David McKinley (“Dave”) passed away peacefully at the Leominster Life Care Center on January 24, 2022.
Dave was born in 1946 to Elizabeth Ann McKinley and Donald McKinley. He grew up in the Christian Hill neighborhood of Lowell, Massachusetts and went to school at St. Michael’s Elementary and Lowell High. He attended the Wentworth Institute of Technology and Northern Essex Community College.
Dave was a “third generation phone man” (in his words), and a pioneer in the fledgling pager and cell phone dealer industry in New England in the mid-eighties until well into the 2000’s. Dave was an innovator and influential businessman in his craft of business-to-business and retail sales. He always felt part of the success of the mobile phone business in his region. Dave was peerless in his uncanny ability to make each customer feel unique, and he recognized thousands of his customers on a first name basis.
Dave loved to dabble in new business opportunities and concepts. He created and managed over a dozen thriving small businesses in Massachusetts, offering lightbulbs, used cars, Motorola phones, pizzas and just about everything in-between. Selling used cars was something of an art form and permanent hobby for Dave, and he may very well have been responsible for at least one or two used car cliches. He took it seriously to amuse himself while he made his living. There was a noble side to Dave’s business goals though, which was to help people in need. Dave had a constant and chaotic generosity for anyone who he thought might benefit from his support. As an employer he welcomed people in recovery who were trying to get sober, or at times just gave someone a hot lunch and a safe place to be one day at a time.
Dave was a masterful storyteller with a clever and off-the-wall sense of humor. He truly had the spirit of an entertainer. He had endless wild tales about getting into some kind of trouble as a kid, which included spontaneously hitchhiking to Florida before he was old enough to drive.
In retrospect, you were part of something special if you bought something from Dave. He made every sale (big or small) an intentional adventure for himself, the customer, and any lucky spectator. Sales was his medium, not his career. It was always suspected he measured the value of his customers more in fuel for his stories, than dollars. In this regard, he leaves a rich memory of un-necessarily hilarious hyperbole to his three children.
Taking Saturday “Space Rides” with Erin, Davey and Garrett were some of the most joyful and important moments of Dave’s life as a Dad. Also, watching the Blues Brothers a dozen times with Davey and Garrett and laughing his head off like it was the first time, every time. Known to his grandchildren as “Pappa Daddy”, Dave cherished his visits with his grandchildren. When Dave’s grandchildren were young, he delighted in making them as giddy as possible by means of maximum horseplay and goofing around. Dave was immensely proud of each of them as teens and young adults.
Dave felt a real sense of belonging in North Central Massachusetts, but he seemed to know every street in New England. He loved riding his motorcycle but was most in his element telling a funny story behind the wheel of an old American car. His Irish heritage was very important to him, and he looked for chances to see live Irish folk music performed by the old timers. He was enthusiastic about music and was as comfortable belting one out to the car radio as he was singing Charlie on the MTA in front of a thousand people.
At the time of his death, Dave was 37 years sober. Dave took enormous pride in his sobriety. He devoted the better part of his life to the work of being a vocal and active presence in the regional AA community. Some of Dave’s fondest memories were the international conventions he attended which included those in San Diego, Seattle, and Minnesota. He was eternally grateful to his longtime mentor and sponsor Clay (who preceded him in death). Through his pursuit of being a sober and spiritual person Dave felt a sense of meaning; his lifelong connections to and from AA were a fundamental part of him.
Dave is survived by his three children Erin (Bill), David (Dara), and Garrett (Ari) and his grandchildren Paloma, Samson, Sophia, Jett, and Maci. He is also survived by his siblings, Donna (Lloyd), Dennis (Cynthia), Elizabeth (Larry), Timothy (Ursula), Mary (Jay), and Edward, and ten nieces and nephews. Dave was especially close to his sister, Mary, and her son, Joey, both of whom had a special place in his heart. Dave is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Douglas, and his nephew Phillip.
The family would like to thank the staff at Leominster Life Care Center who provided exceptional care for Dave during the Covid pandemic.
A committal prayer service will be held on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery Chapel, 90 River Road, North Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers or donations, please consider performing an act of kindness for someone in need.