David Bruce Jaffe

David Bruce Jaffe, 84, passed away on April 8, 2026.

David was born on December 23, 1941, in Great Neck, New York, the son of Herman and Hannah Jaffe. He attended The Hun School in Princeton, New Jersey and went on to graduate from Lafayette College, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. After working for a few years for Ernst & Ernst (Ernst & Young) David served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era, attaining the rank of Captain.

An entrepreneur by nature, David founded and led HighRise Systems, a Fort Worth-based design and manufacturing firm specializing in window washing equipment for complex high-rise buildings. His work took him across the globe, including extended time in China and Korea in the 1990s, where he was occasionally joined by his family. A lover of design and architecture, he found deep satisfaction in a business that sat at the intersection of both.

David married Georganne Vogel on December 14, 1969, in New York City. They were married for 56 years. After living almost a decade in New York City, they moved to Dallas but always maintained a deep connection to New York City, where they spent several months a year. David was a longtime member of the Yale Club and the University Club, serving as head of the Non-Resident Committee for many years. They enjoyed spending time with friends, as well as attending theater and the symphony. They traveled widely, especially throughout Europe, including family holidays spent in Lech, Austria, and frequent trips to Paris.

David was kind and selfless. He had a flair for creative gift giving and thinking of others. He was a classic gentleman – always opening a door, helping someone put on their coat, and ensuring everyone arrived home safely.

David is survived by his wife, Georganne Vogel Jaffe; his daughter, Pamela Klee Jaffe and her partner Alex Ludwig; his son, David Bruce Jaffe Jr. and daughter-in-law, Sofie Jaffe; his brother, Kenneth Peter Jaffe; his grandson, Aden David Jaffe; and his step-granddaughter, Elsa Sandstrom. He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Robert Jaffe, and his parents, Herman and Hannah Jaffe.