David J. Muffly

David J. Muffly, 59, of California, died on November 16, 2025. A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Munderloh - Smith Funeral Home in Pender. The memorial mass will be on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Pender, Nebraska. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery in Pender. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh - Smith Funeral Home in Pender.

David Joseph Muffly departed this mortal coil on November 16, 2025, in Palo Alto, California. Dave was a tree researcher, visionary arborist, educator, consultant, manager and entrepreneur. Dave specialized in oaks, street trees, climate change adaptation, urban-wildland interface plantings and strategic tree planting.

Dave was born on November 22, 1965, in Pender, Nebraska, the son of Dr. Charles G. Muffly and Joan (Connealy) Muffly. Dave grew up in Pender, the youngest of three brothers, with Tom and Dan. Dave was precocious and inquisitive. He was encouraged by his parents to become an avid learner. He was fascinated by all things mechanical and especially cars. He was the valedictorian of his Pender High School class.

Dave earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Instead of pursuing opportunities in engineering, Dave started his tree career establishing oaks by the thousand on Stanford University wildlands. Dave then branched into fruit trees, helping distribute 60,000 fruit trees over 15 years to kids all over California. Traveling by bike with no car for 15 years, Dave became a keen observer of urban trees in the Bay Area, gaining his Certified Arborist credentials in 1998, his Board-Certified Master Arborist credential in 2008. Dave designed and oversaw the Highway 101 Freeway Soundwall planting as part of the East Palo Alto Tree Initiative. This experimental, 1000 tree drought adaptation planting succeeded beyond expectations and was the foundation for many California tree nursery plantings.

In 2010, Dave and his work at Stanford and East Palo Alto came to the attention of Steve Jobs and Mr. Jobs hired Dave as Senior Arborist at Apple, Inc. In this role, for seven years Dave directed the growing and planting of 9,000 trees of more than 100 types at Apple’s massive Cupertino campus, Apple Park. This was the largest planting west of the Mississippi since Golden Gate Park – ranging from young saplings to sixty-foot oaks and one-hundred-foot redwoods. The project became a globally recognized model of ecologically informed design, and its trees are a testament to Dave’s pioneering vision for climate-resilient arboriculture and assisted migration of tree species. From this work, the LA Times christened him “the Tree Whisperer.”

Dave believed his most important work was introducing new climate adapted trees to the California nursery industry. His website, Oaktopia.org describes Dave’s work.

Dave was predeceased by his parents and sister, Mary. 

He is survived by his brothers, Tom (Helen) Muffly of Pender, Nebraska, Dan Muffly (Paula) of Fort Collins, Colorado, nieces Shannon Jarvis, Dr. Mary C. Muffly, nephews Andrew Muffly and Cale Muffly. Dave also leaves aunts, many cousins, friends, and colleagues, as well as fans of his work and writing. He has left behind thousands of trees that he planted – an enduring legacy of his vision and work. He believed that to plant a tree is to believe in a better future.