Obituary for David Alwin Wolff
A loving husband, parent, grandparent, educator, research scientist, and volunteer, Dr. David Alwin Wolff died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family in Plymouth, Massachusetts on March 10, 2021. He was 86.
Dave was born on November 2, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio to Alwin Emil Wolff and Marion Perkins Wolff. He grew up as an only child in Brunswick, Ohio, where both his parents had strong roots, and graduated from Brunswick High School in 1952.
He received a bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster in 1956. He served in the US Army from 1956 to 1959, which included work in a medical lab in Germany. He then attended the University of Cincinnati, where he received a Ph.D. in Microbiology.
Dave began his professional career at Ohio State University. During his tenure there (1965-1978) he was promoted from Assistant to Full Professor of Microbiology. He earned a distinguished teaching award in 1974. He later worked as a Medical Manager and Administrator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland (1978-1997) and Associate Director of Medical Research Service and Rehabilitation Research Service for the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC (1997-2002).
Dave was a caring, loving person, with sparkling eyes who was dedicated to his family and passionate about his role as an educator and researcher. He was an active member of the community throughout his life. His volunteer work included serving as an elder in the Presbyterian Church and president of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), coaching baseball and soccer, and volunteering at a local hospital in Annapolis, Maryland. He was a devoted Boy Scout leader who embodied the Scout Law: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
Dave lived life to its fullest. He loved hiking, camping, kayaking, sailing, and watching the sun set over the water. He enjoyed tinkering on his antique cars, cooking, and making his own wine. There was no home improvement project he couldn’t tackle.
He traveled extensively for work and leisure. His destinations included China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Central America, Canada, much of Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and all 50 states. In recent years he enjoyed trips to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Italy with his children and grandchildren, to whom he was a proud “Papa.”
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Linda Diane Wolff (nee Heding) and their children Andrew Vincent Wolff (wife Jennifer Wolff) of Norfolk, Massachusetts, and Lauren Mariruth Wolff (husband Kevin Kvalstad) of Santa Monica, California. He is also survived by two children from his previous marriage to Carol Anne Wolff (nee Kish): Kurt David Wolff (wife Amy Ventura) of Denver, Colorado, and Christopher Morris Wolff (wife Linda Wolff) of Tigard, Oregon. His six grandchildren, Emma, Violet, Ethan, Miles, and Gavin Wolff, and Victor Kvalstad, will also cherish his memory.
A private family burial was held on March 13, 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org).
Dave was born on November 2, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio to Alwin Emil Wolff and Marion Perkins Wolff. He grew up as an only child in Brunswick, Ohio, where both his parents had strong roots, and graduated from Brunswick High School in 1952.
He received a bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster in 1956. He served in the US Army from 1956 to 1959, which included work in a medical lab in Germany. He then attended the University of Cincinnati, where he received a Ph.D. in Microbiology.
Dave began his professional career at Ohio State University. During his tenure there (1965-1978) he was promoted from Assistant to Full Professor of Microbiology. He earned a distinguished teaching award in 1974. He later worked as a Medical Manager and Administrator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland (1978-1997) and Associate Director of Medical Research Service and Rehabilitation Research Service for the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC (1997-2002).
Dave was a caring, loving person, with sparkling eyes who was dedicated to his family and passionate about his role as an educator and researcher. He was an active member of the community throughout his life. His volunteer work included serving as an elder in the Presbyterian Church and president of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), coaching baseball and soccer, and volunteering at a local hospital in Annapolis, Maryland. He was a devoted Boy Scout leader who embodied the Scout Law: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
Dave lived life to its fullest. He loved hiking, camping, kayaking, sailing, and watching the sun set over the water. He enjoyed tinkering on his antique cars, cooking, and making his own wine. There was no home improvement project he couldn’t tackle.
He traveled extensively for work and leisure. His destinations included China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Central America, Canada, much of Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and all 50 states. In recent years he enjoyed trips to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Italy with his children and grandchildren, to whom he was a proud “Papa.”
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Linda Diane Wolff (nee Heding) and their children Andrew Vincent Wolff (wife Jennifer Wolff) of Norfolk, Massachusetts, and Lauren Mariruth Wolff (husband Kevin Kvalstad) of Santa Monica, California. He is also survived by two children from his previous marriage to Carol Anne Wolff (nee Kish): Kurt David Wolff (wife Amy Ventura) of Denver, Colorado, and Christopher Morris Wolff (wife Linda Wolff) of Tigard, Oregon. His six grandchildren, Emma, Violet, Ethan, Miles, and Gavin Wolff, and Victor Kvalstad, will also cherish his memory.
A private family burial was held on March 13, 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org).