David Hubbard

David Hubbard, a gifted engineer, visionary yacht designer, and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at the age of 97 following a brief illness. A man of extraordinary intellect, boundless curiosity, and quiet determination, David lived a remarkable life defined by innovation, adventure, and an enduring love of family and the sea.

Born in Northern Ireland in 1929 to an English family, David moved to London as a young boy. With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he and his brother, Jerry, were sent to Queen Elizabeth boarding school in Devonshire. During the war, his father served with the British Ministry of Supply, while his mother volunteered as an ambulance driver. After graduating in 1948 and completing a year at the University of Bristol, David emigrated with his family to the United States. He was accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a junior and graduated in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering, laying the foundation for a distinguished career that would unite his exceptional technical abilities with his lifelong passion for boats.

David made his home on Shippan Point in Stamford, Connecticut, for the next 65 years, building a life rich in family, friendships, and time spent on the water. It was at Yacht Haven that he met Jackie, the love of his life and his partner in countless adventures. They married in 1964 and together raised three daughters, creating a home filled with love, laughter, curiosity, and a shared appreciation for life's many experiences.

David enjoyed an accomplished professional career spanning more than 30 years at Pitney Bowes, where his inventive mind earned him recognition on approximately 60 U.S. patents involving specialized mailing systems. But his engineering genius was hardly confined to the workplace.

From the 1960s through the 1990s, David achieved international recognition as an innovative yacht designer, collaborating with some of the most accomplished individuals in competitive sailing. His work was associated with celebrated vessels including Patient Lady, Stars & Stripes, Oracle, Red Herring, and Harbor Wing. His contributions to yacht design reflected a rare combination of imagination, technical brilliance, and practical ingenuity. For David, a challenging problem was never an obstacle; it was an invitation to discover a better way.

Although his professional accomplishments were extraordinary, David's interests and talents extended far beyond engineering. Boating was his lifelong passion, whether he was designing a new vessel, building something in his workshop, or simply enjoying a day on the water. He also loved the mountains of Vermont, where the family's farmhouse in Proctorsville became the setting for years of snow skiing, snowmobiling, and treasured family memories. He enjoyed golf, painting, and working with his hands, always finding satisfaction in creating something new. Whether at his drawing board, in his workshop, or aboard a boat, David was rarely without a project, an idea, or a new challenge to pursue.

In 2015, David and Jackie began a new chapter together, moving to St. Helena Island, South Carolina. There, they embraced the warmth, culture, and natural beauty of the coastal Lowcountry. Surrounded once again by the water he loved, David found a fitting place to enjoy the later years of a life so closely connected to the sea.

Those who knew David will remember far more than his remarkable achievements. He was a man of integrity, intelligence, independence, and quiet strength. He approached life with an inquisitive mind and a determination to understand how things worked—and how they might be made better. He was a builder in every sense of the word, not only of boats and inventions, but of a life rich in experiences, relationships, and lasting memories.

Above all, David's greatest pride and most enduring legacy was his family. For all that he accomplished, nothing was more meaningful than the life he and Jackie built together and the generations that followed. His influence will live on not only through the boats he designed and the innovations he helped create, but through the curiosity he inspired, the lessons he shared, and the love he gave so generously.

David is survived by Jackie, his beloved wife of 62 years; his brother, Jerry Hubbard (Linda); his three daughters, Darcy Baadshaug (Jim), Holly Gullett (Jim), and Piper Lever; Bruce Remington, his five grandchildren, Jared Gullett (Lauren), Marcus Gullett (Lindsey), Piper Mack (Jared), Jackson Remington, and Paige Remington; and 14 great-grandchildren.

David lived 97 extraordinary years, spanning continents, generations, and remarkable changes in the world around him. Through it all, he remained true to the qualities that defined him: curiosity, ingenuity, integrity, and a deep devotion to those he loved.

His was a life well lived, a mind that never stopped exploring, and a legacy that will continue to inspire. He will be remembered with admiration, gratitude, and enduring love.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in David's name are suggested to Habitat for Humanity of the Low Country, PO Box 2747, Bluffton, SC 29910.