1942 – 2016

GREENWOOD — A well-orchestrated death was the wish of David Chapman Brainard, who passed quickly and with dignity on Sunday, Feb. 7.

David was born in Middletown, Conn., on Aug. 18, 1942. He was the fourth son of Gordon and Ruth Brainard of Westbrook, Conn.

David grew up in Westbrook, Conn., and graduated from Old Saybrook High School in 1960. He went on to graduate from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in physics in 1965, working for several years at the U.S. Navy’s Underwater Sound Lab as a sonar analyst. He married Edith Everts and they settled in Essex, Conn. Shortly after this, they had a son, David Jr. During the 1980s, David started Brainard Associates, a general contracting and masonry company based in North Stonington, Conn. Through his contracting work, he left his mark on churches, schools and many other places.

In 1999, David and Edith moved from their home in Essex, Conn., to their home on Twitchell Pond in Greenwood. In partial retirement, David did cost estimation consulting work and became a member and then chairman of the Greenwood Planning Board. During this time, he played the tuba in “The Yet to be Named Banjo Band” with several good friends. They played at town functions and local convalescent homes and on the Songo River Queen.

David grew up near the ocean and had a lifelong passion for the sea, boats and sailing. David and his wife of nearly 50 years, Edith, enjoyed traveling, including small excursions around New England and Canada and bigger trips to all but two of the world’s continents.

David was a fisher among friends and family, taking care and soothing troubled waters with humor, measure and compassion. David spoke of wanting to leave this world on a sunny day with loved ones saying goodbye and old friends who have passed welcoming him on the next step of his soul’s journey. It was cloudy on Sunday morning, and then the sun came out and so he crossed.

David leaves behind his wife, Edith; son, Dave and fiancée, Chris; brother, Jack; Alice the dog and Charlotte the cat; a large extended family; and a wonderful community of friends who will miss him and we are filled with joy for his peace and happiness! God bless, Godspeed and for goodness sake keep smiling, keep your chins up and keep laughing!