David Alexander Stuntz

The family of David Alexander Stuntz is profoundly saddened to announce his death on December 29, 2022.

David was born to Ralph Emil Stuntz and Hazel Hadden Howlett Stuntz in August 1920 in Denver, Colorado; the youngest of three children. The family settled in Findlay, Ohio where he spent his school years. In 1938 amidst a huge hurricane, he made it to Cambridge, Massachusetts to embark on his college career at Harvard.

He met Hilda Evelyn Phillips in 1938 and they married in July 1942 after he graduated Cum Laude with a BA in political science with an economics major. World War II saw him join the Navy; one year as an ensign in training, two years of action in the Pacific aboard the USS Steele, DE8, discharged as a Lt in 1946. He then furthered his studies at the Harvard Business School.

David and Hilda then adopted their daughter Sharon Alexandra and moved to California where he worked for Hughes Aircraft for several years before returning to Massachusetts to begin another job in Boston. Over his 35 year career, he worked for three companies, all with very advanced technological product lines. The last eight years, he was transferred to London which also allowed him, often accompanied by Hilda, to travel extensively throughout Europe. During this time, he and Hilda also were able to enjoy the vast cultural resources like the opera (favorites: La Bohème and the Ring cycle), the theatre, many historical events, commemorations, and visiting places. They enjoyed cruising up the Nile and visiting Moscow and Tokyo.

In 1982, David and Hilda began the retirement phase of their long life together in Center Sandwich, New Hampshire. David was an avid outdoorsman all his life. Being in that environment allowed him to hike the mountains, completing the 4,000 footers three times! He also began to indulge other passions like storytelling and poetry. He honored many engagements as a storyteller and published a book of his poetry under the expert eye of his niece Kay’s husband, Larry. Winters often found him on skis or snow shoes.

David and Hilda lived together in great harmony (she was a fine singer and member of many chorales). Art was always an integral part of the household and David spent time making the frames that held Hilda’s art work. All this came to an end in January 1999 with Hilda’s death.

Subsequently, David began another life in company of Helen Boynton, whose late husband had also been a Harvard man. They spent 15 wonderful years together with much traveling, especially throughout the US and including several trips to Europe. They eventually moved into an assisted living facility in Brunswick, Maine. They remained living together until Helen was moved into a more suitable living facility, remaining there until her passing.

David had always wanted to be closer to his family. He became particularly close to his grandson Georges, with whom he had developed a very special relationship when Georges came as a high school sophomore to study in the US. Because of this, David found and moved into an assisted living facility in Cambridge close by Harvard! He totally relished the frequent visits with Georges, his wife, Avisheh and of course his two great granddaughters.  They were a source of great joy and comfort for him.

In the last year of his life he was well cared for in another more suitable structure. There, he was able to continue enjoying visits from Georges and family, and also his grandson Steven who had moved to Montreal. When Steven and his wife Marie were able to present David with his great-grandson; the joy was visible on his face and in his eyes.

These last joys, David and his great grandchildren, are how the family chooses to remember a truly remarkable man who defied much to get to his 103rd year!

Funeral services are private.