David Kenneth Van Vlack

David Kenneth Van Vlack, a resident of Fairfield for the past 27 years, died Thursday April 27th at Bridgeport Hospital at the age of 60 after a courageous battle with cancer.

David was born on June 2, 1962, in Mount Kisco, NY, the firstborn child of Melvin H. and Mary Jane (Griffith) Van Vlack.  He was the fourth grandchild of Kenneth and Pearl E. (Horton) Van Vlack and the first grandchild of John P. and Mary Jane (Burke) Griffith.

David spent the early years of his life in Mahopac, NY, and later grew up in Eastchester, NY.  He graduated from Iona Preparatory School in 1980, received a Bachelor of Arts from Fordham University in 1984 and a Master of Business Administration from Pace University in 1987.

He worked for 35 years in the field of finance, first as an Investment Manager overseeing real estate and timberland investments for Fosterlane Management, and later in Corporate Finance roles for the Blackstone Group.  At Blackstone, David headed the group that administered employee investments in the firm’s funds, as well as employee compensation resulting directly from fund performance.  He was involved in strategic planning and worked extensively on the firm’s public offering of stock.  He led the development of a financial model to automate the calculation of the firm’s share of income from fund investments in order to streamline income reporting as required by the SEC.  He finished his career as a Managing Director in charge of the firm’s equity program, administering equity as a form of employee compensation as well as reporting on equity related expense to the firm’s income statement and other SEC-required disclosures.

David was very devoted to friends and family, having a large circle of siblings and cousins of various generations.  He hosted many dinners, parties and cookouts for friends and family over the years, and particularly enjoyed hosting birthday dinners at nice restaurants for the children of his cousin Sheila – Robert, Sarah, and Giancarlo - and their friends.  In more recent years, he enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving weekends in Boston for family members, which included Thanksgiving dinner, tours and a Christmas show.  He greatly enjoyed traveling, and took many trips with family members to Europe, Asia, South America, and different parts of North America.  He was a lover of dogs, and was particularly devoted to his beloved dog, Nattie.  He was a parishioner and trustee at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Fairfield, and a member of the Knights of Columbus chapter there.  He was a supporter of Catholic education as a provider of educational opportunities to children who might otherwise lack those opportunities.

David was predeceased by his grandparents, his mother Mary Jane (Griffith) Van Vlack, his uncle Kenneth Van Vlack Jr. and his wife Virginia, and his beloved dog Nattie.  He is survived by his father Melvin H. Van Vlack and his wife Dorothy, siblings John, Kenneth (Fundador Mendez), Stephen (Jo Jung-Hye) and Maria (Frank) Limato.  He is also survived by his grand uncle Dr. James J. Griffith, uncle John P. Griffith Jr. and his wife Kathryn, as well as multiple generations of cousins, in particular Mary Louise Cacase, Sheila Governale, Robert Cacase, Timothy (Ann) Cacase, Kerri (Audra) Barnaby, Helen (August) Propersi and Eileen (James) Kreuttner, Robert (Catherine) Governale, Sarah Governale, Giancarlo Governale, all of whom were highly supportive of him during his illness.  He is also survived by Goddaughter Ava Governale as well as her siblings Robert, Jack and Harrison Governale and cousin Harper Turner.

Visitation will be held in the Redgate - Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and 4 Gorham Place, Trumbull on Monday May 1st from 4:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Road, Fairfield on May 2nd at 10:00a.m. 

Contributions in David’s memory may be made to Connecticut Humane Society (cthumane.org), Town & Country K9 ResQ (townandcountryk9resq.org) or Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Attn: Dr. Steven Cheeseman, 238 Jewett Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606 To send online condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com