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David Case Obituary
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DAVID RANDALL CASE (Age 73)
David Randall Case of Cabin John, Maryland, passed away on September 26, 2023, due to pancreatic cancer. He was a deeply loved husband, father, brother, friend, youth wrestling coach and environmental lawyer. He adored his family and loved his time with them. He is survived by his loving wife, Jennifer O'Connor; children Benjamin (Jane Morril), Daniel (Emily Meredith) and Meredith Case (Aaron Nathan); stepchildren, Ian and Dylan Meyer-O'Connor; seven grandchildren, Ella, Lucas, Aaron, Ronan, Cleo, Archie and Elena; sisters, Katie Kirkpatrick and Suzanne Edison; and his loyal canine companion Kona. He was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Shirley, and his brother, Jeffrey. David was surrounded by the love of family and friends from the moment of his diagnosis until his death only a few weeks later.
Proud of his robust mustache which betrayed his Midwestern roots, David was passionate about his family, youth wrestling and environmental law. He grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then headed east to Amherst College, where, among other things, he competed on the wrestling team, acted in fellow student Jim Steinman's college production of The Dream Engine, and served as a factotum to renowned historian Henry Steele Commager. He was the first in his family to graduate from college and went on to win a fellowship to study law at the University of Cambridge.
Upon his return to the US, David earned his second law degree at the University of Michigan, developed a passion for environmental advocacy from one of his mentors, Ralph Nader, and embarked on a many decades-long career as an environmental lawyer and advocate. For thirty-five years he led the Environmental Technology Council, serving first as general counsel and then as Executive Director. In that role, he worked to protect the environment and support the hazardous waste disposal industry as an expert in RCRA, CERCLA, the Clean Air Act and numerous other critical statutes and regulations.
Known in various social circles as David, Dave, or Davey, David was better known in his spare time as "Coach Case." After his sons Ben and Danny expressed interest in wrestling, he became the volunteer coach of the Viking Mat Club, a program for young wrestlers based at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda. He expanded the program, running practices for hundreds of Montgomery County kids for twenty-five years. Up until the end, he was constantly flagged down in a restaurant or on the street by one of his former wrestlers who would ask how he was doing and thank him for the difference he made for them through the Mat Club.
David was also an adventurer, and enjoyed numerous adventures with his family, including: weeks-long road trips through the National Parks; floating in the Dead Sea; attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Vatican; bungee jumping in New Zealand; visiting his kids studying in Japan and China; hiking down to spend Christmas Eve at the bottom of the Grand Canyon; hiking the Salkantay trail to Machu Pichu; taking tango lessons in Buenos Aires; roaming about Barcelona; watching whales and evading bears in Alaska; snorkeling in 32 degree water in Iceland; scoping out the forest film sets of Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland; taking in an opera at midnight in the Verona Arena; and digging clams for dinner in Prince Edwards Island. Good sport that he is, he learned to ski in his late fifties because that's what the family was into.
David was a longtime enthusiastic member of the University Club of Washington, DC and a fixture in the University Club weight room. He was a bookworm, in particular political histories, and loved classical music and old Western movies. He taught his children everything they know about art and art history. Most of all, he loved his grandkids, and as he eased into retirement gamely began spending his afternoons picking them up from daycare for time with "Poppa Davey."
There will be a memorial celebration of life held on October 28, details to come. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Earth Justice or Montgomery and Prince George's Hospice.
DAVID RANDALL CASE (Age 73)
David Randall Case of Cabin John, Maryland, passed away on September 26, 2023, due to pancreatic cancer. He was a deeply loved husband, father, brother, friend, youth wrestling coach and environmental lawyer. He adored his family and loved his time with them. He is survived by his loving wife, Jennifer O'Connor; children Benjamin (Jane Morril), Daniel (Emily Meredith) and Meredith Case (Aaron Nathan); stepchildren, Ian and Dylan Meyer-O'Connor; seven grandchildren, Ella, Lucas, Aaron, Ronan, Cleo, Archie and Elena; sisters, Katie Kirkpatrick and Suzanne Edison; and his loyal canine companion Kona. He was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Shirley, and his brother, Jeffrey. David was surrounded by the love of family and friends from the moment of his diagnosis until his death only a few weeks later.
Proud of his robust mustache which betrayed his Midwestern roots, David was passionate about his family, youth wrestling and environmental law. He grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then headed east to Amherst College, where, among other things, he competed on the wrestling team, acted in fellow student Jim Steinman's college production of The Dream Engine, and served as a factotum to renowned historian Henry Steele Commager. He was the first in his family to graduate from college and went on to win a fellowship to study law at the University of Cambridge.
Upon his return to the US, David earned his second law degree at the University of Michigan, developed a passion for environmental advocacy from one of his mentors, Ralph Nader, and embarked on a many decades-long career as an environmental lawyer and advocate. For thirty-five years he led the Environmental Technology Council, serving first as general counsel and then as Executive Director. In that role, he worked to protect the environment and support the hazardous waste disposal industry as an expert in RCRA, CERCLA, the Clean Air Act and numerous other critical statutes and regulations.
Known in various social circles as David, Dave, or Davey, David was better known in his spare time as "Coach Case." After his sons Ben and Danny expressed interest in wrestling, he became the volunteer coach of the Viking Mat Club, a program for young wrestlers based at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda. He expanded the program, running practices for hundreds of Montgomery County kids for twenty-five years. Up until the end, he was constantly flagged down in a restaurant or on the street by one of his former wrestlers who would ask how he was doing and thank him for the difference he made for them through the Mat Club.
David was also an adventurer, and enjoyed numerous adventures with his family, including: weeks-long road trips through the National Parks; floating in the Dead Sea; attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Vatican; bungee jumping in New Zealand; visiting his kids studying in Japan and China; hiking down to spend Christmas Eve at the bottom of the Grand Canyon; hiking the Salkantay trail to Machu Pichu; taking tango lessons in Buenos Aires; roaming about Barcelona; watching whales and evading bears in Alaska; snorkeling in 32 degree water in Iceland; scoping out the forest film sets of Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland; taking in an opera at midnight in the Verona Arena; and digging clams for dinner in Prince Edwards Island. Good sport that he is, he learned to ski in his late fifties because that's what the family was into.
David was a longtime enthusiastic member of the University Club of Washington, DC and a fixture in the University Club weight room. He was a bookworm, in particular political histories, and loved classical music and old Western movies. He taught his children everything they know about art and art history. Most of all, he loved his grandkids, and as he eased into retirement gamely began spending his afternoons picking them up from daycare for time with "Poppa Davey."
There will be a memorial celebration of life held on October 28, details to come. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Earth Justice or Montgomery and Prince George's Hospice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Washington Post on Oct. 1, 2023.
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