David Benjamin Kantor

January 1, 1972 - February 3, 2022 David Benjamin Kantor passed away on February 3, 2022, in Oxnard, California at 50 years of age.

David was born in Irving, Texas on January 1, 1972, to parents Robert Kantor and Rona Kantor. David spent his childhood years growing up in Sarasota, Florida, and graduated from Sarasota High School. David received a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis, and a master's degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University. While at Columbia University, David co-chaired an international conference called "Trading Places." David spent time abroad teaching English in Costa Rica and working on a kibbutz in Israel. David later worked for Parsons Brinckerhoff in New York as an environmental planner. He researched, wrote, and analyzed environmental impact statements for local land use and transportation projects, including the first environmental justice analysis in an impact statement for the State of New York.

David eventually moved to Los Angeles and took a position with CALSTART, a non-profit organization working to speed the development and adoption of technologies that make transportation greener. David was promoted to senior project manager and managed several programs while he worked at CALSTART. David oversaw all aspects of the California Hybrid and Zero-emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), including web site database development, voucher payment system management, client relations, outreach efforts, and report and proposal writing. He also implemented a "best practices" guide for the development of hydrogen infrastructure for the Federal Transit Administration's National Fuel Cell Bus Program.

While in Los Angeles, David met his wife Anandhi and they eventually settled in Oxnard, California. David was involved with several philanthropic pursuits, such as with organizations addressing issues of climate change, sponsoring children from disenfranchised communities, political advocacy, and human rights organizations. With the aim to address deficits in water treatment worldwide, David started Advantageous Systems, a global company focused on incorporating supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology to produce purified water for agricultural, municipal, and industrial purposes.

David also volunteered his time to work with refugee children and families. David was known for his kindness, compassion, empathic listening, emotional generosity, and optimism. He enjoyed travelling, hiking, biking, swimming, camping, discussing politics, and reading. David was a natural conversationalist and made friends all over the world from different backgrounds and cultures.
After David was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, he took on the challenge facing his health with the utmost bravery and commitment. Throughout his medical journey, he asked about others and repeatedly expressed his concern for the health of his family and friends. David was excited about the prospect of becoming a father and eagerly planned for his son's arrival. He was able to meet and spend some precious moments with his son before his passing.

David was predeceased by his father, Robert Kantor. David is survived by his wife, Anandhi Narasimhan, his son Shashi Simha Kantor, his mother, Rona Kantor, his twin brother, Douglas Kantor (spouse Debby Ham), his older brother Jeff Kantor (spouse Mor Kantor) his older sister, Stephanie Field (spouse Richard Field), his nephews Tobias, Pax, and Oren Kantor, and his niece Ella Kantor.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in David's honor to the Melanoma Research Alliance.