David A. West

David Alexander West died peacefully on September 15th, 2023, joining his beloved wife of 70 years, Susan Quillen West (d. 3/2/23) in everlasting love and peace. He was 92 years old. David leaves a legacy as deep as it is wide. He is survived by his five children and their spouses (Ted/Anna West; Sally/Andy Williams(d); Bruce/PR West; Ann/Vincent Figueredo and Tom/Eve West); his fifteen grandchildren and his sixteen great grandchildren as well as his brother Gordon/Joan West and his brother and sister in law Parker Quillen and Lydia Ann McCloskey, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

David was the eldest child of George Harold Bamford West and Marjorie Tattersfield West. He was a proud and loyal graduate of Germantown Friends School ‘49 and Princeton University ‘53 (Tower Club). He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War aboard the SS Badger. David and Sue lived most of their lives in Blue Bell, PA, with an exciting expat chapter in Mexico City launching the Latin American division for IMS, a global pharmaceutical market research firm.  He spent many happy retirement years traveling the globe with Sue and living part-time in Tortola, BVI.

David/Dad/Papa D was a leader, an innovator and a successful business entrepreneur.  He was Clerk of the School Committee at Germantown Friends School, served on the Board of the Philadelphia Zoo, was Rector’s Warden at Church of the Messiah in Gwynedd and was an active parishioner and lay reader at St Thomas’ Church Whitemarsh. He was a long time member of the Foulkeways Retirement Community leading their efforts around tree stewardship. He was also a member of St. George’s Society and Sunnybrook Country Club.

David set the highest bar for himself and for each of us.  He was an exemplary husband, son, brother, father, boss, friend and community builder.  A more brilliant mind you could never meet.  When David spoke, you stopped in your tracks, and when he read scripture, he delivered the Word of God with an authority that clearly reflected his deep faith. His greatest joys were his sprawling family, his lifelong friends from GFS and Princeton, his passion for conservation (tigers in particular) and his many dogs – each the Best in Show.  David was greatly admired and respected by all who knew him, and is already deeply missed.

Funeral will be held on Saturday November 25th at 10:30am, at St.Thomas’ Church in Flourtown, PA.  A reception and life celebration will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas’ Church Whitemarsh Music Fund.