David R. Relyea was born in Glen Cove and moved to Bayville in 1954. In 1964 he started working part time at Frank M. Flower & Sons (FMF) on the dock and in the hatchery. He continued working there during the summers and started full time in 1969 as the hatchery manager after graduating from Colgate University with a B.A. in biology. Dave married Eileen Griffin in 1970 and they had three children – Renee, Jeremiah and Martha – and now have five grandchildren.

​In 1996, he purchased Frank M. Flower & Sons with his brother and another partner. Dave left Frank M. Flower & Sons in 2020 taking title of the hatchery and included property in Bayville. In 2021 he purchased Bridge Marina with his son and daughter-in-law. They presently continue to run that business and are not affiliated with Frank M. Flower & Sons in any way. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, hunting, and spending time at his upstate New York vacation home.