David Allen Starr

1958 - 2022

Starr

David Allen Starr

David Allen Starr, a highly respected lawyer and lobbyist in Washington, DC for over 40 years, passed away at the young age of 64 on December 15, 2022, after a valiant 6 year battle with cancer. He was known in Washington for his good humor, kindness, brilliant intellect, knowledge, insight, selflessness, and unique ability to solve challenging policy issues. David grew up in Columbus, Ohio, graduated from Miami University (Ohio) in 1978 and received his law degree from Washington University School of Law in 1981.

David began his Washington journey in 1981 as a senate staffer for Senator Howard Metzenbaum, realizing his childhood dream. David worked with Senator Metzenbaum for 8 years, first as a legislative assistant and then as his valued legislative director. David was recognized for his successful senate legislative strategies and was respected on both sides of the aisle, including public praise from Bob Dole (R-KS).

Following his work with Senator Metzenbaum, David joined Williams & Jensen in 1989, where he was a principal and integral part of the firm for over 32 years. At W&J, David excelled in creative and carefully crafted legislative and administrative solutions to complex problems. Among his accomplishments, his greatest pride was his work for U.S. tailored clothing manufacturers and the wool and cotton manufacturing sector - work that saved many U.S. jobs and preserved a historic and vital domestic industry.

David enjoyed varied adventures and activities with family and friends. In addition to time with his family and traveling, David was an avid sailor, spending weekends sailing on the Chesapeake. After selling his sailboat, David began cycling, not only to commute to work downtown DC, but also riding with friends on 50-100 mile rides and multiple "century" and double century rides supporting MS research. David always followed his dreams, including learning to roast coffee. This coffee love culminated in 2007 in David, his wife Amy, and their son Adam, opening Beanetics Coffee Roasters, an independent coffee roaster and coffee shop in Annandale, VA. As he battled cancer, David continued to live life to the fullest, becoming a Red Sox fan with season tickets, and enjoying all that Boston and Cape Cod have to offer.

Throughout his life, David remained devoted to his family and friends, bringing his contagious laugher and joy to every occasion, with his friends and family remarking upon his passing that "I will always remember his laugh." David was a loving and devoted husband to Amy and beloved father to Adam. He is survived by many other loving family members and dearest friends, including his mother Joyce, brothers Sandy (Sami) and Barry (Linda) and brothers in law and sisters in law, nieces and nephews and other family members and dearest friends too numerous to mention.

Gifts in David's memory may be made to further the thyroid cancer research of his two brilliant oncologists at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute. Please direct gifts to Dr. Sehgal's Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284. Checks should be made out to Dana-Farber with "Dr. Sehgal's Research Fund" in the memo section. To give online, please visit http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/DavidStarr.

A celebration of David's life will be held in April 2023. Contact the family at DAScelebration@gmail.com for information.