David Allen Kaynor

1948 - 2021

David Allen Kaynor

Montague, MA — David Allen Kaynor of Montague died of complications from ALS on June 1 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He was born April 17, 1948, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Allen and Louise Kaynor.

David earned three degrees from Springfield College and was an All-American swimmer. David's great-grandfather, David Allen Reed, founded Springfield College, and David's father was a professor there.

David taught special education classes and coached swimming at Minnechaug Regional High School (his alma mater) in Wilbraham in the 1970s. He was a dedicated runner and cross-country skier. In 1980, he finished Sweden's 56-mile Vasaloppet in 9 hours 11 minutes.

Since the late 1970s, David focused on fiddling and calling contra dances, gaining national prominence and authoring the guide "Calling for Beginners by Beginners." He became an accomplished calligrapher and pen & ink artist.

David was known for the encouraging tone of his workshops and his ability to call and fiddle at the same time. He led regular dances at Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, directed the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra, and co-directed the Fiddle Orchestra of Western Massachusetts. He received the 2021 Country Dance and Song Society Lifetime Contribution Award.

He was a long-time officer of Montague Grange #141 and Guiding Star Grange #1.

After David's ALS diagnosis in 2018, his determination, dedicated caregivers, and music community kept him going past all expectations. He taught, mentored, and composed music until the last few days of his life.

David is survived by his brother, Richard Kaynor (India), sisters Cynthia Ballou (Iowa) and Carol Kaynor (Alaska), niece Lauren Kaynor (Alaska), niece Hilary Alejandro (Maine), nephew Joseph Rikard (Arizona); great-nephews Christian Alejandro and Daniel Rikard; and a vast extended family. Gratitude goes to caregivers Becky Hollingsworth, Rebecca Weiss, and Will Quale; the staff of the Critical Care Unit of Cooley Dickinson Hospital; Asa de Roode, Jordan Monette and Ann Feitelson; and all who made music for David when he was bedridden.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Allen Reed and Louise (Frost) Kaynor, and his sister Josephine Rikard.

Donations in David's name are welcome at the Massachusetts Chapter of the ALS Association, Montague Common Hall, Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, Vermont Fiddle Orchestra, Fiddle Orchestra of Western Massachusetts, Northeast Heritage Music Camp, and Ashokan Center.