David J. Weaver, age 73, died August 12 after living with lymphoma for five years. Since retirement, he split his time between his Boston residence and his family cottage in Biddeford, Maine. David’s interests were as broad and deep as his personal warmth. A sailor since boyhood, David was happiest on salt water, and perhaps never more so than when he and his wife, Liz Nelson Weaver, sailed across the Atlantic on clipper ship Stad Amsterdam. Intelligent, curious, kind, and with a great sense of humor, David’s interests ranged from fine art, history, and jazz to photography, politics, and his beloved Celtics. The Red Sox ranked high, too.
David and Liz traveled widely: Portugal, Vietnam, Peru, and London were among his favorite trips. Everywhere he went, he dove into local foods and culture with relish, always open to discovery and adventure. In Sapa, Vietnam, he rented a motorbike to explore nearby villages, assuring his wife—perched behind him—that he knew how to ride one. She would later learn that his motorbike experience didn’t extend beyond his cousin’s farm in California. Near Machu Picchu, they rode horses along an Inca trail.
David was an accomplished cartographer. A close friend and colleague wrote that David, “used his artistic eye and love for beauty and detail to create memorable and beautiful maps and photos.” His career spanned the days of paper and pen to computer mapping. In 1991, he co-founded AppGeo, a GIS consulting firm in Boston, and retired from its Board of Directors in 2022. He was instrumental in establishing the award-winning cartography that distinguished the company throughout its history. David also collected hundreds of maps, the best of which he donated to the Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.
He is mourned by his wife; daughter Erin Bishop, son-in-law Greg, and grandchildren Davis and Polly; son Miles and his daughter-in-law Jenny; his stepsons Peter, David, and Mark Nelson and their partners; his first wife Liz Sorenson; sister Libby Radcliffe, brother-in-law Michael, niece Christina; his loving, large extended family on the West Coast; and many life-long friends.
David’s family is deeply grateful to Dr. Erik Jacobsen and the lymphoma team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for their expertise and care, which gave David extra years and quality of life that no one could have imagined. Donations to the David J. Weaver GIS Research Fund at the Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library are welcome (https://www.leventhalmap.org/?form=WEAVER-GIS-FUND), as are gifts to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in David’s memory.
Sunday, September 15, we will celebrate David’s life with a sail around Boston Harbor on board the Valiant, from 2:30 to 4:30. Boarding begins at 2:15. Valiant is docked at Rowes Wharf. Please let a member of David's family know if you plan to attend.