David Stiles Wylie

David Stiles Wylie
1947 - 2025
Dave once won plane ticket money in a back-alley poker game in Puerto Rico. He once read Siddhartha and then gave away all his belongings except a rice mat and wood bowl (and got most of them back). His first spud launcher had excellent range but taught him key nuances of PVC piping, hairspray, and grill igniters, leading to a more reliable second launcher and valuable advice for envious friends. He spent years carrying the title "Executive in Residence" at Babson Business School, and was pleased how it gave him liberty to go about his business, while everyone seemed to be slightly mystified but think him some type of professor. In his 70s, he developed competition-grade croquet mallets from fine woods, to use in games and even tournaments on his own self-made court ("The Glade"), to give as gifts, and as a niche online enterprise.
Irreverent mischief was Dave's standard way of existing (and the theme of his every story, which were many). "Accepted practice" was never accepted at face value, most especially any rules of proper behavior, nor anyone who was self-important. Laughter and a twinkle in his eye were either present or readily available. He was always an open and chatty fellow, warmly curious and never rushed. Dave's senses of adventure, positivity, possibility, and curiosity fueled his focused creativity and relationships through thick and thin. Over his years, Dave became a masterful writer, adventuresome boater, carpenter, chef, fine art photographer, clammer, solid musician (on the harmonica, mandolin, mouth-harp, and, proudly, the jug), advanced amateur croquet player and strategist, semi-pro soccer player, alarmingly resourceful handyman, and suspect electrician, among many other skills that his explorations couldn't help but accumulate, who quietly reveled in each chance to use the pocket knife he always carried. Dave loved walking in nature and being on the water, which began in childhood summers on the shores of Lake Michigan. He and his family lived in Concord, Massachusetts, but were introduced to Vinalhaven, Maine 40-odd years ago. He immediately fell into it headlong, spending as much time on-island as possible until he realized his dream of retiring there.
Dave lived his life in and around academia. His father taught at Haverford, where Dave was born, then took the family along on years of fieldwork in France, and then on to Harvard. Dave graduated from Browne & Nichols, followed by Harvard for undergraduate and business degrees. He saw a career in business as a way to provide for his family, but uncompromisingly bushwhacked his own path as an inquisitive sleuth and storyteller, researching and crafting business school cases, including a bestseller. He published numerous cases with Harvard and Babson, and, later in his career, helped numerous institutions to adopt the case method of teaching.
Most of all, Dave loved freely and deeply, unreservedly tearing up at weddings, school plays, touching dinner toasts, and poignant commercials. A series of loyal dogs accompanied him through life, starting with a stray beagle he adopted and named Samwise, who would take the bus on his own to Harvard Square to meet Dave in class. Dave cared about treating people well, and so, so much about his family. His wife of 51 years, Sally, did not accept when he proposed on their first date, but did six months later. He is also survived by his children, Bonnie Pratt and Seth Wylie, and their families, including granddaughters Scarlet Reese and Ariella Pratt, who always made his eyes shine.
Dave passed away on May 4th, surrounded by family after a blessedly brief ending to several years living with cancer, treated by the most exceptional team at University of Vermont. There will be a small gathering at a later date to celebrate his life. We welcome you to leave a note or reminisce about Dave on his "Memory Wall" at awrfh.com, where you can also share photos. In lieu of flowers, we're collecting contributions to place a memorial bench along one of the wonderful woodland trails of the Vinalhaven Land Trust, to provide some respite for people who have difficulty walking. To take part, simply make a donation in Dave's name at http://vinalhavenlandtrust.org/