David A. Franz ’64

Dave died April 21, 2009, in LaPorte, Pa., after a long battle with melanoma. He  was 66. 

Dave was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Lansdowne Aldan High School, where he was senior class president. At Princeton, he discovered chemistry and embraced it as his major. As drum-major of the Princeton marching band, he took great delight in designing “shocking” halftime shows in Palmer Stadium to the delight of most — but not all — of the fans. Dave was a member of Tower Club and roomed as an upperclassman with 16 friends in Foulke Hall. 

Dave earned a master’s degree in teaching from Johns Hopkins and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Virginia in 1970. He taught chemistry at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., for 35 years, retiring in 2005 to a rousing tribute from colleagues and former students. He was department chair for many years and received a number of awards for his teaching excellence and outstanding community service. His outside interests included the Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, golf, tennis, and cycling.

Dave is survived by his wife, Beth Ann Myers; his children, Alan and Kathy, and their spouses; three grandchildren; and his children’s mother, Sally Franz. To them all, the class extends heartfelt sympathy.