David Alan Drexler

David Alan Drexler, 92, passed away on November 26 in Jupiter, Florida, after a short illness. And so concludes a life of success and achievement, professionally and personally.

The oldest child of Phil and Ida Drexler, David was born on Christmas Day, 1930 in the Bronx, New York. He grew up in the Bronx and Larchmont, New York, graduating from Mamaroneck High School as class Valedictorian. He graduated from Dartmouth College in the Class of 1952, where he was an editor of The Dartmouth, America’s oldest college newspaper. He then moved on to Yale Law School, where he prepared for his future career and played a lot of successful poker, which helped fund his romance of Mt. Holyoke’s Judie Segal. They married shortly after their respective graduations, and David entered the Coast Guard’s Officer Candidate School in New London, Connecticut. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii aboard the buoy tender, USS Plaintree. Their first son, Larry, was born in Hawaii.

David’s law career began in Wilmington, Delaware where he clerked for the Honorable Edwin Steel of the US District Court of Delaware. After a brief stint with a law firm in New York City, he returned to Wilmington as one of the first associates, and later Partner, at Morris, Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell. David was a preeminent litigator in Delaware’s prestigious Court of Chancery. Their second son, Andrew, was born in Wilmington.

In addition to the practice of law, David, along with Judie, became stalwarts of the Democratic Party, working on a number of campaigns, including their friend Joe Biden’s first campaign. David also passionately served his community in many roles including, among others, heading the Shipley Elementary School PTA, Chairman of the Board of what is now called the Kutz Senior Living Campus, and as a member of the Delaware Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

David, a brilliant writer, was co-author, with two of his law partners, of the widely acclaimed and cited treatise on Delaware Corporate Law: Delaware Corporation Law and Practice, which can be found in every law library in the United States. He was a founding member of the Board of Editors of The Delaware Lawyer magazine, to which he frequently contributed, and was a contributing author to several books published by the Delaware Bar Association.

David had many interests outside of the law. He was a voracious reader, preferring non-fiction with special concentration on history, which informed his strong views on current events. He loved opera, and the music of Frank Sinatra and Stephen Sondheim. He excelled at puzzles of all types, including crosswords, acrostics, and, later, sudoku and the Spelling Bee. Dave and Judie enjoyed serious and musical theater wherever they lived. He confidently asserted that Willie Mays was the greatest baseball player.

David retreated from the practice of in 1990 and began the transition from snowbird to permanent resident of Jupiter, Florida. He took up golf, recording a hole-in-one, and playing well into his 92nd year. He particularly enjoyed the friendly competition and camaraderie of the “Nine Holers” at Admiral’s Cove. He also played for many years in various social games of gin rummy, and the occasional bridge game. David and Judie traveled extensively, reaching all continents but Antarctica and leading Dr expeditions with his family to Africa, the Galápagos Islands, Egypt and the Arctic Circle. These treasured trips with his children and grandchildren provided enduring memories for all.

David’s family was his center. Despite his busy work schedule, he had nearly perfect attendance at his sons’ school sporting events. Years later, he repeated this with grandsons Zach and Phil. He would extend his stay in Wilmington by a week or two to see one more of his grandsons’ Tatnall football and lacrosse games.

David is survived by his wife of 68 years, Judie; two sons; Larry (Kim) of Wilmington and Andy (Karen) of Los Altos Hills, CA, grandchildren Jennifer Fox (Stephen) of Wakefield, Rhode Island, Zach Drexler (Heather) of Needham, MA, Sam Drexler of NYC and Phil Drexler (Martha) of San Diego, CA; Great grandson Archer Drexler. David is also survived by his sisters Beth Elon and Ann Schotsky (Arnie) ; and niece Danae, with whom he had a special relationship, as well as a myriad of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in David’s memory to the Admirals Cove Foundation 200 Admirals Cove Blvd. Jupiter, FL33477 https://admiralscovefoundation.org/give/ or ACLU of Delaware Foundation 100 W 10th St, Suite 207 Wilmington, DE 19801. https://action.aclu.org/give/tribute-aclu-de