Mathew Witecki, an engineer, public official, and longtime environmental advocate, died of a heart attack at his Little Falls home on May 28. He was 76.

Serving most recently as chairman of STOP, a group organized to protest plans by the energy company Transco to build a natural gas pipeline through New Jersey, he also led efforts to control local dumping, support the preservation of historic Morris Canal, and improve traffic flow at the intersection of major New Jersey highways. He also served as president of the Passaic County Historical Society.

"Mat was an ideal colleague to work with on an issue like the Transco proposal," recalled GSWA executive director Julia Somers, who also served on STOP. "He was knowledgeable, dedicated and articulate. And, he always set an example for others by taking on more than his fair share of the work."