David R. Wallace
December 24, 1939 ~ February 14, 2023
Resided in:
Portland, Maine
Portland-David R. Wallace, age 83, died of natural causes at Seaside Recovery Center in Portland, Maine on Valentine’s Day, 2023. Dave was born on Christmas Eve, 1939 in Portland, the only and devoted son of Walter and Mary (Norton) Wallace of South Portland. He was the beloved younger brother of Marcia Mountford, Elizabeth Lones, and Kathryn Stewart.
Dave attended Lincoln Elementary School, Mahoney Junior High and graduated from South Portland High School in 1960. He found his calling at the University of Wisconsin where he majored in Education, hoping to inspire other students to find their passion. A lifelong learner, he later earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Southern Maine.
In August of 1964, Dave married Susan Hey of Portland and began his teaching career at Hall-Dale Junior High School before being hired to teach History at Portland High School. It was there that he met and befriended many inspirational educators who shared the art and love of teaching. He also enjoyed coaching Portland High School football and baseball.
Dave went on to be Principal of Lincoln Junior High School and then Principal of Deering High School, which was celebrated as a National School of Excellence under his leadership. David left Portland to become Principal and then Superintendent of Westbrook Schools for
many years. When a position opened in the newly independent Bath School Department, Dave was selected as their first superintendent. In retirement, Dave stepped into leadership roles to help the Saco, South Portland, Livermore Falls, and Brunswick school departments, leaving his personal touches of high standards, fairness and kindness in each place. As education was a vocation not a job, Dave cherished breakfasts with retired and active school leaders until the very end.
Dave spent his spare time lovingly working on and caring for the family camp at Thomas Pond in Raymond, Maine. He was tirelessly committed to making it a place for his family and future generations to enjoy. Over the years the self-appointed “King of the Raft” welcomed hundreds of family and friends to this special place, which is the gathering point of the Wallace family each summer. Whether “uncle,” “brother-in-law,” “brother,” “friend” or “Perfect Papa.” Dave was always the center of the festivities!
Dave traveled near and far with his wife to attend the many activities of his children and grandchildren. He was the best dressed Little League coach, often rushing to games and practices from his office as he deftly juggled his work and family responsibilities.
Dave leaves his dearly loved family - his wife of nearly sixty years, Susan; children, Mary Kate Donovan and her husband Kevin of Springfield Virginia, Walter “Beau” Wallace and his wife Holly of Cumberland, Elizabeth “Betsy” Hargrove of Phoenix, Arizona, and Andrew Wallace of Portland. He also is lovingly remembered by his nine grandchildren, Kate, Annie and Owen Donovan; Morgan and Clare Hargrove; Alex and Katie Wallace; and Margot and David Wallace, who loved their Papa endlessly. They were the light of his life. In addition to his immediate family, Dave will be missed by his in-laws and multiple nieces and nephews.
Dave served as a Eucharistic Minister and Chairperson of St. John’s Parish Council in South Portland for several years prior to relocating to Bath. He was most recently a member of Our Lady of Hope and St. Pius X Parish in Portland.
The family would like to express our sincere gratitude for the loving care Dave received at Seaside Healthcare Center. They loved him and he loved them back.
Visitation celebrating Dave’s life will be held at Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland on Friday, February 24th from 4pm - 6pm. The funeral will be held at 11am at Saint Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue in Portland Maine on Saturday, February 25th, burial will follow in Forest City Cemetery. To view David’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Beacon Hospice 52 Atlantic Place, Ste B 50, South Portland, Maine 04106 or to a charity of your choice.
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Good guy and principal at deering high school. Blessings to the family. RIP. Alice DiBiase
My dearest Sue … so sorry for your loss. I’m grateful for your and Dave’s friendship and affinity for family, laughter and most of all live. Wishing you peace and all the support you need. Jim and
Alice
David was my teacher at Portland High. My sympathy to his family, friends, and loved ones. May he rest in peace.
So sad to hear of Dave’s passing. He was the Principal at Westbrook High School when I started teaching there many years ago. He was an extraordinary person liked by so many at the school. Even though I talked to him many times it is remarkable how much we never know about people. Growing up in South Portland I attended Lincoln Elementary School, Mahoney Junior High and graduated from South Portland High School as Dave did and never even knew it till I just read about it. Would have enjoyed talking to him about growing up in South Portland. Many will miss Dave but have wonderful memories of time spent with him. (from Bob Johnson)
Everyone in bath knew David and loved him
Magnetic, honest and so very funny.
