Deceased December 12, 2020
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In Memory
David Wheeler Blackburn passed away on Dec. 12, 2020, from COVID-19. He loved his family, his dogs, his friends, summers in Maine, competitive bridge, dancing to Big Band music, the Boston Pops at Tanglewood, travel and good food. He loved people, and he loved life. He brought his joie de vivre and a love of learning to Amherst, earning honors in English and American studies and writing his thesis on Hemingway. Sophomore roommate George Edmonds ’53 recalls David’s many acts of kindness and afternoon bridge games. Later, in “the Barracks” of Theta Delta Chi, his roommates included Bazil Brown ’53, Blake Cady ’53 and Don Sutherland ’53. David and Bazil once hitchhiked in a snowstorm to see South Pacific on Broadway. At Mount Holyoke, he met his first wife, Anne McAvoy.
After college, he enlisted, serving in Army Intelligence (explaining a lifelong fondness for James Bond movies). Later he joined IBM, where he remained for 30 years, living in Pennsylvania, New Orleans and Virginia, always finding for his family the most fun things to do in each new place. He eventually returned to Amherst to serve as director of fundraising for several years, before becoming an independent fundraising consultant in Connecticut. David and his second wife, Sharon Wilbourne Blackburn, enjoyed global travel and happy returns to Fairfield and their beloved Australian shepherds. He stayed committed to Amherst, serving as class agent, reunion chairman (three times), class VP and class president. In duplicate bridge, he achieved the rare rank of Gold Life Master.
In his last days, it was evident, even limited to phone calls, that David was living the Hemingway code of grace under pressure, always thanking the nurses and wishing them well, despite his difficulties. He took his leave as a true Amherst gentleman. He is survived, mourned and always loved by his wife, daughters, stepsons, nephews and grandchildren.
Barbara Blackburn-Tuttle ’79