This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Dr. David A. Pearson, 86, passed away on May 21 at the Whitney Center in Hamden. He was born Jan. 21, 1935, in Jamestown, New York, to the late Axel R. and Edna B. Pearson.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Jo-Ann Darrow Pearson; his children Karin E. Pearson (Jon Brady) of Milton, Massachusetts and Mark D. Pearson of San Diego, California; his grandchildren, Samuel P. Brady and Zachary D. Brady of Milton, Massachusetts and Skyrah B. Pearson of San Diego, California; his brother Gary H. Pearson (Sharon) of The Villages, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

Dave graduated from Jamestown High School in Jamestown, New York, and received his bachelor’s degree in public health from the State University of New York at Cortland, his master of public health degree in health policy and management from the University of Michigan, and his Ph.D. in epidemiology and health policy from Yale University. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the State University of New York-Cortland in 1983, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Yale University School of Public Health in 1990.

During the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, Dave was with the U.S. Public Health Service, in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. He was instrumental in establishing the federal government’s first program associated with prepaid medical group practice plans and was associated with various programs including Medicare, Medicaid, Regional Medical Programs, Comprehensive Health Planning, and Mortgage Insurance for Group Practice Programs, among others.

For more than two decades, Dave was on the faculty of Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, serving for more than a decade as its associate dean for Public Health. He later became the inaugural holder of the Everett Sackett Professor of Health Management and Policy at the University of New Hampshire where he chaired the Department of Health Management and Policy, established and was the director of its Master of Health Administration program, was the originator of its Master of Public Health Program, and served as acting dean of the School of Health and Human Services. In his retirement, he served as professor of Public Health at Southern Connecticut State University. Dave was long associated with applying epidemiological and management concepts and techniques to better understand issues of national health policy and to better organize, govern, and manage health service organizations.

Dave was passionate about giving back to society. He served on governing boards and advisory councils of various national health service organizations. He was on the board of directors at Whitney Center, a member of the Town of Branford School Building Committee, an active member at Trinity Episcopal Church in Branford, a volunteer at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, chair of board of directors for Yale Youth Hockey, and founder of Eli Youth Lacrosse.

Dave loved Jo-Ann dearly and cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was an avid golfer and long-time member of The Yale Golf Course. He enjoyed sailing through the Thimble Islands on Long Island Sound in the family catboat, Andante Cantabile; annual Cape Cod vacations; Yale hockey games; classical music; and sporting his signature bow ties! Dave will be dearly missed by his family. Special thanks to the staff members at Whitney Center for their care and support.

Funeral service will be held at noon Saturday, May 29 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1109 Main Street, Branford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Branford Cares, 30 Harrison Ave., #1, Branford, CT 06405 Attn: Judith Barron.