Obituary: David Werle, 1943-2024

David Werle, 80, of Middlebury, Vt., passed away peacefully on
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the Helen Porter Healthcare and
Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury, after a courageous battle with
cancer.

David was born on
July 13, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pa., but his formative childhood years
were spent on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Md.,
where he learned to pick blue crabs and guitars. He then made his way
to New Wilmington, Pa., where he attended Westminster College. He
spent much of his time before graduation playing bluegrass music and
joining in student protests.

With the seeds of
activism sown, he made his way to the hippie scene in Manhattan,
where he taught elementary school in Harlem. He introduced his
students to film and photography, which would become a lifelong
passion and, ultimately, his profession. Speaking of lifelong
passion, he also met Susan, the woman who would become his wife and
partner.

The two decided to
settle down in Vermont, where they bought a farm, a bull and a
rooster. David then established himself as a small business owner and
opened the Middlebury Darkroom at 64 Main Street. That would soon be
followed by a number of other Middlebury fixtures, including the
Kitchen Shop, True Confections and Lightning Photo. David and Susan
also established themselves as parents, as they welcomed their
children, Jillian and Jonathan, into the world.

David was a warm and
thoughtful host who loved to entertain and was famous for his
homemade pâtés, smoked fish and barbecue ribs – and the man could
pour a mean martini. When he wasn’t cooking, he could often be
found on the golf course, playing music with family, watching the
Sox, throwing Maryland-style crab feasts or fishing on Lake Champlain
with the Frostbite Fleet. With a quick wit and a generous laugh, he
was always ready to have a good time with his family and friends. He
was a warm and loving husband, father and grandfather.

David is survived by
his wife, Susan; his children, Jillian and Jonathan, and their
spouses, Ryan Torres and Anya Hoffman; and his grandchildren,
Benjamin, Sama, Ruby and Tema.

A celebration of his
life will be held on June 15, at 1 p.m., at Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury.

Donations in his
memory can be made to the Lois McClure-Bee Tabakin Hope Lodge in
Burlington, Vt.

This article appears in Seven Days Guide to the 2024 Solar Eclipse.