My heart breaks for you sue. He was a favorite of mine since I met him. So humble, so effective and so dam funny. I miss knowing he is no longer with us. You have so many years of good and loving moments to remember him by. I’m in Florida or I would be there to hug you. I hope u and the kids can feel it in absentiia. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers and he is too. Sending you love and energy. Diane moyer
Mr Wallace was a wonderful principal (DHS ‘83) and dear friend to the Walsh family. He and educators like him are sadly missed.
My sincerest condolences to my friend Beau, Holly and his entire family. Mr Wallace made such a positive impact on my high school career that I made it a point to go past his office daily and say good morning to him. Also, the Mr Rhoades piece was me being a genius by signing my student ID with one of my 80’s guitar hero’s and my picture was on the ID!
My condolences to the Wallace family, my name is Doug (Dougie) Sawyer, I was part of the last 9th grade class at Lincoln, and like Mr Wallace I eventually made my way down to Deering, which I graduated in 1982, the reason for the detail is that I have been in ONE fight in my life, at Lincoln, and Mr Wallace took both of the culprits myself and the loser of the fight into his office, I was petrified! My mother is going to kill me, Mr Wallace gave the other kid (3) days suspension, after he left Mr Wallace’s office, upon I made clearly, please,,please,,, do not call my mother! At that point Mr Wallace turned to me and said, don’t worry about Doug, he’s a neighborhood punk, he had it coming to him, you’re all good DOUG!!! Thank you again Mr Wallace, you were AWESOME!
Our sincerest condolences to the Wallace and Hey families. We are sending much love. Cousin Dave was an incredible man, an inspiration to me in my career path. Peace to all.🙏🏻🥰❤️
Making you feel important.
His beloved camp on Thomas Pond.
Dave was a gentleman in every way. As husband, dad, grandfather and friend, Dave had no peers. To know Dave Wallace was to know a warm and caring individual who would go out of his way to help you in any way he could. If you were lucky enough to know Dave ……you were lucky enough. Farewell my friend. May you rest in the loving arms of Jesus!
Even though Dave was an educator by training, he was an excellent plumber, a skill taught to him by his dad as a young man.
Generous to a fault.
My son Kevin was blessed to marry Dave’s daughter Mary. We became friends the moment we met.
Mr. Wallace was the best administrator ever. He was my principal at Lincoln Junior High and Deering High. So many fond memories of his support during that time. He would call me to his office over the intercom just to say hi. I visited him some in South Portland when I was back in town but thought of him often. I am lucky to have such fond memories of a wonderful educator and friend. My condolences to his family.
When I first moved to Maine from NY David was the principal of Lincoln Junior High School. Dave made me feel at home immediately and was a my pleasure to see him each morning, especially watching his antics with sidekick Dudley. The best principal I have ever worked for. I have often thought of him over the years. Rest in peace Dave. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this sad time. Jane Reuben-Mack.
I was very saddened to hear of David’s passing. He was a good man, husband, father. grandfather, school superintendent, principal and coach. He touched many people’s lives in a positive way, he truly “made a difference” in the world. My deepest sympathy to my cousin Sue Hey Wallace, who was tireless in taking care of him the past few years, as well as to her entire family. May his memory be a blessing to all of us.
John McNaughton
David was one of those rare individuals that combine a great sense of humor with care and kindness. He was a great principal. I feel so privileged to have worked for him at Deering. Kathleen Casasa
‘Bath’s Best’ Superintendent who led our schools into the 21st. He would look to the community for innovation and needed resources for his schools – usually over a cup of coffee anytime, anywhere in Bath! David was the People’s Superintendent. His legacy and wonderful sense of humor lives on.
Heartfelt sympathy to David’s family.
Kathy Buttner
To Susan and Andrew and family, I was so sorry to hear of David passing. He helped me get into the school system to work. I will miss him. So sorry for the Wallace passing. Take care. From Kristen Tully
Best wishes to all Dave’s family. He had a profound impact on the Westbrook High School community.
