David Glendinning

1936 - 2023

David Glendinning

South Burlington, VT - David Glendinning, 87, died peacefully on September 25, 2023 after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.

David was born in Lawrence MA on July 14, 1936 to parents Geoffrey and Eve Glendinning. He grew up in Andover MA and attended Phillips Academy in Andover, then Dartmouth College, graduating in 1958. He attended the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge MA and was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1960. He married Priscilla Jackson in 1961 and raised three children in Southwest Harbor and Waterville ME. In 1982 he married his second wife Dorothy, and they enjoyed 38 full and happy years together in Concord NH, Freeport ME, and Burlington VT before her death in 2020.

David's life work and greatest passion was as an Episcopal priest. He led parishes in Southwest Harbor ME, Waterville ME, and Concord NH, and successfully shepherded St. Mark's in Waterville and St. Paul's in Concord through the building of two new churches. He served as the Chaplain at Colby College in Waterville during the 1970's and 80's. He was devoted to his parishioners and to the work of the church, continuing until 2019 to visit UVM Medical Center patients on behalf of the Episcopal Church.

David was an avid sailor, hunter and skier. He was a proud member of the race crew on the Hinckley sailboat Night Train, and later spent time he loved with his own boat sailing on the coast of Maine. He could often be found out bird hunting with his beloved black lab, Molly, skiing at Saddleback Mountain with his family, and camping in Baxter State Park.

David and Dorothy retired to a farm property in Freeport ME, where they owned and cared for as many as seven horses, and David used his Master Gardener status to design and tend a huge vegetable garden. They moved in 2013 to Burlington VT to be closer to family, and to spend summers at their camp on Lake Willoughby.

David was a lifelong lover and supporter of the arts and theatre. He was very active in community theatre, especially with the Freeport Players and the Portland Stage Company in Maine, both acting and, together with Dorothy, designing and building the sets. He was proud of his 12-year run as part of the ensemble for the Portland Stage Company's annual production of The Christmas Carol. David and Dorothy, an artist herself, were also avid art collectors, especially of the work of well-known Maine and New Hampshire artists.

David was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Glendinning. He leaves behind his daughters Jennifer (Jeffy) Usher and husband Jim of Essex VT, Deb Light and husband John of Burlington VT, son Matt Glendinning and wife Katherine of New Haven CT, stepson Rob Macklin of Jericho VT, as well as grandchildren Nicole Egan and husband Gerard, Colby Hamilton, Hannah Light and Maddie Light, and great grandson Desmond Egan. David is also survived by his sister Amy Glendinning of Andover MA and her partner Elaine Schofield, step daughter-in-law Stephanie Macklin of Framingham MA, and step granddaughters Lilly and Sophie Macklin.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Residence at Quarry Hill for their exceptional care and support, especially in the final weeks leading to David's death, and the compassionate team at UVM Home Health and Hospice for helping him through his final days. Donations in David's honor can be made to Episcopal Relief and Development, an organization whose work he supported himself.

A funeral service is planned for David on Friday October 20 at 4:00 pm at The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 2 Cherry St, Burlington VT.