David Willis

1940 - 2025

David Willis
David Field Willis, Sr., 85, of Chester, VT, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Born April 25, 1940, he was the son of Elizabeth Lounsbury Field and Samuel Arnold Willis II and brother of Deborah. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lillian Beery Willis; his son David and his wife, Kathleen; his son William and his wife, Betsy; and his son Sam and his wife, Tara; as well as seven grandchildren.
David attended Deerfield Academy '58 and Yale University '62, where he majored in Architecture and sang with the Duke's Men and the Yale Glee Club. In 1967, he married Lillian Beery; they later moved from New York to Norwalk and then to Ridgefield, CT.
His advertising career included a Clio award in 1977 and positions as Senior VP and Executive Creative Director at several New York firms where he worked on numerous global accounts, including BMW Motorcycles, Airbus, Castrol, CIGNA, Citibank, ESPN, Fuji Film, and US Marine Corps. He also co-founded Lombardo & Willis, Inc., and The Special Projects Group, Inc., where he spent most of his advertising years.
David sang bass with St. Stephen's Concert Choir, the Fairfield County Chorale, and the Camerata d'Amici in Ridgefield, CT. Devoted to Bach and organ music, he once blew out car speakers listening to a stirring organ piece by Widor. He retired to Chester, VT, in 2011.
Please visit http://www.davismemorialchapel.net/obituary/david-willis for more information and details about the Memorial Service in the early fall.