David Nichols O'Steen Ph.D.

David Nichols O’Steen, Ph.D., 80, of Gaithersburg, Md., passed from this life into eternity on April 18, 2025 - Good Friday – at home, with his best friend of 40 plus years, Jacki Ragan, by his side. He was surrounded in his final days by his beloved family and welcomed into eternity by the Savior he did his best to emulate every day of his life.

The viewing will be held on Tuesday, April 22, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the DeVol Funeral Home at East Deer Park Road and 355 in Gaithersburg, MD. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 23, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Derwood, MD. Burial will take place at All Souls Cemetery on Brink Road in Germantown, MD.

David was born on January 26, 1945, in Greensboro, North Carolina, the eldest son of Emma Deane Nichols and David Garfield O’Steen. Like many young boys, David had a paper route to earn money and parlayed that into a position managing a team of paper boys while he was still in high school. He received his bachelor’s degree from Guilford College, a master’s degree from the University of Georgia, and his doctorate in mathematics from the University of Houston.

David began his professional career as a professor of mathematics and later chairman of the Mathematics Department at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth Minn. While there, he became chair of the Duluth chapter of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL). David left academia to devote his life to full-time advocacy in 1975, becoming executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. Together with his associate director, Darla St. Martin, he spearheaded the ‘Mission Possible’ project, which provided seed funding and organizational development assistance to emerging statewide pro-life organizations throughout the southern United States. They also formed the Committee for a Pro-Life Congress to directly advocate for the election of pro-life men and women to Congress and the White House.

In 1984, David became executive director of the National Right to Life Committee, a position he held until December 2022. He retired as NRLC Senior Advisor in January 2024. During his tenure at NRLC, David was a leading voice in the defense of unborn children and their mothers. Under his leadership, NRLC led the charge for dozens of protective legislative measures, most notably the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. He expanded the organization’s scope and staff, establishing a host of programs to strengthen the pro-life movement’s growing needs including: the office of state legislation to develop and advocate for state pro-life laws; the center for medical ethics to address end-of-life issues, healthcare rationing, and assisted suicide; outreach programs to religious communities, young people, minority populations and victims of abortion; and a chapter and grassroots development and support department to aid local and state organizations and activists.

Though he left academia, he never lost his love of numbers, and he used that love in service to the pro-life cause. He was a brilliant political strategist who could interpret poll numbers better than most pollsters. He led his sizable staff with kindness and grace, imparting valuable knowledge about how to advocate for the cause of life, as well as how to treat every human being with the respect and dignity they deserve. David was a champion for the defenseless throughout his life, and the vulnerable had no better voice advocating for them than his. Under David’s leadership, the National Right to Life Committee became the premier right-to-life organization in the world, garnering the respect of those on Capitol Hill, the White House, state capitals across the country, as well as NRLC’s state affiliates and local chapters. He led with distinction, devotion and unimpeachable integrity in a cause that was often difficult and heart rending, and he always did it with optimism and the best sense of humor.

When he wasn’t at work, David enjoyed spending time with his loved ones, rebuilding and driving classic cars (including two classic Studebakers, a 1953 Oldsmobile, and a 1980 MG convertible), tinkering with cars, diagnosing car problems for his children and staff, and talking about cars. He was also a proud member of the Studebaker Drivers Club. An avid reader who found relaxation in books, he never tired of reading (or talking) about math, science, cars, Civil War history and the history of the Studebaker car company.

It is nearly impossible to distill 80 years of service and greatness into mere words. David was gentle and genuine. He was always kind, and no matter what hardship he or any of his loved ones were facing, he could be counted on to listen, give excellent advice, and then say something so utterly hilarious upon exiting the room that everyone left in it would stare in shock before laughing hysterically. He lived well, he loved well, and he taught everyone fortunate enough to know him, how to be a better person.

David fought tirelessly for those on the margins of life – the unborn, the medically vulnerable, and the elderly. He treated every person he met with graciousness and respect, and if you were blessed enough to be loved by David, you knew it. He was achingly proud of his children and grandchildren, and devoted to his best friend, Jacki. He was the humblest and kindest of men who cared for every living creature and taught those who followed in his footsteps to do the same. A host of felines and even one granddog, Oddball, graced his home over the years, all as adoring of David as he was of them. He was a vegetarian for decades because he was too tender-hearted to ever “eat anything with a face.” He escorted insects and spiders from his home because he couldn’t stand to kill anything, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant.

David He was a devoted father, grandfather, great grandfather, boss, mentor and the best kind of friend. He was preceded in death by his parents, David Garfield and Emma Deane O’Steen and his brother Charles Ermon O’Steen. He is survived by his children David Nichols (Nick) O’Steen, Jr, Alice Lynn O’Steen and Barbara Gail O’Steen (Kevin Capen) 10 grandchildren Jacob and Emma Jade O’Steen, Joshua Kaplan (Lisette Lazo), Jordan Kaplan and Joseph Newton, David Nathaniel O'Steen, Camryn and Kaitlyn O’Steen, step granddaughter Abigail Capen. 3 great grand-children Sofia and Aiden Kaplan and Leon O’Steen, his brother James Albert (Caroline) O’Steen, his former wife, Lois O’Steen, and his best friend Jacki Ragan.

David’s legacy is so vast that its true scope cannot be known this side of heaven. He will forever be remembered and loved by his family, his friends, and those he taught and mentored.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in David’s memory to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6701 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, MD.