David W. Curtis: Samara Foundation co-founder

1938-1999

David Curtis was born in Montpelier on April 15, 1938. He was a graduate of the Montpelier public schools, the University of Vermont in 1961 and Boston College of Law School in 1963.

Among his many accomplishments was the co-founding of Samara Foundation of Vermont with Bill Lippert. He remained Vice-President of the foundation board at the time of his death in August, 1999.

David served several terms as a Republican member of the Vermont House of Representatives elected from Charlotte. He was a founding member of the Vermont Women's Health Center, served on the Board of Trustees of the Vermont Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Vermont National Abortion Rights Action League, and the AIDS Action Council in Washington D.C.

David was engaged in the private practice of law in Burlington through 1977, and from 1977 - 1980 he was the Deputy Defender General and Correctional Facilities Defender for the State of Vermont. After spending five years in legal services work in Tennessee and South Dakota, David returned to Vermont in 1985, when he was appointed Vermont Defender General by Governor Kunin. Returning to the private practice of law in 1987, David co-founded the Burlington law firm which still bears his name: Hoff, Curtis, P.C. At the time of his death, David was Chair of the Vermont Democratic Party.

David was a tireless advocate for civil rights and human rights in Vermont, and a devoted and loving father to his three children, David W."Curt" Curtis, Jr., of Burlington, Julia A. Curtis, of Colorado, and Christopher J. Curtis, of Bethel, Vermont.

Read the eulogy delivered by Bill Lippert at the memorial service in David's honor.

David pictured with President Bill Clinton at the Oasis Diner in Burlington, VT, 1996. David served as Chair of the Vermont Democratic Party.