David W. Wasserman

March 1, 2021

David W. Wasserman of Winchester, MA, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021 at the age of 63. He was a loving husband, amazing father, and Papa Waz to two wonderful grandchildren. David was born in New Brunswick, NJ, to Jerry and Maxine Wasserman. His family moved to Lexington, MA, when he was 12 and at the age of 16, he met Nancy, his high school sweetheart, at the annual Patriots Day Parade. David flirted and hung out with her for weeks until she, tired of waiting, lost patience and finally asked him out. They started dating and continued on and off through college. In September 1980, David took Nancy to the top of Mount Washington in NH. It was 75° at the bottom of the mountain and 25° with blowing snow at the top. They got out of the car and he convinced her to cross the slick ice-covered parking lot to look out over the edge across the valley. He had an engagement ring and prepared to ask her to marry him with the beautiful mountain range as a backdrop. However, as he took her arm, she felt unsteady, panicked, and started yelling “don’t touch me!”. Eventually he was able to pop the question and she said “yes”. They married in June 1981 and were a team from that day forward. David and Nancy raised three children - Robert, Marc and Kati. David was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren, sharing pictures and bragging about them to anyone who would listen. He did the important “dad” things when the kids were little like pulling a tooth if it was hanging by a thread, letting them shave with him by putting shaving cream on their face before wiping it off, and having sock-ball fights in the second-floor hall. Unless David was on a business trip, he was always home in time for family dinners. He started his kids skiing at an early age in NH, and there were trips to Utah and Colorado when they were older. He enjoyed watching the Boston sports teams: Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins, and would call his kids to talk about the games, but only if the Boston team won. He enjoyed entertaining his grandchildren and sharing his Papa crackers, playing his favorite songs for them, being silly, making funny faces, whistling, and most important - teaching them the Papa Dance. His tenderness and love for his family was very strong, as was their love for him. He left behind a lifetime of memories and he is deeply missed. David attended Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He graduated with a business degree in 1980, and received the Northeastern University Co-op Business Marketing and Advertising award. While in college, through the Northeastern University Business School Co-op program, David got a job working at Atlas Paper Company in Woburn, MA. He continued to work at Atlas Paper Company after graduation, and later became a partner in 1986. He put in over 40 years at the company and was one of the most successful salesmen in the industry. He was committed to his business, hardworking and respected by all. He put his customers first and foremost and treated co-workers as equals. David was active and full of life. He loved to ski with his children, his ski friends, and most recently with his two grandchildren. He enjoyed taking walks with Nancy and their dog, Dusty, boating and playing golf (recently getting his first hole-in-one) with his college friends, and shooting hoops. A pick-up game of basketball usually consisted less of ball-play and more of conversation and joking around. He loved meeting and talking to people and made many friends with his engaging smile and playful energy. He was generous and gracious, kind and charming. He made people feel good about themselves. He always had a story to tell during get-togethers with family and friends, and his sense of humor wove through these tales leaving everyone laughing. He especially loved to engage in good-humored teasing and enjoyed when someone gave it right back to him. He was easy to scare and family members delighted in jumping out at him, and his reaction would have everyone laughing including David. Whether it was his skiing adventures out west with the guys or the yearly trips to North Carolina with his college buddies, he was the glue that held the group together. He was loyal to his friends, fun to be around and well-liked by all who met him. David was preceded in death by his father, Jerry, and his brother, Allen. He is survived by his wife and best friend Nancy; his three children, Robert and his wife Amanda, Marc, and Kati; his two beloved grandchildren Ayla and Kolter; his mother Maxine; his sister Terri Dignan and her husband John; his brother-in-law Jonathan Westerman and his wife Charlene; and several nephews and nieces. Donations may be made to Hope Hospice Development Dept, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Ft. Myers, Fl, 33908, or online at www.hopehospice.org.