David B. Clapp Jr. ’43

Dave died Jan. 3, 2019, at his home in Dana Point, Calif. He was 98. Dave and his wife, Beverly, raised three children while enjoying every opportunity to travel together and share time with family.

Dave prepared at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, where he was on the wrestling team and the publications board. At Princeton he majored in psychology and graduated with honors in January 1943. After enlisting in the Army, Dave was put on a special track after demonstrating a proficiency for language. The Army sent him to Harvard to learn Mandarin Chinese. Once fluent in Chinese, Dave was sent on assignment to Tibet and China to survey mineral resources, including uranium. For his outstanding contributions to the accomplishment of this top-secret mission, Sgt. Clapp received the Bronze Star and two Battle Stars.

After the war, Dave spent 17 years working for the pure carbonic division of Air Reduction Co., in New Jersey, before moving to the West Coast to start his own company, Carbonic Products. Both of his sons worked at his company, which manufactured dry ice and supplied carbon dioxide throughout Southern California.

Dave was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Beverly, in 2011. He is survived by daughter Barbara Pruett, sons David III and Michael, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.