David A. Condit

1948 - 2014

David A. Condit, 66, of Avon, loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and mentor, died at home on Wednesday, June 4, 2014, after a 2 ½ year journey with brain cancer. David was born on February 2, 1948, in Denver, CO, son of Jean M. (Hagener) Condit and the late William H. Condit. He lived in Avon for the past 30 years. David received his BS and MS in Chemistry from Miami University, Oxford, OH. He worked as a Research Analyst at Olin Corporation in New Haven before completing his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He then began a career at the United Technologies Research Center in East Hartford and retired in 2011 as a Senior Research Scientist. Throughout his career, he made important advances in innovative technologies, particularly fuel cell development, to improve the environment and conserve natural resources. He was named as an inventor or co-inventor on many patents and received several outstanding achievement team awards for his work. Above all, David was passionate about his family and community. As his children grew up, he was involved in all aspects of their lives as a devoted parent, teacher, coach and mentor. He made countless friends due to his caring and outgoing personality. Throughout his life, David reached out to help others, especially during his retirement. Since 2011, he served as a volunteer teacher's aide and mentor at the Robert J. O'Brien STEM Academy in East Hartford to help 3rd and 4th grade students improve their math and science skills. He was named Volunteer of the Year in 2012. He traveled to the Gulf Coast to work with Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS, and the St. Bernard Project in New Orleans, LA, to restore homes destroyed by hurricane Katrina. David was an avid runner for nearly 40 years. He ran in many races and completed nine marathons with a personal best time of 2 hours and 48 minutes. He held special status as a "streaker" in the annual New Haven 20K Road Race, having completed all 36 runs since the race's inception in 1978. Despite battling brain cancer, he ran and completed both the 2012 and 2013 New Haven 20K races. For several years, he was captain of the Hartford Track Club's senior men's team. In addition, he enjoyed playing tennis and fishing along the banks of the Farmington River and Lake Winnipesaukee. On a dark and rainy spring morning at the crack of dawn, he would already be on his way to the river to take advantage of "a perfect day for fishing." Besides his wife of nearly 34 years, Barbara E. Kream, David leaves a daughter Julie M. Condit of Naugatuck; a son Daniel W. Condit of Farmington; his mother Jean Condit, a brother Randy Condit and partner Diana Pekarek; sisters Carol and Nancy Condit, all of Denver; in-laws, Rhoda and Jacob Kream of Glen Cove, NY; brothers-in-law Richard Kream of Huntington, NY, and wife Patricia Knoetgen, and Steven Kream of Sheboygan Falls, WI; sister-in-law Shelley Tawfik and husband Bernard Tawfik of Old Brookville, NY; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and his closest friends, Suzanne Lagarde and David Stagg of Hamden. David's family would like to thank the physicians and staff of the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven; the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; and the Connecticut Hospice for their extraordinary care during his illness, as well as his friends, colleagues and caregivers for their unconditional love and support. David's family will receive friends on Sunday, June 22, 2014, from 3-6 pm at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Monday, June 23, 2014, at 11 am at the Pond House at Elizabeth Park, 1555 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford. Contributions in David's memory may be made to the O'Brien School. Checks should be made out to "East Hartford Public Schools", mentioning the David Condit Fund in the memo line, and sent to the O'Brien School, 56 Farm Drive, East Hartford, CT 06108. For directions or condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.