David Usavage

1951 - 2023

David James Usavage was granted eternal rest on Dec. 31, 2023, after a valiant and hard fight with pancreatic cancer. He may have lost that battle, but his family has no doubt he won the war as his Savior said, "Well done, good and faithful servant," as He called him home .

David was born on Nov. 30, 1951, to Stanley and Mary (Warman) Usavage. He attended Kingston Borough schools, Wyoming Valley West and graduated from West Side Vocational Tech in 1971. David's love of learning continued with him earning a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Education from King's College in 1976, a master's degree in reading education from Marywood College, a master's degree in education from Temple University, a principal's certificate from The University of Scranton and a certificate of superintendent eligibility from Widener University.

His legacy and the lives he touched are immeasurable. Some of that impact came from his career in education. David taught cooperative education at Wyoming Valley West, Lake Lehman, and Northwest high schools. While at West Side Tech, he served as the yearbook adviser, assistant wrestling coach and assistant football coach. After teaching co-op, he became the supervisor of vocational education and then the federal funds coordinator for West Side Tech and Wyoming Valley West. After serving in the district's central office, David returned to the classroom to teach first grade and then kindergarten at Schuyler Avenue elementary where he was lovingly known as Mr. U.

David also served as a Dallas School board member for 4 1/2 years. After a move back to Kingston, he served on the Wyoming Valley West school board for the last 12 years. He was also proud to serve on the Luzerne Intermediate Unit board for more than 16 years as well as the Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees.

David's love of sports and writing also led him to serve as a sports writer for the former Sunday Independent from 1972 to 1989. He was an avid Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Eagles fan. Not only did he travel to watch his favorite teams, he was also the biggest cheerleader at so many events of his nieces', nephews', cousins', students' and friends' from wrestling matches to cheerleading competitions to school plays.

David had a way with words and was well known for never "making a long story short." He never met a stranger and was always willing to help. From volunteering as an usher in church to making potato pancakes at the church bazaar, he could be counted on to lend a hand. Of all the roles he served in his lifetime, Uncle is the one he's most proud of and most well known for. This was not to just his nieces and nephews, but to so many who came to love him, and whom he loved, like family.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Stanley, Thomas and William. He is survived by his sister, Mary Ellen Bonsall and her children, Eric (daughter Jamie), Amy (husband David and their children, Megan and Mya) and Jodi (husband Damon and their children, Braelyn and Bodie) and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends whom he loved very much.

Services to celebrate David's life will be held at Saint Anthony's church in Exeter. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3, and a funeral service will be held at noon on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to everyone who helped David throughout his battle. The love, compassion, prayers and help were felt and appreciated so deeply. Special thanks to Kopicki funeral home for handling arrangements.