David L. Clough

WILLISTON - David Lee Clough, 74, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at The Arbors in Shelburne following a lengthy illness.

Born on Oct. 31, 1938, in Northfield, he was the son of the late Lee Smith Clough and Olive Robie Clough.

David grew up in Northfield and graduated from Northfield High School in 1956.

He served in the Vermont Army National Guard in both active and reserve status, from January 1958 until September 1960.

On Sept. 6, 1959, David married Jean Pratt Kinney, the daughter of Bryce and Eleanor Kinney, of Montpelier, and they had two sons - Daniel, born in 1960, and Mark, in 1963.

In 1962, David graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

After briefly working for an engineering firm in upstate New York, serving as a commissioned officer in the public health service, and earning his professional engineering license, he began a long and distinguished career with the state of Vermont Department of Environmental Quality.

In 1967, he and Jean took up residence in Barre to raise their young family. Jean passed away in 1975, but the union formed between the Kinney and Clough families has remained, and forever will be, strong. Eleven years later, David married Elizabeth "Betty" Arnold, of St. Albans. They lived happily in Williston the remainder of their lives, enjoying frequent travel together to numerous historically significant areas throughout the eastern United States, retiring from work in the late 1990s. Although Betty passed away before David, she brought a sense of peace and fulfillment to his life, and along with her wonderful family, we shall never forget her grace.

As the director of water quality, David's many years of dedicated and relentless efforts led to significant improvement in the quality of Vermont's many rivers, streams and lakes. He leaves behind a permanent legacy of environmental awareness, enhancing the lives of all those who share his love for the waters of the state.

David was a lifelong sports fan who loved playing golf, as well as snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and perhaps above all, roaming the forests of his beloved Vermont. Those who knew him best will fondly recall that whenever possible David could always be found on the highest available ground, his eyes focused intently on the horizon, and with his nose to the wind. An avid history buff, he found true delight in delving into topics ranging from the Civil War to the early days of westward American exploration. He was a profoundly thoughtful man, with a keen intellect and a wonderful dry sense of humor.

David is survived by his sons, Daniel Clough and his wife, Cristina, of Cantonment, Fla., and their children, Christiane, Melissa and Michelle; Mark Clough and his wife, Natalie, of Meridian, Idaho, and his son, Bryce; his brother Mark R. Clough and his wife, Phyllis, of Northfield, and their son, Steven; his brother Peter Clough and his wife, Marie, of Northfield, their son, Brian, and daughter, Diane. In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean, in 1975; his second wife, Elizabeth, in 2010; and his sister, Nancy J. Plastridge, in 1994.

David's entire family would like to thank the staff of The Arbors in Shelburne for the outstanding care he received there during his stay with them.

David's memorial service and interment will be held in the spring, attended by his family and close friends. Private messages of condolence to David's family are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com.