The Reverend Deacon David George Daumit, alumnus and former member of St. Vladimir's Seminary’s Board of Trustees, reposed in the Lord on January 28, 2015, at the age of 59. Ordained to the Holy Diaconate on March 21, 2010, Dn. David had been serving at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Phoenix, AZ, with The Very Reverend Christopher Salamy.
St. Vladimir's Alumni Association Board Chair and fellow St. George parishioner Gregory Abdalah notes, “As a trustee and an alumnus, Dn. David was an excellent witness to the gospel and to the mission of St. Vladimir's. He provided a wonderful model of service and humility in his years as a student, and then later, when he served on our Board. As a mentor to many, his presence will be greatly missed.”
In addition to earning his M.Div. degree and M.A. in Religious Education degree in 1984 from St. Vladimir’s, Dn. David also earned an M.S. degree in Gerontology. While at Seminary, and following his graduation, Dn. David served as the Assistant Director and Director of the Department of Youth Affairs of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, and was also given a grant under the direction of The Very Reverend Dr. Joseph Allen, to research the creation of a Department of Ministry to the Aged.
Deacon David spent the last 25 years in the Senior Services industry, most of which have been in the Assisted Living sector. He started his first assisted living company, Potomac Group Home Corporation, in 1989. In 1990, in conjunction with the greater Washington chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, he developed the first specialized activities program for Alzheimer’s residents. He retired from Potomac Homes in 2004.
Deacon David most recently was operating New Dawn, an Assisted Living and specialty Alzheimer’s Care company, of which he was Founder and CEO. He had served on the National Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association, The National Board of Directors of The Assisted Living Federation of America, and several state chapter boards, including Maryland and New Jersey.
Deacon David is survived by his loving wife, Ronice, and three children, Rebecca, Harmony, and Travis; and three beautiful grandchildren, Addison, Jackson, and Nola; and brothers Rick and Ronald.
St. Vladimir’s representatives who will be attending Dn. David’s funeral include Chancellor/CEO The Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield, Board of Trustees Treasurer Anthony Kasmer, Associate Chancellor for Finance Melanie Ringa, and Senior Advisor for Advancement Theodore Bazil.
The funeral schedule is as follows:
Sunday, Feb 1, 2015—Trisagion Prayers following Divine Liturgy
Thursday, Feb 5, 2015—Viewing from 5 p.m.–7 p.m. and Trisagion at 6:30 p.m., St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church
Friday, Feb 6, 2015—Funeral 10 a.m., followed by the Interment at Paradise Memorial Gardens
A Meal of Mercy will be offered in memory of Dn. David in The Legacy Ballroom following the interment.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church (4530 E. Gold Dust Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85028) in Dn. David's memory. All memorial gifts will be used for St. George's ministry to senior citizens.
