In Memory

David W Mitchell - Class Of 1953

David W Mitchell

David Walker Mitchell (November 11, 1935 - December 19, 2018) passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family at age 83, following a battle against lymphoma. David married Carolyn (Lynn) Mitchell 57 years ago, was a father of two daughters, a grandfather, an attorney, an avid hiker, a classical pianist, a devoted family man, and an extraordinary community volunteer and philanthropist.

David was born in Berkeley and was raised in San Gabriel. He learned to play the piano as a boy, becoming a classical pianist which was a hobby that he continued throughout his life. He became an Eagle Scout in 1951. He attended South Pasadena High School and then Stanford University (Class of 1957, Phi 
Beta Kappa) on a Dofflemyer Scholarship for Eagle Scouts, He attended Harvard Law School (Class of 1960, cum laude) where he met his wife Carolyn.

Dave and Lynn were married in 1961, settled in Los Angeles, and moved to Santa Clara County in 1965 where they raised their two daughters. David practiced law ever since then, first as a founding member of Hopkins and Carley, and with Hoge Fenton since 1993. Always an Eagle Scout and attorney, he continued to serve his family and community through many organizations, including the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, Palo Alto Community Fund, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Hertz Foundation, Stanford University Office of Development, Stanford Historical Society, Rotary Club of San Jose, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, San Jose Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Santa Clara County, and as a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. He served on the Board of the Peninsula Open Space Trust for 23 years and remained active in the use of open space issues. He raised significant funds for Stanford University.

David is survived by his spouse, Lynn of Palo Alto, his daughters Sarah Mitchell, of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Betsy (Donal) Kinney of Taos, New Mexico, and three grandchildren.

San Jose Mercury News, January 3, 2019