Deceased July 28, 2020

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In Memory

David Elson Sheppard, aged 82, passed away on July 28, 2020, in Glen Mills, Pa., from complications due to pancreatic cancer. Dave is remembered by classmates as a serious student, and his academic career at Amherst bore great fruits as an internationally known geneticist. In 1971, he received the University of Delaware’s Excellence in Teaching Award, and his name is inscribed on a brick in Mentors’ Circle, a landscaped area just west of Memorial Hall on UD’s Newark campus that acknowledges faculty for their contributions to teaching excellence and mentorship of students.

University of Delaware Provost Robin Morgan called Dr. Sheppard’s work on the bacterial arabinose operon “nothing short of outstanding.” Morgan explained, “The ara operon was very unique and didn’t follow the usual rules of the times. Dave had the courage and integrity to stand up for his results and present them with pride and dignity. Time proved him to be correct!”

He was born on Jan. 16, 1938, in Chester, Pa., the only child of Ruth Crosier Sheffield Sheppard and Howard Blew Sheppard. He attended the Chester Public Schools through ninth grade and graduated from the Mount Hermon School for Boys in 1955. He received the B.A. (biology) from Amherst College in 1959 and a Ph.D. (biology-genetics) from Johns Hopkins in 1964. He taught at Reed College from 1963 to 1965 and held a NSF postdoctoral fellowship in biology sciences at the University of California-Santa Barbara from 1965 to 1966. He taught courses in genetics and biochemistry and performed research in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware from 1967 until his retirement in 2005. His research interests were in the area of the control of gene expression in bacteria. David embraced the non-theological fellowship of the First Unitarian Society of Wilmington, Del., and was an active member for over 50 years. He was particularly proud of his involvement in the new Unitarian congregations started by First Unitarian in southern New Jersey and the Delmarva Peninsula.

David married the love of his life, Gayle Lea Drummey, on Aug. 20, 1960. His devotion to her was always foremost in his actions. They were together until his death. David is survived by his wife; their children Rebecca (Christopher), Paul (M. Sharon), and Marc (S.J.); their grandchildren Daniel, Benjamin, Joshua and Thoreson.  

John Liebert ’59