David Taylor Guernsey died Jan. 26 in Falmouth. He was 90 and preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Jacqueline Chapman Guernsey.
He grew up in Rye, N.Y. and Edgartown. He was the third son of the late Otis L. Guernsey Sr. and the late Margaret C. Henderson. As a boy, he enjoyed outdoor sports and won many trophies racing his Beach Boat and Rover at the Edgartown Yacht Club. David graduated from The Taft School in 1944 and then joined the Navy, serving in Norfolk, Va. After his service, he graduated from Yale University in 1949.
David married his childhood sweetheart in 1949 and started to raise a family in New York city; they moved to Rye, N.Y. in 1955. He worked on Wall Street for over 30 years as a municipal bond investment banker. Many of his financing projects included major turnpikes, bridges, and most notably, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Norfolk, Va. For many summers, he joined his family and friends on Martha’s Vineyard to sail and fish, and socialized at the Edgartown Reading Room.
He retired from Smith Barney in 1982 to help his wife establish Teaticket Farm in Litchfield, Conn., where they bred and raised horses. While there, the Guernseys hosted many fabulous Christmas gatherings. David was involved in numerous organizations helping the greater Litchfield community.
They sold Teaticket in 2000 and moved to North Falmouth to enjoy retirement and countless rounds of golf at The Ballymeade Country Club. With more free time, David was able to enjoy his membership in The New York Yacht Club, which included frequent participation in the NYYC Cruises. David also discovered the sport of curling, and spent many a day competing with good friends at The Cape Cod Curling Club.
David is survived by his four children: Suzi G. Funnell, David T. Guernsey Jr., Lucie G. Kleinhans, and Kent C. Guernsey. He is also survived by his five grandchildren: Margaret Gunter, Elizabeth McMahon, Alexander Funnell, David Guernsey 3rd, and Jacqueline Kleinhans. He was able to enjoy time with his three great-grandchildren: Luke Gunter, Holden Gunter, and Mollie Gunter. He will be greatly missed by his dear cousin Eric Neff and his wife, Nancy, and by his brother Otis Jr.’s widow, Dorianne Guernsey.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Essex, Conn.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be sent to The Special Forces Charitable Trust, P.O. Box 53, Essex, CT 06426.
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