What we know about David Kimowitz, the comedy club owner stabbed to death in Maplewood double killing – NJ.com

Tragedy stuck Maplewood Saturday as New Jersey-native David Kimowitz and his family’s live-in au pair, Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez, were found slain – he inside his home, she nearby after fleeing the Walton Road house.

Authorities have charged Joseph D. Porter, 27, of Elizabeth, Bermudez-Rodriguez’s boyfriend, with committing the crimes.

Many questions are yet to be answered, but here’s what we know about Kimowitz.

Who is David Kimowitz?

According to Kimowitz’s Facebook page, the 40-year-old was from Rockaway and attended Newark Academy before going to Columbia University for college.

Neighbors told NorthJersey.com that Kimowitz, his wife and two kids moved to the house in Maplewood around a year and a half ago after renovating the home. Kimowitz had family in the area, according to the neighbor, which was why they moved to the Essex County town from Manhattan.

“There was always a nanny around, his wife was pretty quiet,’’ the neighbor said. “He was a very happy guy, they had just renovated the house, which had been abandoned for a couple of years… they were young and just starting out in the suburban life after having lived in Manhattan. He was always very nice.”

Andrew De la Torre, a neighbor Kimowitzes, told The New York Times it appeared that the family employed several au pairs since moving in, who rotated every few months.

“They have a little balcony that they would be playing out there with their kids,” De la Torre told The New York Times. “They’d have family friends over. Really nice people.”

What is the comedy connection?

Kimowitz was one of the owners of The Stand, a comedy club in Manhattan’s East Village. After closing a previous location which had been open for six years near Gramercy Park, the new location on 16th Street near Union Square Park opened this summer. The club announced the opening with a video featuring cameos from countless standup comedy stars.

Kimowitz was beloved in the New York comedy scene, and those in the business took to social media on Sunday to send condolences and pay respects.

Kimowitz was part of a group that opened a club in 2012 called the Standing Room in Long Island City, which closed last summer, according to The New York Times. His Facebook page also listed him as working at CH Entertainment, a talent agency that represents comedians, including at one point Pete Davidson.

Services Announced

Kimowitz’s funeral will be on Wednesday at Berheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel in Livingston, and he will be buried at King Solomon Cemetery in Clifton.

A memorial fund has also been established in his name.

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.