DAVID-WEBSTER-Obituary

DAVID A. WEBSTER

Osterville, Massachusetts

1943 - 2020

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Osterville, Massachusetts

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WEBSTER, David A. Iconic Figure in the New England Design Community David Webster, the creative force and founder of Webster & Company, passed away peacefully at his home in Osterville, MA on July 5, 2020 following a lengthy illness. He was 76 years old. Born and raised in Framingham, Mr....

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Ah, so sad to hear that David passed some years ago. When I moved from NYC to Boston my first job was at Graphics Etc. on Chauncy St. where I began my graphic design career. David was a wonderfully funny yet demanding boss who I loved working for and I was sad when he had to close up the shop. Luckily I still did some occasional work for Webster & Co. at my next job so we got to stay in touch a little longer.

I went to work for David in late 1973, as typesetting supervisor at Graphics Etcetera, and worked there till the spring of 1976, when my husband and I moved to Vermont and started our own typesetting business in Brattleboro. David was enormously generous and helpful, subcontracting work to us in the early days of our very small-scale entrepreneurial venture.
Another memory, and I think this was very characteristic of David—we were living in a rundown but spacious apartment in Brookline....

Good bye Dear David,
I will miss my visits with you in Palm Beach and Osterville; and especially our virtual cocktail hours these last few years.
Rest in well earned peace.
Your friend, John Appleton

I started my 40 year publishing career right after college in 1972 and met David in 1973, soon after he started Graphics Etc. Even though I was a neophyte, he always treated me with professional respect. We were business friends for many years. He was warm, funny, irreverent, and ran a very good business. I remember his telling me he was leaving graphic production and then he turned up at the Design Center where I did see his design business there. I lost track of him over the years--so...

You will always live in my heart. We shared a special connection and had lots of good laughs and tears.
Just 1 week before, we talked and laughed so loud..like who flies in Lambchops from New York! Of course you did, nothing would surprise me and I loved to hear all of "the stories"
Thank you for reminding me of not taking life for granted,and live to the fullest everyday.
Say hello to all of the family up there and as we always ended...Love you Lots!
Beth-Anne XOXO

Each time I saw him at the showroom, he was warm and welcoming, and had the best smile...I will never forget him, and am very saddened that he left us so early.

I met David Webster in the early 80s at the Napoleon Club. We enjoyed a couple of years of social friendship until I moved from town. I owe a debt to the writer of this opus obituary for its details on what became of David over the past 35 years. I'm so glad he lived a life that suited him a life of order, of giving beauty. I have envisaged a vague alignment between David and architect Royal Barry Wills making all I've just read about him fall into place, though I'm not sure he'd have...