David R. Leinster

He was born in New Haven, CT on February 14, 1935, the son of Charles and Eunice (Houde) Leinster. He grew up in Branford, CT, attending local schools.

David was a member of the Naval Reserves, and following his graduation from Branford High School, he enlisted in the Navy, where he served from 1953 until 1956.

In 1956, he married Patricia Harlow Neal, and the couple shared 60 years together until his passing.

Following his discharge from the Navy, he attended Southern Connecticut University and the University of Bridgeport, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. His graduate work was completed at the University of Connecticut.

In 1966, David joined the faculty of Keene State College as a history professor. While there, he served the college on several committee appointments, as well as serving as head of the History Department for several years. In addition, he received the Distinguished Teacher Award in 1990, and the New Hampshire Professor of the Year Award in 1991. His greatest joy in his teaching career was mentoring and guiding many first-generation college students. David retired from Keene State in 1998.

Over the years, David enjoyed sailing, first in Connecticut and later in the waters off Rhode Island. He and his wife, Patricia, had several memorable trips to Europe, but their annual trip to Cape Cod, starting in the 1950’s, was always a highlight of special vacations spent as a family. Time spent with his grandchildren was especially meaningful, as they were ‘his heart’s delight.’

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Patricia (Neal) Leinster, of Westmoreland; three daughters, Anne Windham, her husband, Ryder, and their two daughters, Dorothy Margit and Violet Ruth, of Providence RI, Chaipel Leinster and her partner, Mitch Gowans, of Providence, and Katherine O’Connor, her husband, Rob, and their children, William Denis and Claire Katherine, of Keene, NH; a sister, Janet Brinton of Bethany, CT and her children, Robert, Garrett, Heather and William; as well as cousins, Frederick and Michael Houde; and Mary Alice (Houde) Howley of CT. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Charles Leinster, of Clinton, CT.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 11:00AM in St. Margaret Mary Church, 33 Arch Street, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:00PM at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene.

A committal service with military honors will be held on Wednesday, August 10th at 1:00PM in the Branford Center Cemetery, 175 Montowese Street, Branford, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Leinster’s memory to the Historical Society of Cheshire County, PO Box 803, Keene, NH 03431-0803.