David Joseph Gorra

David Joseph Gorra, husband to Jayne Gorra, father to Ellen and Charles Gorra, father-in-law to Laetitia Gorra and John Loof, doting grandfather to Colette and Lavinia Gorra and Felix and Bianca Loof, and brother to Margaret Porter and John Gorra, passed away on August 6, 2022. 

Over his 75 years, David led a full life. He was born in New London, Connecticut and raised by his Lebanese-American parents, Evelyn and Joseph, who instilled his sense of hard work. David matriculated at Assumption College, where he was a star tennis player. Though his tennis career might have ended in Worcester, MA, his education continued – earning two advanced degrees - an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters degree in International Relations from the College d'Europe in Belgium. 

Through his lengthy career in multinational healthcare, David became a citizen of the world - a gift that he also shared with his family. The Gorras were blessed to call some of the most marvelous cities in the world home, including New York City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Philadelphia, Paris, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Quito and Panama City. New York City was the setting for his meet cute with Jayne, Singapore is where David became a father for the first time, and all of these cities developed David into a true gourmand with dim sum at the top of his list. 

To know David is to know a fearless straight-talker with a quick wit and dry sense of humor. He was happiest driving around Syracuse, smoking a cigar, listening to classic rock or embroiled in a conversation about current affairs with someone he found to be his intellectual equal. David suffered no fools and minced no words. 

The Gorra family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Doctors Without Borders. It would give the family great comfort to immerse themselves in any memories you have of David or messages for the family.