She displayed vision in representing the Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority in the creation and development of the Association of Environmental Authorities, later becoming the Authorities Association of New Jersey, a trade association of publicly owned government agencies and private sector businesses providing or supporting clean water and solid waste utility services within New Jersey. Gail was also instrumental in the early formation of the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund which is the largest governmental self-insurance pool for property and casualty in the country as well as the New Jersey Utilities Authority Joint Insurance Fund.  Gail continued to work as a consultant and as a treasurer, board member and commissioner for the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority for the past twenty years following her retirement. Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment with utmost professionalism, character and integrity. Throughout the years she has received numerous honors and been recognized by organizations throughout the state of New Jersey for her work ethic and dedication in protecting the environment while serving as a volunteer, treasurer, board member, commissioner, president, director or as a consultant.

She thoroughly enjoyed spending time during the summers at the jersey shore, traveling, golfing, cooking, getting together with friends, having family gatherings and spending time with her five grandchildren. Her favorite day of the year was Christmas Eve, spending time with her family and enjoying good food and drink while sharing memories with family and talking to her grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by those fortunate to have known her but we will be forever grateful for her selflessness, strength, generosity, perseverance and love. She was truly a beautiful person.

Gail is survived by her daughter, Lisa Quabeck Grober and her husband Stephen Jr. of Hillsborough; her son, Kenneth Quabeck and his wife Jill, also of Hillsborough; 5 grandchildren, Taryn and Stephen Grober, Kevin, Carly, and Brian Quabeck; sisters Beverly Nehil and Lois Kearney, nieces Michele Kearney and partner Howard, Patrice Kearney and partner Suzanne, Lori Gorey and husband Michael, Linda Rosevear, Susan Rosevear, Cheri Mislan and nephews Bob Dolan, Frank Dolan and wife Leslie, Charles Kamps and wife Donna, and Donald Thompson. Gail was predeceased by her mother and father, her sisters Naomi and Joyce, her brothers Jack and Charles and her former husband Warner who passed away December 8, 2009.

A private memorial service was held Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 4:00 pm under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Funeral Home, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. You are encouraged to visit Gail’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life at www.wrightfamily.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Gail’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org, an organization she has always deeply cared for and strongly supported.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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