DAVID THORPE

DAVID LEROY THORPE David Leroy Thorpe, 76, of Vero Beach passed away on Monday, March 31, at VNA Hospice after a courageous battle with prostate cancer. He was born in Southport, Connecticut and attended Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania where he received a B.A. in Political Science. Upon graduation Dave joined the Eveready Battery Products Division of Union Carbide Corporation as a Sales and Marketing executive in upstate New York where he rapidly advanced through successive management positions requiring multiple relocations including a 2- year assignment with the family in Geneva, Switzerland. Toward the end of his 26-year career at Union Carbide, Dave became Corporate Vice President of Marketing during which time he oversaw the creation and launch of the well-known "Energizer Bunny" advertising campaign which is still widely used today. Upon his retirement from Union Carbide in 1984 Dave and four other partners formed Interim Management Corporation (IMCOR) a highly specialized interim management executive search firm based in Stamford, Connecticut. Over the next 10 years Dave played a key role in growing the firm to 36 principals with offices in 6 states. The firm was sold in 2000 and he and his wife retired to Vero Beach. From his early days as a young boy in Southport through his adult life Dave maintained a very active passion for boating and fishing and was a past Commodore of the Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club in Westport, Connecticut. Dave and Sandy also enjoyed cruising and made multiple trips along the Atlantic seaboard from Maine to the Bahamas. On land Dave enjoyed golf and was quite active in the community serving as President for his Neighborhood Association in Grand Harbor. He was on the Advisory Board of the Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club and was Vice President of Development and Corporate Sponsorship for the Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program. Dave is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sandra, a son, Dave, Jr. and his wife Miranda of Seattle, a daughter, Susan Potz of Southbury, Connecticut, four grandchildren, a sister, Pat Haydu and her husband, Richard of Vero Beach. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, April 7, at 3 pm at The Community Church of Vero Beach. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation or VNA Hospice of Vero Beach.