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DAVID SUMNER MCELWAIN

1934 - 2015

DAVID SUMNER MCELWAIN

1934 - 2015

Obituary

Guest Book

BORN

1934

DIED

2015

About

Milton Academy Harvard University University of Michigan

DAVID MCELWAIN Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from May 5 to May 10, 2015.

McELWAIN, David Sumner Of Rye, NH, formerly of Gloucester and Lexington, MA and Ann Arbor, MI, died on April 29th, 2015, following complications of Alzheimer's disease. Born in 1934 in Boston, David was the son of Donald M. McElwain and Charlotte Richardson Smith. David graduated from Milton Academy in 1952 and Harvard College in 1956. Following service in the US Army, he pursued a lifelong career with the Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company and a lifelong interest in History, Latin and Romance languages and traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe on business and for pleasure. David was devoted to his family and friends, and they were devoted to him. The care that David received at the Dana Home in Lexington and at Sanctuary Care in Rye was loving and of the highest quality. David was predeceased by his brother William H. McElwain and by his sister Charlotte Starr Allen and is survived by his brother Robert McElwain of Portsmouth, NH and his cousins Ann Albright and Joan Shepler of Belmont, MA and David Shepler of East Randolph, VT, as well as by his many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews. A Memorial celebration in June will be announced at www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com. The J. Verne Wood Funeral Home-Buckminster Chapel assisted with arrangements.

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Recent Activity

April 29, 2025

Gordon Massman posted to the memorial.

September 29, 2023

Gordon Massman posted to the memorial.

August 28, 2023

Melissa Bruckner Hawkins posted to the memorial.

6 Entries

Gordon Massman

April 29, 2025

David and I were best friends in Ann Arbor. I loved him and miss him. RIP my friend.

Gordon Massman

September 29, 2023

David and I go way back in Ann Arbor, all the way to the 70s. He was one of my best friends and with me a week or so before his heart surgery. I worked for Norton, he for HM, and we met up on many campuses in Michigan. I didn´t know that he had died until I thought of him again recently and found this website. David was a shining soul, kind, compassionate, open. He has lived in my memory and will continue to do so. I´m 74, living in Rockport MA.

Melissa Bruckner Hawkins

August 28, 2023

So sorry to hear of Dave´s death. He was a close friend of my father´s Harry Bruckner they worked together for several years. I always referred to him as Uncle Dave. He was such a kind man. RIP Uncle David.

Paula McCarron

May 22, 2015

My condolences to the family and friends of David. It's impossible to fully capture all of the qualities which made David so endearing but here's a short list -his intelligence and wisdom; his great sense of humor, keen curiosity and love of learning, and a deep kindness for all. David was a gracious and generous man. I learned so much while in his company. And am grateful to have had the good fortune to know David and then to come to know his brother, Bob and his cousin, Ann. May the circle be unbroken.

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May 12, 2015

To the family and friends of David, and especially to you, Bobby, his loving brother, I share your sorrow. David was my best friend. We worked together for Houghton Mifflin and we both lived in Ann Arbor. He was unique, and original and he became a part of my family and of my wife's family. He was such an interesting talker, and had traveled and seen so much, and could be so humorous that we all, my friends and family and my wife, Madeleine's family loved his company. He was great with my two sons and they often talk about him. I can picture him at my older son's graduation party in his very nice brocaded white shirt. When my father in law asked about the shirt, Dave said, "Oh, this is my "hand-did" shirt...got it from a craftsman in Texas. David was a fascinating person, a loyal friend, and we miss him and will continue to miss him. Hand-did or not, Dave was an original we will never forget him. In fact I'm smiling right now and I hope Dave is too.--John Thompson

May 5, 2015

To family & friends of Dave McElwain,
Very sorry to hear of Dave's passing. He was a true gentleman of superior intellect. We met him years ago when he lived in Gloucester and had many fun outings and social occasions with him. Everyone who met him thought he was the classiest guy. May he rest in peace.
Bob and Mary Russell

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Funeral Services Provided By

J. Verne Wood Funeral Home - Buckminster Chapel - Portsmouth

84 Broad Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801