In Memoriam

David L. Plimpton

David Plimpton died on February 7, 2019. Here are his obituary, the program from his memorial service, a pamphlet of his writings and photographs, and remembrances from Jeremy Wood '64 and Joe Wishcamper '64. Also see a separate report of his memorial service with remembrances by three classmates.

• Obituary, The New York Times
• Memorial Service program
• Pamphlet of David's writings and photographs
• Remembrance, Jeremy Wood '64
• Remembrance, Joe Wishcamper '64

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Obituary

The New York Times

February 13, 2019

David Lewis Plimpton, age 76, died at home in Brooklyn on February 7 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Son of Calvin H. and Ruth T. Plimpton, he grew up in Riverdale, NY, and had lived in Fort Greene since 1979.

A graduate of Phillips Exeter and Yale, he went on to earn an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop, an MS in Organic Chemistry from NYU, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University.

In 1960, marking the start of a lifelong commitment to public service, David built a school in the Republic of Dahomey (Benin) while volunteering with Operation Crossroads Africa. The following year, while speaking to youth groups across South Africa, he met Chief Albert Lutuli, president of the then-banned ANC, who entrusted him with a letter for Martin Luther King, Jr., which he hand-delivered upon his return to the States.

From 1967-1970 he was a VISTA volunteer teaching at the East Harlem Protestant Parish Writers Workshop.

As a psychologist, David had a small practice in Brooklyn and worked at South Beach Psychiatric Center for 32 years. He was a compassionate clinician with a wry sense of humor and a deep fondness for those in his care. He was also a dedicated member of the Board of the Havens Relief Fund Society.

David was perpetually curious and pursued his interests with unwavering zeal. Most remarkably, he did so largely within New York City limits. An avid windsurfer and fly-fisherman, he traveled extensively in pursuit of both sports, but also delighted in surfing and fishing the local waters of Jamaica Bay.

After becoming a Coast Guard captain and certified fishing guide, he bought a boat ("Go Fish!"), and spent many happy days guiding clients, often with fly rods he had crafted himself.

A skilled woodworker, he searched out tree stumps and turned beautiful bowls on his lathe, prized gifts for friends and family. Other woodworking projects included everything from desks, to a kayak, a whelping box for many Labradors, and dollhouse furniture for his granddaughters.

He ran 17 marathons, including the first five-borough New York City marathon in 1976, and he loved mountain biking, skiing, zydeco dancing, and racquetball. He read voraciously and loved the opera. His zest for life was inspirational and will be missed by all.

David is survived by wife Barbara Thacher; daughters Sarah and Elizabeth; son-in-law Parke Burmeister; granddaughters Elizabeth and Stella; and siblings Polly, Tom (Juanita), and Ted (Claudia) Plimpton. His parents and a brother, George, who died of SIDS in 1947, predeceased him.

In lieu of flowers, he would have asked that memorial gifts be sent to Kingsborough Community College Foundation, c/o Dr. Elizabeth Basile, 2001 Oriental Blvd., Rm. M243, Brooklyn, NY 11235. Please indicate "in memory of Dr. David Plimpton." Or visit www.kingsborough.edu/donatenow. For information about memorial plans, please contact plimpton.memorial@gmail.com.

David's wife writes:

A memorial service for David will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 1:00pm at the Lafayette Presbyterian Church at 85 South Oxford Street, Brooklyn, NY.  A reception following the service will be held nearby in the Lepercq Space at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.  Both the church and BAM are within easy reach of NYC subway stops (Lafayette Avenue on the C line and Atlantic Avenue/Barclay Center on many others). We look forward very much to seeing all who may be coming to the service.  As the day draws nearer, we are realizing that it would be helpful to know how many we may be.  Would you be kind enough to let us know by email at plimpton.memorial@gmail.com if you are planning to come?  If you know of others planning to attend whose contacts we may not have had, we’d be very grateful if you’d share this information with them or respond to us on their behalf. Thank you so much.

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Remembrance by Jeremy Wood '64

February 22, 2019

Here's to David, with a few bowls fresh off the lathe ...

Gentle David ...
Crafty turner of bowls, comforter of souls,
with your love, wit and friendship,
you are forever spun in the fabric all of our lives.
In our hearts now forever,
Davenport's "Big Dee" abides.

David roomed in Davenport with Laird Smith, Jeremy Wood, and John Wylie. Following his wrestling neck injury, the “Big Dee” was forbidden by his docs to engage any more in contact sports. As luck would have it, there was a pair of squash courts in the D’port basement right under the room. Never one to sit still, David enlisted Laird as a squash coach and persuaded Jeremy to partner-up and learn too. Soon the two inept pupils were “at it” at all hours in a good-humored, lively Mutt and Jeff, big guy vs. little guy, slapstick rivalry. Perhaps the genesis of David’s later passion for racquetball.

Not content with just indoor “non-contact” athletic pursuits, the “Big Dee” took up bicycle racing, joining up with the Yale team. While he may not have dominated the field in speed, he always dominated visually in size and grace.

Beatus Vir (Blessed is the man) ...

“Rivers and inhabitants of the watery elements are made for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration.”

“No man is born an artist, so no man is born an angler.”

“No life is so happy and so pleasant as the life of the well-govern’d angler.”

Izaak Walton (1593 - 1683)

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Remembrance by Joe Wishcamper '64

February 23, 2019

David and I hadn’t known each other well at Yale but we reconnected at the 35th reunion and became best of friends. We shared a number of mutual interests including fitness, reading, opera, sobriety, and fishing.

We traveled together to many places, domestic and foreign, to find fish at which to cast a fly: Cuba, Mexico, Russia, Argentina, Chile, Seychelles, British Columbia, Florida, Montana, Louisiana, and Jamaica Bay next to JFK airport, where David plied his retirement trade as a fly-fishing guide.

I have often said that David was a closet intellectual. He had masters degrees in chemistry and creative writing and a PhD in psychology. He was intellectually curious. One week he would be reading about genetics, and the next about the discovery of sunken submarines. He spoke several languages, adequately if not fluently. Despite never studying Spanish, he picked it up and became the go-to Spanish interpreter at the State mental clinic in Brooklyn where he spent most of his career. He read dozens of books each year, many while climbing a StairMaster for an hour at a time at a high setting. He loved theater and opera (to which he and Putzel and their wives had series tickets). He was a perfect party guest, affable and engaging, full of surprising information.

David was a terrific athlete. Elting says that he was the best wrestler in the East his first two years at Yale before he injured his neck and had to retire. At Exeter he had played football and lacrosse as well. After Yale, he became a runner and completed about 25 marathons. Even after his cancer spread and he was enduring various treatments, he stayed fit, exercising daily at his neighborhood gym.

David was so unpretentious that the last thing you would suspect is that he came from a prominent northeastern family or that his upbringing and education had been quite privileged. He was modest and unassuming, qualities that made him so accessible and effective as a therapist.

David was supported to the end by his loving wife Barbara and his two daughters Sarah and Elizabeth.

David was many things: a therapist, a lover of his wife and daughters, an artisan, a New Yorker, a caring man, a gentle man, a gentleman ... and a fisherman.