David Roland Carpenter

1939 - 2025

David Roland Carpenter, 86, of Santa Barbara, CA, passed away on July 21, 2025, Dave was born on March 24, 1939 in Ft. Wayne; the fourth of five children. Valedictorian of his high school (North Side High School), he went to the University of Michigan on scholarship where he received both his bachelor's degree in business administration and master's degree in mathematics.

Dave had an extensive career in insurance, starting as an actuary at Lincoln National Life Insurance and later becoming Chief Actuary of American Mutual Life. He moved to California in 1971, joining what was to become known as Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company as a vice president and associate actuary. After a stint working as a consultant at Booz, Allen & Hamilton, he rejoined Transamerica in 1980 as its chief marketing officer. Dave remained with Transamerica until he retired in 1995 as Chairman and CEO of Transamerica Life Insurance and executive vice president of Transamerica Corporation.

Dave was a pioneer of the insurance industry's response to the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. He was a member of the American Council of Life Insurance CEO Task Force on AIDS and founding co-chairman of the National Leadership Coalition on AIDS. Under his leadership, Transamerica supported AIDS Project L.A. and became the first company to make a major grant supporting AIDS education and research.

Following his retirement from Transamerica, Dave served as Chairman and CEO of UniHealth and later UniHealth Foundation. He also served on a variety of boards, including AAA, the Auto Club of Southern California, PacifiCare Health Systems, H.F. Ahmanson (the parent of Home Savings of America) and the Fielding Institute.

In addition to his professional achievements, Dave was active in the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara communities. He held leadership positions and served on the boards of numerous civic and nonprofit organizations, including the California Hospital Medical Center Foundation, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the Los Angeles Sports Council, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Santa Barbara Cancer Center, Casa Dorinda, the Montecito Association and Birnam Wood Golf Club. On a national level, he was chairman of the National Institute of Transplantation and the Alliance for Aging Research. Dave also was a fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and he received numerous awards and accolades including the Presidential Recognition Award for Community Service - recognizing his early leadership in the fight against AIDS - the Los Angeles 1993 Humanitarian Award and the Sword of Life Awards from the American Cancer Society.

Dave was known to be tough but fair, and he was always up for a good joke. For decades, he had a plaque on his desk that read: "If you're too busy to laugh, you're too busy." He loved golf and Michigan football and, before moving to Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, enjoyed sailing. Dave and his wife, Leila, married in Sweden, where Leila grew up. They moved to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles in 1997 and spent almost every summer of their lives together in southern Sweden.

Dave is preceded in death by Leila, who passed away on June 7th, and siblings Jack and Patricia. He is survived by his children, Kim (Bill) Robertson, Clay (Laurie) Carpenter, and Michelle Carpenter (Matt Macdonald); grandchildren Max, Maggie, Colin and Zach; two brothers and their spouses, Al and Kay Carpenter, and Steve and Judy Carpenter, as well as several nephew and nieces. Memorial donations may be made in Dave's memory to VNA Health (designated to Serenity House).