He was my hero and taught me so, so much. As a young, very green teacher, he took me under his wing and showed me by example what an exemplar educator could be. He loved his Sue and his family and they were his priority. His second family was his family in education. He had high standards, but held no one to higher expectations than he expected of himself. If you passed his tests of many pranks, and there were many, you were his friend for life.. I was one of the lucky ones and will forever hold him dear. He was Jim and my matchmaker.
I am so, so sad for all of us. There will never be another Dave. No one could ever reach the bar that he held.
Healing prayers going out to Mrs. Wallace, Dr. Hargrove, Morgan, Clare, your siblings, nieces and nephews along with the numerous other family and friends at this most difficult time. May Mr. Wallace rest in peace knowing the legacy he has left and the inspiration he left in others within his field. God Speed David, as the Angels have swooped down to earth to guide into God’s Kingdom. Many blessing, Mark, Brenda and the Gonzales family.
Healing prayers going out to Mrs. Wallace, Dr. Hargrove, Morgan, Clare, your siblings, nieces and nephews along with the numerous other family and friends at this most difficult time. May Mr. Wallace rest in peace knowing the legacy he has left and the inspiration he left in others within his field. God Speed David, as the Angels have swooped down to earth to guide into God’s Kingdom. Many blessing, Mark, Brenda and the Gonzales family.
Work with David for several years at Westbrook School Dept. he was one of the good guys
Dave hired me to be the principal of Bath Middle School. He was the best superintendent I ever worked with with. I fondly remember him dropping by the school and taking me to breakfast many times. My friend, Dave, left the world he touched a better place.
To Sue and the rest of the family – our most heartfelt condolences to you all from the Walsh Family.
There are way too many stories to tell from those days of 1975 through 1981 that would put people on the floor laughing if they knew the whole story … Dave was quite the interesting “character” with a strong sense of responsibility carefully intermingled with a lot of fun and joking around … at least that is what I saw at school and at our house when he was visiting (which was a lot during those special school years!).
Sadly missed … but incredible memories!!!
May you all be at peace … and if you want to know about the stories let me know.
Ray
Dave and I have been friends and colleagues for many years, and our career path was very similar. We enjoyed Friday morning breakfast and conversation together for many years.
Dave was truly a gentleman, and one of the best you could ever meet and know. He’ll by missed by all the people and lives he touched.
At 15 years old, I worked with Dave at Maine Hardware on Congress Street for 4 years. I later became an I.A. Teacher at the Boys Training Center, and eventually an administrator. Dave and I reconnected over the years.I wish I had called 2 weeks ago when I was thinking about he an Sue. John Serber just informed me. I live in Florida now, and just had spinal surgery.
Sue.. I am so sorry for your loss. You can find me in YouTube (Eccentric Inventor). We gave all been blessed by wonderful families. We have 3 sons and 7 grandchildren. Grandchildren are more fun😎. My love to all
Dave was one of those special people who walk into you life, and never forget what wonderful experiences and memories he left.
Many a tale can told…as many of you know. I loved him like and older brother.
You don’t remember every teacher from your school days, but I remember David Wallace! My friend and I were privileged enough to correct history quizzes for him. Years later I knew of his work in administration as I also became a teacher.
The Wallace family was like family to us growing up in SoPortland and having summer homes on Thomas Pond (Ka Da Wa) was camp name.The elder Wallace(Uncle Wally/Aunt Mary) as we called them were frequent guests at our home and camp.Wonderful family and lots of great memories. My Sincere Condolences to Sue and family.
Sandy Miles Grondin
Student
In 1966 or 1967, Mr. Wallace, while my teacher at Portland High School, worked part-time at a hardware store on Congress Street. Somehow he knew my mom and I couldn’t afford to buy Christmas decorations. Mr. Wallace and some of my precious, precious friends from Deering HS donated a tree and decorations to us.
It’s one of the nicest childhood memories I have.
Thank you, Mr. Wallace.
I worked with Dave Wallace when he was interim superintendent at the Brunswick School Department. It was a time of learning how to use his computer. I’ll always laughed as he said: “TEENA! Can you show me how to reply to this email?” He was so much fun to work with. Lots of laughter.
To the Wallace family- so sorry for your loss. David was a well respected professional. I enjoyed working with him in Bath and benefited greatly from his advice and counsel.
Tom MacDonald
Simply one of the greats!!! Every moment with Dave was one of life’s treats.