David J. Brophy

David John Brophy, who had truly mastered the art of a well-placed quip, decided to “call it a day” on Saturday, June 21, 2025, and passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by family. A man of deep faith and insatiable curiosity, Dave always seemed to have a witty retort at the ready and was often the source of humor and amusement to his family and friends. He was 80 years young.

Born in 1944 to the late William and Helen Brophy in Fulton, New York, David was the cherished brother to Kathy, Judy, and the late William Brophy, Jr. While studying Business at Cobleskill College, his father, who was Dean of the business school, introduced Dave to Marjorie Norris, a secretarial science student from Schenectady. After a whirlwind romance, the two tied the knot in 1968, and for over 57 years, Dave and Marge remained an inseparable team, sharing a life rich in love and laughter.

Serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, David J. Brophy served his country proudly as a member of the Intelligence community at Fort Shafter, Hawaii and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After many commendations and an honorable discharge, he relocated his young family to Rochester, New York, later settling in Seneca Falls, where his career in financial analysis and accounting included stints at Upstate Milk, Goulds Pumps, and Canandaigua Wines. After a heart attack in 2000, Dave found his true calling – as a bus driver for the Ontario County ARC and later, the Seneca County Head Start program. Shuttling people with special needs gave him renewed purpose, and becoming “Mr. Dave” to dozens of 3, 4, and 5-year-olds truly tickled his spirit. The energy and innocence of his passengers recharged him, their kind views of the world grounded him, and their unfettered warmth reminded him of the magnitude of an encouraging word or a heartfelt smile. It remains to be seen if his riders appreciated Dave’s unique brand of humor, but he cherished his “Act II Career” and considered it a blessing and an honor to be part of their daily routines. In 2014, Dave and Marge retired to Lexington, South Carolina, where he became chief operator and tire kicker of Grandpa Dave’s car service, regularly shuttling grandchildren between homes, schools, and extracurricular activities. Needless to say, he was a very good driver. Five Stars.

David Brophy’s mind was a glorious jumble of intellectual pursuits. He dove headfirst into faith exploration, Civil War history, and any topic that sparked his interest. While he was a lover of books and enjoyed debating current affairs, he was also a bona fide sports fanatic, equally at home discussing baseball stats, basketball plays, golf swings, tennis serves, or the finer points of NASCAR.

Dave was kind, compassionate, patient, and extremely tolerant, possessing a teacher's knack for simplifying even the most complex of topics (especially when it came to goodhumoredly dissecting sports strategy). An active and dedicated member of his church community throughout much of his life, Dave was a Fourth-Degree Knight of Columbus and often served in leadership roles, usually as treasurer. He was a man of unshakeable conviction, reinforced by a faith as strong as his command of the numbers.

On his final day, Dave was surrounded by family reminiscing about his life, sharing laughter, discussing his eclectic music collection, and reflecting on a long life so well lived. He slipped away, perhaps with visions of hitting a perfect drive on the 14th at Augusta, settling into a first base seat at Fenway, or making a meld with his favorite Canasta partner, Marge.

David J. Brophy is survived by his beloved wife, Marjorie; sisters Kathy (Ted Frick) and Judy (widow of Jim Gladding); sons Mark (Theresa) and Keith (Angel); grandchildren David and Alli, Parker and Keller (Allan Greene), Emily and Anna; great-grandson Marshall; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. His legacy of faith, integrity, and love, along with a healthy dose of "smart ass" charm, will forever be cherished by those who knew him.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00am on Friday, July 11, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, located at 2350 Augusta Highway in Lexington, SC, with internment and reception to follow. Barr-Price Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, is assisting the family.

Instead of flowers, the Brophy family requests memorial contributions to the SUNY Cobleskill Foundation, directed to the scholarship fund previously established in honor of Dave’s late father, William Brophy. Gifts may be mailed to SUNY Cobleskill Foundation, 228 Knapp Hall, 106 Suffolk Circle, Cobleskill, NY 12043. Gifts may also be made online at cobleskill.edu with “William Brophy Scholarship” identified in the “Designation-Other” field.

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