David Gordon Sjostrom

SJOSTROM, David Gordon - May 29, 1932 - July 20, 2005 David Gordon Sjostrom, former vice president of sales for the Dole Food Company, and longtime resident of Menlo Park, CA, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday July 20, 2005. He was born in Lawrence, MA. in 1932, and was a graduate of the Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, N.J. David, a 1955 ROTC graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., served as a second lieutenant and captain in the U.S. Air Force where he worked as a management analysis officer until 1958. That same year he began his successful business career in packaged goods, distribution, and management with the Procter & Gamble Company In 1960 he joined Lehn & Fink as a grocery products sales manager until 1964 when joined the Dole Processed Pineapple Company, then a division of Castle & Cooke, Inc., as a district manager. He was promoted to regional sales manager and quickly rose to national sales promotion manager when finally, in 1972, Dole promoted him to vice president of sales a position he held until 1992. A 1974 graduate of the University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School Executive Program, David remained with Dole as an industry consultant until 1996 when he left to become a partner in an import/export firm where he worked right up until his recent death. David, an avid golfer, was a member of the SFAGA (San Francisco Advertising Golf Association). In 1995 he served as the association president and was active as a board member with the NCGA (Northern California Golf Association). Serving as president of the Sales & Marketing Executives Association of the Bay Area for many years, additionally, he was on the board of the Grocery Manufacturers Association of San Francisco. David, who never missed a Little League game with his two young grandsons, Tyler and Will, was also a long time supporter of the Boy Scouts of America Raised in Winchester, Virginia, David is preceded in death by his parents, Maria Martha McLellan and Ludwig Gardner Sjostrom. He is survived by his sisters, Jane Sjostrom Wyman of Sterling, VA, and Nancy Sjostrom Williams of Richmond, VA. Loved by his many nephews, nieces and grand-nieces, David was the honorable father of Doug Sjostrom of San Carlos, CA, and daughter, Lesli Sjostrom of San Francisco, CA. Beloved father-in-law to Jean Hagan Sjostrom, David was a devoted and loving grandpa to his adoring grandsons, Tyler and Will. He will be missed dearly. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2005 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park, 94025. In lieu of flowers, donations in David's honor may be made to the Peninsula Humane Society (http://www.peninsulahumanesociety.org/) or the Boy Scouts of America.