Obituary
David Michael Demers
Born August 31, 1951 in New Bedford, MA . He attended Holy Family Grammar School and Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, MA. Son of the late Patricia A. (Hayes, Demers, Young) Fal and Wilfred H. Demers, both of New Bedford.
David was a communicant at St Luke Roman Catholic Church in Micco, FL. Father Tony was his favorite priest of all time. David finally got up the nerve and went to confession, telling Father Tony it had been 70 years since his last confession and was a navy veteran. The Father ordered in pizza and chairs for those waiting in line. Father Tony provided wonderfully thoughtful sermons and has added much to the parish.
To say that David had a full and happy life would be an understatement. David loved and is so proud of his wife and three children and their 6 grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling, especially cruising, fishing, his garden and Tiki bar pool house, history and science. David’s favorite places were the Legion Post and most importantly his back yard with friends & family enjoying: Pool & Jacuzzi, Garden, Tiki Bar, Music (Jimmy Buffet, Bee Gees, (Caribbean) and cookouts.
He was a long-term member of over 30 years of the American Legion, serving as Finance Officer at Post 278 at Kent Island, MD and Post 18 Centreville, MD, and Adjutant at Post 366 in Barefoot Bay, FL. He also volunteered for several years as a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
Graduated from Bishop Stang High School in 1969 and enlisted in the Navy in September, 1969. Graduated boot camp at Naval Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, in November, 1969. Trained as a Communications Technician (CT) at the Naval Technical Training Center, Corry Station, FL. Duty assignments included the Naval Security Group Activity, Adak Alaska; and the Naval Security Group Headquarters, Washington, DC.. A tremendous honor, Petty Officer Demers was selected by the Commandant, Naval District Washington and proudly served as a Member of Operation Homecoming, serving on the Special (emphasis added) Debriefing Team for Returned Prisoners of War (Vietnam) at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. David remained in the Naval Reserves after completion of his 4-year active duty enlistment and served in the Naval Reserves between 1973 and 1981 and attained the rank of Petty Officer First Class (E-6). Reserve duty assignments included CINCLANTFLT and the National Security Agency (NSA).
Upon leaving the service David pursued his next passion, his education. He received dual bachelor degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Magnum Cum Laude. He continued graduate studies at The American University in Washington, DC and completed all coursework for his PhD in economics.
David worked at the General Accounting Office in Washington, DC, during 1979-1980 before transferring to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). He proudly worked for Dr. Roland Droitch; a mentor, close friend, and challenging boss. Roland frequently came to David’s office proclaiming an “opportunity for Excellence,” sometimes requiring over-nighters at which Roland provided the pizza. David served as Supervisory Economist and as the Director of the Office of Research and Technical Support under the Assistant Secretary for Policy, in the Office of the Secretary of Labor. David was responsible for policy evaluation and development and the monitoring, reporting and forecasting of the broad range of macro and mico economic indicators as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Bureau of Economic Analysis and poverty and income data of the Census Bureau. He was the Department’s point person on many Administration-wide economic policy issues including the federal minimum wage, family and medical leave act, Davis Bacon Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act and other policy and regulatory priorities. David also served as DOL’s representative on the Congressionally mandated Chrysler Corporation Loan Guarantee Board under President Carter and represented the Department on President Bush’s National Energy Strategy Task Force. David also served as the senior economic advisor to Secretary Elizabeth Dole in her role as a Trustee on the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees. David was also selected for additional duties and was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and worked at Port Arthur, Texas to aid in the recovery efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
David was lovingly married for 47 years to the former Patricia L. Anderson of Canton, MA in 1977. Forever together.
He is survived by his wife, travel companion and best friend Patti, from the tiki bar pool house to Kokomo beaches, I know I’d never find another you. He is further survived by three loving children; Cheryl Hoffman and her husband Michael, Patrick Demers and his wife Alexandria and Kristen Demers-Feddy and her husband IB. So proud of them. David enjoyed 6 loving grandchildren; Madelyn, Katherine, James, William, Hunter and Annie. He is also survived by three brothers, Wilfred and his wife Kathy of Sebastian, FL, and Dartmouth, MA, Peter Demers and his wife Denise of Barnstable, MA and Ormond Beach, FL and Joseph Demers of New Bedford, MA. He is predeceased by his mother, Patricia A. (Hayes) Demers, his father, Wilfred Demers, and brother, Paul Demers of State College, PA.
David’s bucket list: places he’s been have filled a few Brazil, Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, Rio De Janeiro, Thailand, Bangkok, phu*ket, Bridge on the River Kwai, Elephant Riding, Floating Markets, Buddhist Temples, Thai Massage, Waving Peter and me through diplomatic passports/customs, Japan, Yokohama, Kami Saya, Canada, Victoria, Halifax, Anne Green Gables (Prince Edward Sound (PEI), Montreal, Quebec, Victoria, England, Tower of London, Guiness Brewery, London Bridge, Kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, France, Louve Museum, Statue of David, Mona Lisa, Eifel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Bull fight in Madrid, Coup in Portugal, Canary Islands, Rock of Gibraltar, Barcelona Roman Colosseum, Bullfight in Madrid, Italy, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Catacombs (awesome), Pompeii (awesome), Sailed the Amalfi Coast, Tomb of St John Paul, The Vatican, Greece’s evil eye, Conch Republic (Key West), Duval Street Sunset, Ernest Hemingway House, Smokey Joe’s Bar & Grill (Hemingway’s hangout), Southernmost Point in U.S., Key Largo (Kokomo), Panama Canal, Bahamas, Jamica, Barbados, Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, Grand Cayman, St Thomas, St Martin, St John, St Kitts, Carbo San Lucas (Hotel California), Mayan Ruins, Isla Roatan (Honduras), Mahogany Bay, Cozumel, Cancun, Old San Juan, Dominica, Bermuda, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, Martinique, Adak, Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord, Ketchikan, Hawaii, Arizona Memorial, Hilton Hawaiian Village stayed at iconic hotel with rainbow), Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head (inside creator) , USS Missouri, Lahana, Road to Hana, Maui, Hilo (helicopter ride over active volcano), Honolulu, Niagara Falls, Canoeing the Charles River, Walden’s Pond/(Henry David Thorau), Custer Battlefield, Jackson Hole, WY, Lake Tahoe, Venice Beach, Daytona 500, Rolex 24,Reno & Vegas, Hoover Dam, Lexington & Concord, Williamsburg, Lake Winnapisaukee, Myrtle Beach, Gettysburg, Lizzy Borden Bed & Breakfast, Silver City, CO, Rockport, Bar Harbor, Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Plantation, Mayflower, Reagan Loma Linda Library, Warner Brothers Studio, Chinese Theater, Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Los Vegas, Dollywood, Burbon Street, N.O, Jackson Square, N.O, Seattle Space Needle,Cannon Rock, Oregon, Yellowstone NP, Grand Canyon NP, Lake Powell, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood and Boot Hill Cemetery, Boyce and Zion Canyons, Lincoln Memorial at night, Arlington & Unknown Soldier Tomb, Vietnam and WWII Museums, cruised the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 PM on Thursday, May 23rd at Seawinds Funeral Home in Sebastian, a Prayer Service will begin at 4. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Friday, May 24th at St. Luke Catholic Church, 5055 Micco Rd, Barefoot Bay, FL 32976 followed by Military Honors.
David always admired flowers. Flowers will be donated to the church for Sunday Mass in further remembrance of David.
