DAVID COLANGELO

DAVID ANTHONY COLANGELO  
David Colangelo, 68, passed away at home on Sunday, September 12, 2021. David was born and raised on Staten Island, NY, and graduated from Regis High School in 1970 and Columbia University in 1973. He then moved to Washington, DC to attend Georgetown University Law Center. Early in his second year of law school, he was shot in a robbery, instantly becoming paralyzed from the neck down. Determined to still become an attorney, he returned to Georgetown Law the following year, after a lengthy hospitalization involving multiple surgeries and physical rehabilitation. The Georgetown Law community, family, and friends all assisted him in returning to school. David graduated in 1977, took the bar exam orally, and began his 37-year career with the National Labor Relations Board in the Division of Advice. The NLRB recognized that by granting David generous workplace accommodations necessitated by his quadriplegia, it was gaining an outstanding analytical attorney as well as a personable mentor to new attorneys he later supervised. Severely disabled for 47 years, David displayed extraordinary perseverance, thoughtfulness, and acceptance. He had a gentle demeanor, a fierce determination, and profound gratitude to the family, friends and medical professionals who enhanced the quality and length of his life. David is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dorothy Saunders, his sons, Andrew (Lauren) and Stephen, his grandchildren, Jack, Charlie and Grace, his mother, Lorraine, his brothers, John (Margie) and Peter (Mary Anne), his sister Mary Ellen, and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. His father Anthony predeceased him.A Celebration of David's life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (christopherreeve.org), bradyunited.org, or the Well Spouse Association (wellspouse.org) or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Direct Cremation Services of Virginia.