The former co-owner of the Amwell Ace Hardware Store also was chairman of the Planning Board for over a decade.
By: Audrey Levine
He was the kind of person who would state his opinion no matter what anyone else thought. For Samuel Van Nest, this was just his way of protecting his town.
"He wouldn’t take less than what was the best," said Assemblyman Pete Biondi, R-16th. "He never wavered from his viewpoints and he wanted the best for the people."
Mr. Van Nest, 68 former co-owner of the Amwell Ace Hardware Store and chairman of the Planning Board for over a decade died Monday in the Merwick Care Center in Princeton from complications from surgery.
Beth Zugermayer Van Nest, Mr. Van Nest’s wife of 45 years, said he had a stroke during recent bypass surgery for an aneurysm.
"He was having trouble with his legs," she said. "He knew going in that the surgery would be 50/50, but he didn’t want the lifestyle he was living. He wanted to be able to go out on his tractor and mow his own lawn."
Despite later illness, Assemblyman Biondi, who worked with Mr. Van Nest when he served on the Hillsborough Township Planning Board in the late 1980s, said he was always ready to pay full attention to the needs of the township.
"He was very committed to his work," said Mr. Biondi. "His time was devoted to the township."
Mr. Van Nest moved to Hillsborough in 1976 and became very active in politics, serving on the board of adjustment, board of health and Planning Board. According to Assemblyman Biondi, Mr. Van Nest made sacrifices where necessary, even if it meant spending less time with his family or business, in order to protect the township he cared about.
"We would be at Planning Board meetings until 1 a.m. in the morning," he said. "We were all relieved when the Superior Court ruled that there could be no new testimony after 11:30 p.m."
Ken Scherer, former Hillsborough mayor, said that while Mr. Van Nest was a constant advocate for senior housing and anything else that would benefit people in the town, many of his memories come from meetings in the hardware store.
Mr. Scherer, who owns the Belle Mead Nursery and Hillsborough Irrigation on Willow Road, said he would often visit the hardware store to pick up supplies for his own business.
"Sam knew a lot about all trades electric, painting, everything," he said. "If you didn’t know something, he knew the answer or where to find it. He was really terrific in his profession."
Mr. Scherer said he would often visit the store for a quick errand to pick up paint or another item and would end up spending about 30 minutes discussing the latest township issue with Mr. Van Nest.
"We would seek each other out and have a lot of impromptu discussions," Mr. Scherer said, laughing at the memory. "We could agree on an issue or have a small argument right there in the store."
Mr. Van Nest grew up in Somerville, attending grade school and high school there, before serving in the United States Air Force for for four years, two of them in Japan. He also spent time prior to moving to Hillsborough working at Thompson Electric Motor, serving on the Somerville Borough Council and became the Somerville police and fire commissioner.
"Sam was one of those people that every community needs," Mr. Scherer said. "He had the township in his heart."
Despite all his interests in politics and his work, Mr. Van Nest still had his family to care for, including his wife, who he married in 1962.
Ms. Van Nest said her husband, in addition to his love for the community, was an avid reader and traveler.
"We went to the Grand Canyon once and Paris a few years ago," she said. "I’m really glad we did that."
Mr. Van Nest is survived by his wife; his two sons, Peter Van Nest of Manville, and Donald Van Nest of Hillsborough; and his grandson, Alex Van Nest.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, Center for Endovascular Research in New York City.
Visiting hours will be Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hillsborough Funeral Home on Route 206. Graveside services will be private.
No matter what else he was concerned with, Assemblyman Biondi said Mr. Van Nest always considered the needs of the township.
"We disagreed on a lot of things, but we always agreed on one idea," Assemblyman Biondi said. "We had to do what was best for Hillsborough."

