David Carley

David Carley

David Carley died of liver cancer at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.

David was born in Detroit, Michigan, on June 13, 1928, the son of Berndt Carley and Laura Cook.

He is survived by his wife, Claire Gargalli; his brother, James E. Carley of Madison, Wisconsin; and three children, Lauren A. Carley of Oakland, California, James A. Carley of Lyall, Washington, and Michal Ann Carley and her husband, Frank C. Lewis, of Chilton, Wisconsin and her children, Elijah P. Carley Olsen and Sanya R. Carley and her husband, Joseph; and his beloved dog, Jackson.

David was preceded in death by his daughter, Pamela Jean.

David completed his PhD in Political Science and Constitutional Law at the University of Wisconsin in 1959. In his early years, David worked in the Wisconsin state government including a position as Executive Assistant to Governor Gaylord Nelson. He became the first director of the new Wisconsin Department of Resource Development (now the Department of National Resources) and started the Wisconsin Department of Local Affairs and Development (now the Department of Commerce). These positions began David's lifelong interest and further involvement in public service and politics.

After chairing the Governor's Health Policy and Planning Task Force, David became the first President and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee in 1975. David ran for Governor of Wisconsin in both 1966 and 1978 and served as the Chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Committee and a member of the National Democratic Committee.

David also had extensive business experience. He served as President of Conti-nental Mortgage Insurance Corporation from 1962 until 1966, and then founded a real estate development business (Carley Capital Group), which he and his brother grew into a nationwide company doing commercial and residential development with a special involvement in historic redevelopment and university research and science parks, as well as publishing and cable television. In 1980, David moved to Washington, D.C., to be President of the National Association of Public Television Stations.

David was on the Board of Kalamazoo College, The University of Wisconsin, Folger Shakespeare Library, The Kennedy Presidential Library and Wisconsin Power and Light Company.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Mark E. Williams, Doretha Givens, Rebecca Morton, and Hospice of the Piedmont for the care they provided for Davis.

In lieu of flowers, or for anyone wishing to offer a memorial, the family has sug-gested a gift to University of Virginia Health Foundation. In your check's memo line, please note that your gift is in memory of David Carley. Mail your gift to UVA Health Foundation, Box 800773, Charlottesville, VA 22908.

A celebration of David's life will be planned by the family in the near future.

Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.