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David McCune Obituary
April 20, 1936 - May 13, 2021
David Thomas (Tom) McCune passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 13th 2021 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was 85 years old.
Tom is survived by his wife Sheila Gillespie McCune, daughter Erin McCune, son Michael McCune (Jennifer), daughter Sara McCune, and grandson, Flynn McCune.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware, he was the fourth (surprise!) son of Luella Fanny Kiley and Samuel Walker McCune Junior. He attended St Andrews School, Princeton University, and Stanford Law. In between Princeton and studying law he attended Officers Candidate School and served in the U.S. Navy for three years. His love of the sea led to his distinguished and rewarding career as a maritime attorney with Lillick & Charles (later Nixon-Peabody) in San Francisco. He served admiralty clients in the U.K., Scandinavia, and Asia and fostered warm relationships with maritime attorneys around the world.
He met his beloved wife Sheila on a blind date in 1966. They courted on his Rhodes 19 sailboat on San Francisco Bay - frequently docking at Sausalito among other favorite places. They were married in 1967 at Mission San Rafael Arcangel and raised their family in Oakland, California. A fan of the outdoors, he took his family on backpacking trips in the Sierra and treasured their time together at Tahoe Meadows. Tom and Sheila retired to Sonoma where they enjoyed many years in the company of great friends, old trucks and tractors, and loyal dogs.
Tom served all of his communities with care and purpose. He taught at the California Maritime Academy and USF Law School, was a history docent at the Museum of California, was a member of the Lakeshore Highlands neighborhood association, served on the Sonoma County Grand Jury, was a board member of Tahoe Meadows Homeowners Association, and a founder of the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance. He also rigorously pursued and assembled genealogical documentation of the ever-growing McCune family tree.
He will be remembered for his humor, editing prowess, insatiable sweet tooth, and genuine curiosity about the lives of his friends and extended family.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider making donations in his memory to the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance: https://sonomamentoring.org/
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for David McCune
3 Entries
Jim Seymour
May 22, 2021
Tom was at Lillick when I began as an assistant house counsel at American President Lines in 1971. Lillick represented APL in a number of matters which resulted in my acquaintance with Tom. He was always a wise counsel and kind and thoughtful gentleman. My condolences to his family on the loss of a fine person.
Edward Poole
May 15, 2021
Very sad to hear of David's passing. He worked with my father, Gordon Poole, at Lillick & Charles, and then Nixon Peabody. Condolences
Amy Manning
May 14, 2021
I am a maritime attorney who started at Derby, Cook, Quinby & Tweedt in 1987. Tom defended the first deposition I ever took--and delighted in correcting my maritime errors with a twinkle. I had huge respect for Tom. What a great guy. My sympathies to your family and I will hold you in my prayers--Amy
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