David Jennings Curtis

David Jennings Curtis, 79, passed away on November 19, 2024, at Duke University’s Hoch Family Hospice.

He will be lovingly remembered by his devoted wife of 57 years, Marguerite “Ebie” Curtis of Durham, NC; his daughter, Sally E. Curtis of Durham, NC; his son, Andrew G. Curtis of Montreal, QC; his grandchildren, Chloe R. Curtis and Quentin R. Curtis of Montreal, QC, Manu Di Santo of Durham, NC; his daughter-in-law Sophie Robitaille of Montreal, QC; his son-in-law Nicola Di Santo of Durham, NC; his brother W. Shepley Curtis of Minden, NV; his sister Anne Curtis-Curfman of Longmont, CO; and a large extended family. He is predeceased by his parents, Dr. William S. Curtis and Frances Elmer Curtis.

David was born on December 13, 1944, in St. Louis, MO, and raised in Boulder, CO, where his family relocated when he was an infant. A gifted student, he graduated from Boulder High School in 1963, Dartmouth College in 1967 (B.A. in English Literature), and earned his medical degree cum laude from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1971.

He completed a medical internship at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI, in 1972 and a Residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. David went on to a distinguished career in academic medicine, earning accolades for his teaching and widely publishing his research.

David served as Vice Chairman of the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and later as a Professor at The George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he was Head of General Diagnostic Radiology. In 1986, he was honored to become a Fellow of the American College of Radiology.

In 1994, David and Ebie moved to Durham, NC, where he joined the VA Medical Center and trained Duke University radiology residents. At the time of his retirement in 2000, David held the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army.

David’s faith was central to his life. As a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Durham, he dedicated himself to the Durham County Jail Ministry, offering prayer, fellowship, and compassion to incarcerated individuals.

An accomplished athlete, David was a competitive swimmer in Colorado and at Dartmouth College. He loved the mountains and was an avid skier and tennis enthusiast. He was also an insatiable reader, having read over 1,000 books on his Kindle alone. Summers spent at Lake Michigan’s Pier Cove brought him great joy, with croquet & tennis tournaments, beach bonfires, and cherished moments with extended family.

David was a romantic. He cherished time with those closest to him. His enduring love for Ebie, commitment to his children, and delight in his grandchildren were hallmarks of his life. His spirit, kindness, and generosity will be remembered by all who knew him. His wide grin and warm chuckle will be deeply missed.

A memorial service to honor David’s life will be held in the new year at a time to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Durham, NC - (https://stphilipsdurham.org/give/).