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David R. Straus

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Dartmouth College University of Pennsylvania

David Straus Obituary

STRAUS DAVID R. STRAUS David R. Straus of Alexandria, VA, 66, passed away on January 15, 2012 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Raised in Verona, N.J., David graduated in 1967 from Dartmouth College, where he played drums in the school marching band and a rock band. He married his summer-camp sweetheart, Iris, in 1968 while earning his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. They moved to Virginia in 1970 when David joined the general counsel's office at the U.S. Post Office Department. After helping the department transition into the U.S. Postal Service, he moved to private practice in 1973. During his 20 years at Spiegel & McDiarmid, David developed expertise in postal regula-tion and electric utilities regulation and served on the Management Committee. He served as Managing Partner at the D.C. office of Thompson Coburn LLP, where he worked from 1997 to 2011. His efforts on behalf of municipal electric systems and publishers resulted in grateful clients and a litany of industry accolades, including multiple placements on Crain's annual B to B Media Business "Who's Who in Business Publishing" list-a rare honor for an attorney-and lifetime achievement awards from American Municipal Power of Ohio and American Business Media. His renowned ability to inject humor and cogency into complex briefs and presentations won cases and admirers. His pen was indeed mightier. He lived with enthusiasm and humor, traveled the world with Iris, and enjoyed music, cars, sports (especially the Yankees), and cuisine both gourmet and greasy. David's commitment to career was surpassed only by his commitment to family. His generosity and consistent, tireless dedication to improving the lives of his children and relatives will be his most indelible legacy. He was a loving and devoted husband to Iris and a wonderful, proud father to son Brian and daughter Carrie. David is also survived by brothers Mark (Cherri) and Stephen (Roberta), and sisters Ellen and Diane. A gathering to celebrate David's life will be scheduled in the near future. Donations in his memory may be made to the Lombardi Cancer Center or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Jan. 19, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for David Straus

21 Entries

Bob Kopki

January 13, 2021

I will always remember David as a really bright guy with a great sense of Humor.

Bob Kopki

January 14, 2020

All the entries to this point in this book have been serious & reverent. While I respected & liked David greatly, there was also a Humorous side to him that deserves remembering.

"I'll never forget seeing David sitting in an aluminum beach chair on his little porch on Franklin Street,
while watering his " postage stamp sized lawn" and wearing a sleveless T-Shirt "al la Archie Bunker"

Mark Hegedus

February 1, 2012

David was a great colleague and mentor. To this day, my writing is positively influenced by his guidance when I was a junior lawyer. Mark Hegedus (Washington, DC).

John Bartus

January 24, 2012

I am sorry to hear of David's passing. He was one of the very good ones. A great lawyer , a great person, and a great family man.

Easy to talk about the many cases we worked on together, when I was with FERC staff and he was with Spiegel and then Thompson. But the thing I remember is meeting him at Fuddruckers in Annandale. He was with his family, I was with mine. We introduced each other to our families. And I remember how he was obviously happy to be doing something as simple as eating at Fuddruckers with his family.

My deepest sympathies to David's family. He will be missed.

John Twitty

January 23, 2012

David was a great guy, fun to be around and a really good lawyer. I first met him in the mid-80s when we were looking for a good DC lawyer. He impressed our group immediately and got the assignment - one he kept for a long time. Even later, I would enjoy seeing him at APPA meetings and I'm so sorry to learn of his death.

Paul Boyle

January 23, 2012

He was a great guy, I worked with him in a coalition for about 10 years on postal legislation. He always provided good counsel; added wisdom and insight to a conversation at precisely the right time and always put things in perspective with his sense of humor. I learned a great deal from him. My sympathies to the entire Straus family.

Marc Ostroff

January 23, 2012

For many years, I have known David as an in-law, not always the setting for fellowship. Through countless encounters, and especially in working together recently on a business matter, I came to view David with great admiration and affection. His cunning sense of humor and cut-to-the-chase cynicism were tempered by a widely open heart, steadfast loyalty, and remarkable generosity. I will miss you David; but for Iris, Brian, and Carrie, especially, and his many friends and family, I can only offer my share to the flood of comfort that surely reaches you now, and my most sincere condolences.

Raj Rao

January 23, 2012

Our Deepest symphathy to Davids family. I knew him from early 1990's, when was at Speigle McDiarmid. His passion for the subject and his intutiveness to go after the issues, made him to remain in our hearts for ever. His contributions to public power are greatly appreciated by many communities in the country.

Vicki Hennin

January 20, 2012

My deepest sympathy to the Strauss family. His dedication and commitment to supporting the B2B publishing business were so much appreciated.

Guy Wendler

January 20, 2012

David counseled me well for giving testimony before the Postal Rate Commission, two Congressional sub-committee hearings, and a Presidential Commission on the Postal Service. He had a wonderful combination of intelligence and humor which made working with him on otherwise mundane technical matters fun. As a member of ABM I can say that David helped our company many times. My sympathies to his family. We will all miss him.

Michael Allured

January 20, 2012

David was a special person. The world was better off because of David, one conversation at a time. He was knowledgable, practical, informative in an immediately-understandable way. With the right sense of humor for the right occasions. My sympathies to the family.

Scott Smith

January 20, 2012

Deepest sympathy to the Strauss family. David was an invaluable resource for me and others in the publishing business and I will miss his humor, insight and advice.

Chris Moreland

January 20, 2012

Deepest sympathy to the Straus family. It was a pleasure working with him, providing all of his technical needs both work and personal. He will be missed.

Jim O'Brien

January 20, 2012

David was a dear friend and a very gifted attorney. His great sense of humor, sharp intellect, and dedication to the mailing industry will be missed by everyone in the postal community. With deepest sympathy.

Dave McKechnie

January 20, 2012

I am very sorry to hear the news of David's passing. David hired me as a litigation clerk fresh out of college and was a great mentor during the early years before I decided to go to law school. He had a great sense of humour and was a very decent man, despite his allegiance to the Yankees. My deepest sympathy and condolences to his family.

Bob Kopki

January 19, 2012

It was a pleasure to be David's friend. His bright whit & keen sense of humor made it always interesting and fun to be with him. He had the ability to put the world around us into a keen perspective. His dedication to taking care of his family was foremost in his priorities. He was a wonderful, low key man who took care of the important things in life. I will miss him.

January 19, 2012

I was privileged to know David for more than 25 years and solidified our friendship when we had to butt heads at the Postal Rate Commission some years ago when I was still with USPS. Our head to head ended in a couple of beers and some good laughs afterwards. i will miss him. (Ed Mayhew - Parsippany NJ

Rick Arvonio

January 19, 2012

With deepest sympathy and condolences to David's family. Had the distinct pleasure of working with David over the years. He will be missed by all.

Rafe Morrissey

January 19, 2012

It was a great prviilege to have worked with David. I greatly admired his sense of humor, perspective and commitment to the interests he served. I shall miss him but am better for having known him.

Gary & Torie Rubin

January 19, 2012

We'll miss David. He was a very effective advocate for the publishing industry , generous with his time, and a great neighbor (we live around the corner).

Jay Myers

January 19, 2012

He was a truly nice person and a tireless advocate for the cause of public power. He will be missed!

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