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David MacQuarrie Obituary
David B. MacQuarrie of Guilford, CT recently passed away suddenly. Born on October 19, 1944 in Bridgeport, CT, to the late Robert and Helen (Gray) MacQuarrie. Dave "Chief" was the owner of New Haven Powersports, a family-owned motorcycle dealership in New Haven since 1972. David was a graduate of UCONN, raised his family in Berlin, CT with his first wife, Karen (Horwedel) Salwocki and moved to Fairfield where he lived for 36 years before recently relocating to Guilford, CT. Predeceased by his wife, Nancy (Reynolds) MacQuarrie, his stepdaughter, Lauren Galiette and his beloved Golden Retriever, "Moto", Dave will be greatly missed by his surviving children, Brooks Gray (Georgette) of Wallingford, CT; Jodi Baxter (Chris) Green of Westbrook, CT; his stepson Richard (Kim) Galiette of Southbury and their children Trevor and Matthew; David's brother Robert (Gail) MacQuarrie, and sister Susan (MacQuarrie) Schaller, both of Fairfield, CT and his grandchildren, Ryan, Sydney, Jaclyn, Kate and Mason MacQuarrie and several devoted cousins, nieces and nephews and his Golden Retriever, Scooter.
In lieu of flowers, David's family requests that donations be made in his name to either the Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, www.YGRR.org, or Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford, www.gaylord.org/support-gaylord. A celebration of Dave's life will be held on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at East Creek Landing, 390 South Union Street, Guilford, CT from 11am – 3 pm with a ceremony held at noon. Come in your NY Giants or motorcycle attire (if you have any) in honor of Dave's passions.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for David MacQuarrie
Reed Schroer
April 13, 2022
In 1973, I moved from Michigan to attend Yale Divinity School in New Haven. I ordered a "hop-up kit" for my 1971 Savage which took ages to arrive. So I was in the shop a lot waiting for the parts to arrive. So I would go to school (as much as I had to, no more) and then go over to set up new bikes with Richard Mei and Ros Perrin. for $7 a pop. Then people would get hurt racing (including dave) and Dave asked me to fill in for them. So over my time in New Haven, I learned Suzuki parts, something about selling a motorcycle and eventually, when Mike Nadeau got hurt fixing bikes. Like the other guys, I would up racing motocross. At 27. That meant besides working all week, we stayed up until midnight working on the race bikes and the weekends loading them up and racing around New England. One of my favorite memories is standing outside the shop in the middle of the night and watching Dave on a TM-400 short track bike with an openj expansion chamber designed by Lester Ruth and his pipe clamped in his teeth. With the cops right behind. They were cool about it because, hey, it was New Suzuki and that was Dave and why give those guys a hard time? "They fixed our bikes". In 1976 I was done with seminary at Yale so I went to work for Dave full time. What else would I do? Eventually, I had to break down and take a church in Michigan. I was sad to go. The shop, the racing, the people I met there, the group pictures but mostly Dave Macquarrie and New Haven Suzuki. I was saddened top hear when he died. A fine man and a good friend who did a great thing for the New Haven motorcycling community.
Kent Downs
May 17, 2020
I met Dave in 1974 at New Haven Suzuki when I bought my very first motocross bike - a 1974 Suzuki TM-250. In 1976 I was back to purchase a new Suzuki RM-250 from Dave. Dave threw in a green and yellow New Haven Suzuki racing jersey that I still have today. I lost touch with Dave for many years since I no longer lived in the New Haven area but in 2013/2014 I visited New Haven PowerSports to look at a used Triumph Tiger 1050 that they were selling. I had no idea if Dave was the owner so I asked and was pleasantly surprised that he was! I got to catch up with him and reminisce. I teased him when I spotted an old black and white photo he had hanging on a wall from back in the day which had me, among others, proudly sitting on our Suzuki motocross bikes, facing the camera for a group photo, with our New Haven Suzuki jerseys on. I teased him because the photo was hanging in the restroom! As always, Dave was personable, generous and gracious. And yes, I bought the Triumph - my one and only street bike - and will think of Dave every time I start it up.
Bought my first big bike from Dave !
Elizabeth Baisden
May 20, 2019
Dave was a wonderful man and i always enjoyed my visits to New Haven Suzuki to chat and look for another bike! My best wishes to the Family.
Ross Perrins
May 4, 2019
Dave MacQuarrie was a compassionate caring boss to me. I worked hard for him at New Haven Suzuki for many years. He supported my intense curiosity and will to learn. He paid for factory training, and supported my night welding school classes at Wilcox Tech.
During my first year, I would hitch-hike 30 miles into work after school (I had early release). I worked until 8 pm. Dave would drive me home. We had some great talks!
We (his employees) raced motorcycles together, and he was right there playing with us. Gosh, it was fun!
Dave, you were a huge part of my life!
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1977 My GS750 (white helmet and bag)
Ross Perrins
May 4, 2019
Sevyn Shields
April 30, 2019
I'm so sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my prayers.
Jimmy Zona
April 28, 2019
Prayers go out to the family
Cindy Bartholomew
April 26, 2019
My deepest condolences to Brooks and Georgette on the passing of father and father-in-law. May fond memories replace your sorrow as the days pass.
Thank you Chief !
Tony T
April 23, 2019
Phil Perrotti
April 20, 2019
Some of my fondest memories are working for Dave and with the crew at New Haven Suzuki - Kawasaki in the 1980's+. Not only did Chief give me a job (my dream job) when I was 19, he helped me become a certified Motorcycle technician. Chief send me (and others) to all available Suzuki, Kawasaki and later on, Ski Doo technical schools all on his own expense. That's the kind of guy he is. Chief was the fairest, kindest, most friendly and fun boss I have ever had. Always positive, never a bad word. Always treated his employees like family. One great guy.
My condolences and sympathy to his family.
Carl
Carl Bretko
April 19, 2019
Dave and I became very close while living in married housing at Storrs. Along with our wives and neighbors we shared many FUN times. Dave and I bought motorcycles during our senior year and cruised the Connecticut countryside together. We worked summers constructing houses and looked forward to those fudgsicles at break time! Most memorable was the time spent modifying slot cars and racing them competitively at a track in Manchester. Although separated by miles as my wife and I moved to the West Coast and beyond, I always looked forward to stopping by New Have Power Sports when visiting family in Hamden. That special chemistry Dave and I found at UCONN back in 1965 automatically re-kindled whenever we got together. RIP Dave! You will be missed! Carl Bretko
Barbara & Carl
Carl Bretko
April 19, 2019
KAREN ESPOSITO
April 18, 2019
I had the pleasure of working for the "Chief" for 41 years. He was the best Boss anyone could ever imagine. Just truly a great man.
Chief you will so missed everyday when I come to work and we will try hard to carry on your legacy NEW HAVEN POWERSPORTS. lOVE YOU!!!
Sandra Weber
April 18, 2019
It has been my pleasure to work with Dave as his Banker at Bankwell Bank formerly Quinnipiac Bank & Trust on the various personal and business financial needs.
He will be missed.
Mark Simiola
April 18, 2019
Dave, was always very kind to me and my family. Decades ago he referred to me as one of his first 10 customers to walk through the door when he opened. I was 12 years old and the proud owner of a Suzuki B-100P that I was convinced I could make a dirt bike out of. That year when I successfully split the cases and rebuilt the engine and transmission with only the help of his mechanic Lester, who bored the cylinder. He and Lester told my mother wanted to hire me because he said there were not a lot of mechanics that could do transmissions let alone a 12 year old. Again that was the magic of Dave, he was a person who could inspire the best in others. Rest in peace my old friend
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