John G. David (1942 – 2014)

ANDOVER, Mass. – John G. David, 72, resident of Amherst, N.H., died on Sept. 12, 2014 in Andover, Mass., due to complications from Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease.

He was born in Port Chester, N.Y. on July 30, 1942, son of John A. David, Jr. and Muriel Gower David.

John and his brother Edward grew up in Mamaroneck, N.Y., attending Rye Methodist Church. He joined the Boy Scouts, attaining rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Rye Neck High School, and earned his BA in English from Bates College in Lewiston, of which he remained an ardent supporter throughout his life.

After graduation in 1964 he was awarded the Graduate Internship in Radio and Television at the University of Texas. He completed additional coursework there, and applied those credits towards his MA in Philosophy from the University of Connecticut in 1966. He then taught philosophy at Nassau Community College from 1966 to 1969.

While living in New York City he met and married Eva Reque (Steege) and launched his professional technical career at Tektronix, Inc. This led to a move to Portland, OR, for a post at Tektronix headquarters in 1973. There he completed an MBA at the University of Portland. After their two children were born and entered school, the family moved to Amherst, NH in 1980, where John made his home for 34 years.

He was an active member of the Congregational Church of Amherst, UCC, where he was well known. He volunteered regularly, served on multiple committees, sang bass in the choir, and played the cello for special services several times a year.

John had a long career in technical sales, marketing and product management, starting with Tektronix, and including long service at Digital Equipment Corporation, and, most recently, Cushcraft Corp.

An avid amateur radio “ham,” John received his first FCC operating license at the young age of 12. He eventually attained his extra-class license – a notable achievement – with call sign KB1T. An active member of the Amateur Radio Relay League, he frequently competed in global contests and field expeditions, and launched a yearly photo-calendar business dedicated to ham radio.

John was the founder and driving force behind the annual Souhegan Valley CROP Walk Against Hunger, part of a coordinated set of similar walks in communities around the world. The Souhegan Valley walk has grown every year, and now raises many tens of thousands of dollars each year to help end hunger locally and abroad. This year was the 25th anniversary of the Souhegan Valley CROP walk.

John was also a member and leader in the Amherst Lions Club, and a board member of the Nashua Chamber Orchestra, for which he played the cello. In the last 15 years he became very active in the NH Democratic Party, showing a strong commitment to issues pertaining to the environment, education and economic justice. He wrote many letters to the editor on these topics.

In addition, John enjoyed traveling, sailing, skiing and the outdoors.  He had a lifelong passion for learning and was currently pursuing a MA in Philosophy at Boston University, with a concentration in the History and Philosophy of Science. He had hoped to return to teaching philosophy.

John’s first marriage ended in 1994. He remarried in 1997 to Nancy A. (Dillman) David. He was predeceased by Nancy, who died in 2011, and by his brother’s daughter, Emma, who died in 2002 of a brain injury.

Family members include his fiancée, Elizabeth Rubino of Haverhill, MA;  son, John R. David and his wife, Jos K. Hill of San Francisco, CA; daughter, Katherine F. David of Manassas, VA; three grandchildren, Alessandra, Lucia and Etienna, daughters of Katherine; brother, Edward David and his wife, Janice of Farmington, ME; and nephew, Andrew David of New York, NY.

A memorial service will be held on October 4, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Congregational Church of Amherst, 11 Church Street, Amherst, NH.  Burial will be in Black Point Cemetery, Scarborough, ME at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Souhegan Valley CROP Walk. (donate via http://www.svnhcropwalk.org/ or by mail to PO Box 1015, Amherst, NH 03031). Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford.  To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com.