David A. Prentice

Rowley - David Anderson Prentice, 82, husband of Barbara Ann (Petrowicz) Prentice of Central Street, passed away Friday, February 9, 2023 at the Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport.
He was born in New York City on November 24, 1940 son of the late Dr. Howard A. and H. Elizabeth (Welch) Prentice. David was raised in Maryland and educated at the Sidwell Friends Middle School in Washington, DC, and the Bethesda Chevy Chase Senior High School, and was a graduate of University of Vermont. From 1960 to 1962 he served an enlistment in the U.S. Navy. Following recruit training he was assigned active duty with the U.S. Ceremonial Guard and was appointed Platoon Leader at the Washington DC Naval Station. He was also a reserve member until 1966. His working career included summers with the Lake Champlain Transportation Company of Burlington, VT as a crew member, purser and engineer on the ferry crossing between Charlotte VT and Essex, NY. This was followed by employment at Sylvania Electric Products in MA, PA and Varian/Extrion in Beverly. He retired from Varian Semiconductor Equipment as Senior Facilities Engineer in Gloucester, now known as Applied Materials.
David was a long-time member of the Ipswich Outboard Club, having served on the Board of Directors for several years. Boating, swimming, water skiing, fishing and clamming were in his blood. He enjoyed them all, whether on Ipswich Bay or on Lake Champlain at the family camp.
David was an avid reader, Patriots fan, traveler and the family's "Mr. Fix It."
In addition to his wife Barbara of 55 years, whom he met while working at Sylvania Lighting Products in Salem, he is survived by a daughter, Jennifer (Prentice) Robertson and her husband, Michael of Newburyport; a sister, Mary Colombo and her husband, Paul of Colchester, VT; sisters-in-law, Joanne Doucet and Mary Jane Craven, both of Ipswich; a niece and several great nieces and nephews.
Private funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich. Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Ipswich Outboard Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 375, Ipswich, MA 01938. To leave a condolence, please visit www.whittier-porter.com.