Obituary of David Etsell

David G. Etsell, a teacher, research scientist, and a man who embraced life and his family, passed away at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington, after a long illness on Wednesday evening February 22, 2012. He was 74 years old. David was born in Medford, the son of the late Benjamin and Winifred Etsell. He grew up in Wilmington and was a 1955 graduate of Wilmington High School. He furthered his education with a BS in Chemistry from Merrimack College, a Masters in Engineering from Northeastern University, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from Lesley University. He worked for 11 years at Tech/Ops in Burlington as a research scientist. He specialized in Photo Optics and held a patent on a process of film coating that turned black and white film into color pictures. He then changed his career to become a teacher at Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover. He taught math, science, and special education math until his retirement. Being a teacher was a truly rewarding life choice for David. David embraced life and the world around him. After college, he would annually back-pack around Europe enjoying the vast history and different cultures. When Dave and Phyllis married, they spent a five-week honeymoon in Europe and shared many of his previous experiences. He was always a thinker, who loved to study and learn. He particularly liked to study languages, his favorite was German. He loved being with his family and they all enjoyed fishing and “running” their dogs and cross-country skiing in the winter. He enjoyed working on computers and as a programming consultant. David coached both girls and boys youth soccer in Burlington for many years. Although he lived with kidney disease for most his life, he did not let that dampen his spirit or his love for his family. He was a beacon of wisdom, guidance, and love for all his family and friends, and his memory will endure in the hearts of those who knew him. David was the beloved husband of Phyllis (Taglieri). Loving father of John Etsell of Burlington and Lisa Costa & her husband David of Woburn. Brother of Elaine Knodel & her husband Ralph of RI and the late Robert Etsell & his late wife Beth. Uncle of Mark Etsell & his wife Leaesa and their three sons of KS. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Monday, Feb.27 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday 3-6 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in David’s name may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 85 Astor Ave., Suite 2, Norwood, MA 02062.