William D. Lackey Jr.

Dave was born on March 26, 1964 in New Rochelle, NY, and at age 13, moved to Cumberland Foreside, ME. He was educated at the Rippowam Cisqua School (Bedford, NY), Phillips Academy Andover, and Yale University. Dave’s passion for politics and communications began in Junior High School, when he first volunteered in the local Ford-Dole presidential campaign office. While at Andover, he furthered this involvement by serving as an intern for congressman David Emery of Maine. At Yale, Dave was elected managing editor of the Yale Daily News, a post that allowed him to hone his skill as a wordsmith and “punster.” After college, he began his work for Governor John R. McKernan, Jr., first as “rookie of the year” on the campaign staff, and later as Speechwriter and Director of Communications for Governor McKernan. Dave’s skill as a writer next led him to be appointed Director of Communications and Maine Issues for Senator Olympia J. Snowe, with whom he worked for eight years. Dave was then recruited by Fidelity Investments in Boston, MA, where he served as Vice President of Public Policy for many years. Dave began work in January 2011 as a deputy secretary of state to Charles Summers, Maine Secretary of State.

Dave was a role model in so many ways to his family and friends. An avid learner and reader, Dave spent much of his free time with a book or newspaper at hand, and reveled in sharing tidbits of information. Dave also loved to travel, and visited many diverse areas of the world. He relished the challenge and adventure of planning travel, and of negotiating new cities, new cultures, and new culinary experiences. Dave was a fast walker. He always had somewhere to go. As a dear friend said, he had “people to meet, places to go, and trouble to cause.”

Dave never felt that it was a burden, but rather a gift to himself, to be with family members and to learn from them. He knew his family and friends very well, was generous with his time, and had a great ability to find the perfect gift for those that he loved. His brother said that Dave was “the perfect Best Man,” not only at a wedding, but also in life. Dave’s friends and colleagues echoed these sentiments. A former co-worker said that Dave was a mentor, always willing to take the time to share knowledge and assist those with whom he worked, and most of all, “Dave was simply a solid person. He had a kind soul and was attentive and respectful to all he came in contact with. He always took the extra step to help explain or help others no matter how ‘small’ the request. I can honestly say that my life would not be what it is today without Dave. And I will miss him dearly.”

Dave was a loving and dedicated son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, grandson, and friend. He is survived by his father, William D. Lackey, of Pittsboro, NC, and his wife Ann; his mother, Jean M. Hubbell, of Cumberland Foreside, ME, and her husband, William; his brother, Timothy C. Lackey, of Whitefield, ME, and his wife, Heidi; his sister, Amanda L. Cote, of North Yarmouth, ME, and her husband Ryan; his niece Eliza M. Cote, of North Yarmouth, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

A memorial service in celebration of Dave’s life will be held at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 425 Congress Street, Portland, ME on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, Dave’s family requests that donations be made to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Attn: Development, 330 Brookline Avenue (BR), Boston, MA 02215. Please make checks payable to "BIDMC" and include W. Davis Lackey, Jr. in the check memo field.