David James Walsh of Water Mill, New York City and Washington, D.C., Dies October 21

David James Walsh of Water Mill, New York City and Washington, D.C., died peacefully on October 21 in New York City. He was 88.

Born on April 13, 1936, in Plainfield, New Jersey, he was raised in Metuchen, New Jersey, where he graduated from St. Francis Cathedral Grammar School in 1950, and St. Peter’s High School in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1954. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in economics. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for three years, including a year in Morocco. He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant in 1961.

He received an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1963, majoring in finance.

Walsh was employed by Time Inc. for 20 years starting in 1963. He served as managing director of Time-Life Books from 1973-1983. He moved to Scholastic, Inc. in 1983, and served as senior vice president, international for 20 years. In that position, he traveled extensively, including forty-nine visits to Australia. He served as a consultant for the company until his retirement in 2006.

He had served on Georgetown University’s Lauinger Library Board of Directors since 1977, and as chairman for six of those years, from 1999-2005.

He enjoyed singing, and recorded seven cassettes and four CDs for family and friends over many years.

Walsh’s close involvement with Georgetown University was due in part to his being a member of The Georgetown Chimes, an a cappella singing group into which he was accepted as a freshman in 1955. In the early 1990s, he founded the GU Library’s Chimes Endowment Fund.

He was a member of the Racquet and Tennis Club of New York City, as well as the University Club of New York City. He was also a member of the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southhampton, near his home in Water Mill. He also had homes in Washington, D.C., and New York.

He is survived by his spouse of many years, Alfredo Lopez-Cardoza; along with many nieces and nephews.

He will be buried at The Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C., close to his beloved Georgetown University.

Contributions in his memory may be made to The GU Library, Chimes Endowment Fund #EL2800053, PO Box 57114, Washington, DC 20057.