DAVID M. LINK

1930 - 2018

LINK, David M. One in a Million It is with deep and heavy sadness that we announce the death of David M. Link who passed on December 23, in Massachusetts General Hospital. David was born in Brooklyn in 1930, but spent his youth living on Spy Pond in Arlington, Massachusetts fishing, boating, birding and generally messing around in the water before graduating from MIT in Physics. He received a Masters degree from the University of Illinois through the Air Force ROTC program and spent three years doing research and development for the Air Force before attending Harvard Business School. Although he didn't attend medical school his career was spent in medical devices, most significantly as the first director of the FDA's Bureau of Medical Devices from 1974-1980 where he ushered critical amendments through congress and oversaw approval of the devices we all depend on including heart valves, intraoccular lenses, joint replacements and women's contraceptive devices. Later medical device regulation and quality assurance roles at Cordis, Millipore, Expertech and Boston Healthcare Associates moved him to Florida and then back to Massachusetts. His industry contributions were recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation and Medical Device Manufacturers Association. Independent of the job or location, summers usually found him at AMC Camp at Echo Lake on Mount Desert Island - literally his favorite place on the planet. Hiking the Bubbles, listening to the loons call, visiting Thunder Hole and popovers at Jordan Pond House were annual pilgrimages. His love of nature was only matched by his love of family. He took us hiking in the summers, skiing in the winters, played tennis  and expected us to be the best people we could be. A modern renaissance man he could do anything from making a great pot of pea soup, hunt pheasant and deer,  and fix anything from watches to automobiles.  Even though he enjoyed being outside in the fresh New England air, he was the consummate homebody where he enjoyed his daily WSJ, sneaking peanut butter from the jar and reading action thriller novels. He was also an incredible fighter who survived a Colorado avalanche,  a totaled car, two strokes, 50% amputation of his foot and four heart attacks.  He taught us never to waste anything - money or food. Over the past few years his curiosity, keen intelligence and medical device knowledge (particularly in cardiac devices) made him a great partner with the amazing doctors he embraced at MGH while his sweet, accommodating nature made him a dream patient for the staff. He was simply the best. The best patient, the best dad and the best model for how to treat people, pursue your dreams and always stay engaged with the world around you.  He was to the end master of his fate, captain of his soul. He is survived by his wife Shirley, his son David and daughter-in-law Angelia, his daughter Susan, granddaughter Samara, and his sisters Tyler and Joanne. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Andrews Church in Wellesley, Massachusetts on Saturday, January 20, 2017 at 1:30 pm. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Appalachian Mountain Club or The Jane Goodall Institute.

View the online memorial for David M. LINK