DAVID M SAUNDERS
Name: DAVID M SAUNDERS
Entry Date: >57
Exit Date: <63
Rating:
Status: D: 06/16/2004
“David McKeon Saunders, a career naval officer who was also an avid yachtsman and aviator, died Wednesday (6/16/2004) from complications of a stroke at his home in Annapolis. He was 83.
Mr. Saunders, who was born and raised in Washington, DC, moved with his family to Takoma Park in the early 1940’s. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1944 with the class of 1945, which was accelerated because of the need for officers during World War II.
After graduation, he served aboard the light cruiser USS Miami in the Pacific, and after graduating from flight school at Pensacola, FL, he flew as a Naval Aviator during the last year of the war.
In 1951 he attended the Naval Post Graduate School and was awarded a Gugenheim Fellowship to pursue jet propulsion studies at Princeton University, While at Princeton, where he earned a masters degree in science and engineering in 1952, he served as a jet engine consultant and project manager for Pratt & Whitney.
After leaving Princeton he was assigned to the Navy’s VP-21, its first propeller-jet mine laying squadron.
He attended the U.S. Naval War College in the early 1960’s before being named director of program evaluation for the Navy’s ASW Systems Project in Washington.
At the time of his retirement in 1968, Mr. Saunders had served a tour of duty in Vietnam as captain of the USS Chara, an ammunition carrier. After retiring, he moved to Annapolis where he established S&R Associates Inc., which specializes in real estate development, construction and restoration of old homes. He was president of the business, which is still family-owned and operated. He also sold airport ground support equipment, including firetrucks and other firefighting equipment.
Until giving up the sport in 1992, Mr. Saunders enjoyed flying his Cessna 340 twin engine aircraft. An accomplished yachtsman, Mr. Saunders successfully competed aboard his two sloops, the Spindrift, and the Air Mail, in 19 ocean races, winning trophies in the Bermuda Race, and Southern Ocean Racing Conference. He also won six high point championships in the Chesapeake Bay, including the prestigious Viking Trophy.
David was married to for 46 years to the former Elizabeth Rosasco. She died in 1993.
Memorial services were held at the Naval Academy Chapel on Wednesday, 23 June 2004.
David is survived by his wife of eight years, the former Carol Hoke; three sons, Mark P. Saunders of Yorktown, VA, and Scott F. Saunders and Craig W. Saunders, both of Annapolis; and four grandchildren.”