David Lee Joyce

David Lee Joyce, 78, of Hillsborough, NC, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 22, 2022. He lived a full and exemplary life filled with both personal and professional achievements.

Dave was born on April 25, 1944 to Catherine and Lloyd ‘Doc’ Joyce in Logansport, Indiana.

He graduated from Marion High School in 1962, where he played football, basketball and baseball, earning a total of 10 varsity letters. He was also Vice President of his Senior Class and was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Senate. In 1983 Dave was honored by Marion High School with its Inaugural Outstanding Alumni Award and was later inducted into their Hall of Distinction in 2008.  

In 1966, Dave graduated DePauw University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. He continued his studies at the University of Illinois, Champaign, doing graduate work in Labor and Industrial Relations.

While in graduate school, Dave was hired by the St. Louis Football Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals). He started with the organization in 1967 and by 1970 he was promoted to Business Manager. At age 26, Dave was the youngest business manager in the history of the National Football League.

After his departure from the NFL, Dave did the unthinkable by venturing into a new profession of healthcare management.

Dave, with his twin brother Douglas, and a college friend, grew Spectrum Emergency Care, Inc. from start-up to a professionally managed organization with 500 employees, over 150 hospital clients, and approximately 2,500 independently contracted physicians. Eventually Dave and his partners sold the company, which sparked his passion for entrepreneurship.

He subsequently built several other health care companies over the years. Dave was most proud of his final business, Delphi Healthcare Partners, Inc. He was considered one of the foremost health care experts in the country in the field of physician group formation and management. He sold Delphi in 2012 and retired shortly thereafter.

Dave enjoyed sharing his wisdom lecturing at MBA programs at St. Louis University, Washington University and Duke University. He was a member of the DePauw Alumni Board of Directors for 8 years.

Dave is fondly remembered for his impeccable taste, colorful style, his charm, wit and generosity.

Dave is survived by his children, Jeffrey Joyce, of Hillsborough, NC, Colleen Joyce of Hillsborough, NC and Shannon Joyce, of Efland, NC. He is also survived by his Twin Brother, Douglas Joyce, of Dallas, Texas.

Due to family and friends scattered across the country and the threat of spreading respiratory illnesses, services have been postponed. If you would like to share memories of Dave, please do so on the Hall-Wynne Funeral Home website. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The American Heart Association or your local animal shelter.