Obituary of David Steven Kessler

David Steven Kessler passed away in January 2023. David was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 21, 1940, the first of four children to Sylvia and Herman Kessler. He grew up in Bethpage, Long Island, NY. Education was very important to David and he excelled in his studies. Once an alumnus, he maintained an interest and loyalty to all the educational institutions he attended. At Bethpage High School, David graduated valedictorian for his class of 1957. He kept up with several longtime friends who went to high school and played sports with him. He was inducted into the Bethpage High School Hall of Fame. David graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and then earned a Masters degree in Engineering and a Masters Degree in International Affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. He has been an active alumnus at both Cornell and Princeton. His career included work in public and private transportation in New York City. Since he was fluent in Spanish, he was able to do consultant work in Mexico and Chile. David served as a Captain the US Army, having done ROTC training at college, and played on the US Army Golf team. His beloved cats, Echo and Snowflake, were enjoyable companions in his later years. David is survived by his sisters Elayne and Joan, nieces and nephew Heather (Ian), Megan (Amrit), Leah and Daniel. A burial at Mount Ararat Cemetery took place on January 27, 2023. Donations in David's memory may be made to the Cornell University Feline Health Center, College of Veterinary Medicine or to the Cornell Ornithology Lab