Obituary of David L. Gumport

CATSKILL – David L. Gumport, 89, formerly of Greenville, passed away December 21 at Albany Medical Center. Born in Caldwell, NJ on February 5, 1923 he was the son of the late Leslie I. Gumport and Rose E. (Harrison) Gumport. David attended school in 4 states, including Greenville Central School, and entered the Merchant Marine in 1940. Later in 1940, he became a cadet in the Pennsylvania Nautical School and also a cadet in the US Naval Reserve. After Pearl Harbor, he was transferred as a cadet to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and then sent to sea to complete his training. He became a Merchant Marine officer and an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He served in the Merchant Marine throughout World War II in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Middle East, and Pacific war zones, and was awarded the Merchant Marine Combat bar, the Philippine Liberation ribbon, and the N.Y. State Conspicuous Service Cross. He obtained his Unlimited Master’s License from the U.S. Coast Guard to serve as Captain of Steam and Motor Vessels of Any Tonnage on Any Ocean. He was honorably discharged as Lieutenant U.S.N.R. from the Navy in 1958. David attended Union College and graduated from Albany Law School in 1952. He was admitted to the N.Y. State Bar and to the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court, and practiced law in Greenville from 1952 to 1986 when he retired. During his lifetime, at various times, he held the following positions: Director in the National Bank of Cairo, Advisory director of Sate Bank of Albany Cairo Branch, Director in The National Bank of Coxsackie, Greenville Republican committeeman, committeeman for Boy Scouts of America Greenville Troop 42, the county’s first Assistant District Attorney for Greene County, U.S. Government Appeal Agent for the Catskill Draft Board, President of the Norton Hill Wildlife Club, Greene County Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs delegate to the N.Y. State Conservation Council, NRA and NY-certified Hunter Safety Training Instructor, member of the N.Y. State Bar Association, the N.Y. State District Attorney’s Association, and the N.Y. State Title Association. David was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Greenville, where he served as Vestryman, and past Jr. Warden. He was a member and Past Master of James M. Austin Lodge 557 F and AM, a member and past Judge Advocate for the Greenville American Legion Post 291, and a member and Past President of the Greene County Bar Association. David is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Harriet; their two sons: David (Karen) of Greenville and, Jeffrey (Yvette) of Washington, DC; three grand children: Lindsay Osborne (David); of Tallahassee, FL; Kelsi Gumport of Oviedo; FL Geoffrey Gumport of Washington, DC; and two great-grandchildren: Talitha and Lincoln Osborne of Tallahasse, FL. Funeral services will be held December 27 at 11:00 am at A. J. Cunningham Funeral Homes in Greenville, NY. Calling hours will be December 26, from 4-8 pm. The Greenville American Legion Post #291 will conduct services on Wed. at 7:00pm & James Austin Lodge #557 F. & A.M. will conduct services at 7:30pm. To remember Dave in a special way the family has requested donations in his memory can be made to the Greenville Rescue Squad or the Christ Episcopal Church..