David M. Daly

David M. Daly passed away peacefully on Nov. 5 after a brief illness, with his family by his side at their compound in Southold. He was 74 years old.

Formerly of Pelham, N.Y., and then Southold, he leaves behind his wife of 37 years, Marilyn; their children and their spouses: Courtney and Ryan McGuire of Ludlow, Vt., and David M. Daly Jr. and Benigno Gonzalez Vicente and Kerry and Christopher Ruggi, all of New York, N.Y., and Southold. He is also survived by his sister, Genevieve D. McGrath of Southold, and a very large extended family whom he loved. He was predeceased by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Daly ll, and his brothers, Donald M. (1954), Dr. Robert M. (2011) and Thomas F. lll (2012).

David graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 1957. He went on to the College of the Holy Cross on an athletic scholarship for track and field, graduating in 1961. Upon graduating from Georgetown Law School in 1964, he joined the law firm of Emmet, Marvin and Martin, LLP, becoming a partner in 1972. His areas of expertise were trust and estate law, fiduciary taxation and municipal law. He retired from the firm in 2009 but remained of counsel until his illness, marking 49 years with his firm.

While living in Pelham, he was the village attorney for 17 years and also served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 10 years, nine of them as chairperson. Additionally he was a board member of the Pelham Booster Club and coached softball and Little League baseball. He was also a member of the New York Athletic Club for over 30 years.

David had many passions, including skiing, football, pretzels and a love of all dogs big and small. His foremost passion was the water, and he was an avid sailor from an early age as a member of the Southold Yacht Club, with many trophies to his credit. He docked his beloved sailboats, Medlaw and its successor, Hooligan, in Greenport. Every necktie he ever wore was adorned with at least one sailboat. He had spent every summer since birth in Southold and eventually retired there full time in 2009.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, Nov. 8, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold.

Those who wish to remember David in a special way may send a donation to Peconic Baykeeper, a nonprofit organization that serves to protect the waters he grew up on and loved so much. Donations can be made through its website, peconicbaykeeper.org.

This is a paid notice.