NYC Museum of Natural History's Chief Taxidermist -- RIP

Taxidermy specimen from
American Museum of Natural History, NYC
(photo: NY Daily News)

David Schwendeman, who made a living transforming dead animals into gallery-worthy sights, passed away earlier this month. He worked in New York as the Museum of Natural History's chief taxidermist for much of his adult life. He lived and died in Milltown, NJ, where his father had opened a taxidermy business nearly a century ago. The New York Times ran a respectful, interesting obituary on Mr. Schwendeman this week.

The obit did not mention whether this taxidermist experienced in death what he performed on so many deceased animals during his lifetime.