David MacLeod Cuneo

It is with profound sadness that the family of David MacLeod Cuneo announces his sudden death at home in Wilmington, Delaware on November 23, 2021.

He was born to Frank and Marion Cuneo in Horace Harding Hospital in Queens and grew up in Flushing, New York. During his senior year at John Bowne High School, Dave earned a full scholarship to Harvard University. He graduated from Harvard in 1976 with a BA in Engineering and Applied Physics, Cum Laude. He also earned an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, in 1984.

Dave served in the United States Navy as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer aboard the USS Rathburne FF-1057 from 1977 to 1980. Awards earned during that time include the Navy Achievement Medal for work as Nuclear Weapons Handling Officer and the Humanitarian Service Medal for the rescue of Vietnamese boat people in the South China Sea. From 1980 to 1982, he was a Budget Analyst on the Chief of Naval Operations staff at the Pentagon. Following that, he was a member of the Navy Reserve for 21 years, retiring in 2004 with the rank of Commander.
In his civilian career, Dave worked for The Dupont Company for 14 years, retiring as Product Manager in 1998. He was also an account manager at Xymid, LLC for six years.

Dave will be lovingly remembered by his brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Maris Cuneo, his sister and brother-in-law, Wendy and John Dodge, and his brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Gina Cuneo. His nephews, Colin Cuneo and Gavin Cuneo, and nieces Susan Dodge King, Jillian Dodge Ventresca and Kaitlyn Cuneo Romano, will also mourn his loss.

Dave adored his family and friends and enjoyed cooking for them. He loved to tend his garden, producing superb spaghetti squash, hot peppers and tomatoes. He was also a wine connoisseur, becoming knowledgeable about all kinds of wine, particularly Barolo, Barbaresco and Amarone. He worked at ABC Wine in Bear, Delaware where he enjoyed knowing his customers by their first names and helping them with their selections.

The family has fond memories of the last time they saw him in person. It was at his niece Kaitlyn’s wedding in July. As soon as the music started, he danced up a storm with everyone and never stopped.

The family is particularly proud of his service with the Navy. Please join us in raising a glass in his memory.

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Condolences

Ken Bode writes,

I was so saddened to hear the news that Dave had passed away. I got to know Dave at the ABC Wine store. Both being wine lovers, we had many discussions about wine and I learned a great deal from him. He was such a nice man and I will miss our conversations. My deepest condolences to his family. God Bless him, may he RIP

12/19/2021 04:46 pm

Jon & Barbara Howell writes,

We are so sad to hear of Dave’s passing. He was always very helpful in our wine decisions working at ABC Liquors. I remember one time I was in without my husband and was looking for a good wine. Dave said “try this, it’s not real expensive, but good.” I came home and we opened the bottle. We took a couple of sips and went back to but the rest of the case they had left. Dave said “I guess you liked it…but if you don’t mind can I at least buy a bottle. He was truly a man of few words and you better be listening because he didn’t repeat his words. Very impressive career, we didn’t know until reading in the paper. He wasn’t a person to talk about his accomplishments. We will miss him!

12/21/2021 12:50 pm

Jenn lit a candle and writes,

I am so sorry for your family’s loss. I only just recently learned about Dave’s passing. For years, he has been helping me pick out wines. One of my favorite Saturday afternoon errands was going to ABC Liquors and saying, “Dave, do you have time to help me pick out a case?” After discussing the average price point and mix of red and whites, he’d say “Follow me,”’and I’d dutifully follow him around the store with my cart as he’d make the selections and tell me a little bit about each wine. I would also go to him around holidays or events I was hosting and say. “Okay, the menu will be…,” and he’d help me pick out the wines to go with the food served. We joked for years that I was going to be his apprentice, and he was going to teach me what he knew so that I could work with him. Even as I type this, I realize how much he will be missed. This obituary only emphasizes what a remarkable man he was, and I am honored that I had the privilege of knowing him.

12/22/2021 06:32 pm

Karen B Chellquist writes,

I'm sorry to have just noticed the obituary posted at ABC. I think of Dave as "my wine guy". Always helpful and friendly. Probably when I was wearing my Boston Red Sox cap once we chatted a bit about when he lived in Cambridge MA. My sympathies to his family, friends and co-workers.

12/31/2021 04:23 pm

David Harrell writes,

So sorry to hear about Dave's passing. I met him in 2002 when he asked me to help him find and a home in N. Wilmington. He was very genuine and delightful to work with. He will be missed by many.

01/03/2022 09:15 pm

Trish writes,

We heard of Dave's passing just before Christmas. It still doesn't seem real. Visiting ABC and not seeing "Dave the wine guy" is very sad. He was so knowledgeable, but more importantly, he was kind and humble. We miss our conversations with him about dinner and hearing how much he loved duck. He never once failed us with his recommendations. Give him the menu and he would hand you the perfect bottle. I hope he knew how much we appreciated him and how sorry we are to have lost him so soon. Our sympathy to his family and his coworkers. He was a gem!

01/08/2022 12:41 pm

Al Allen lit a candle and writes,

Our sincere condolences to Dave's family. For many years in the '90s, my wife and I held a bible study in our home in Claymont, Delaware, where Dave would come on Sundays. David loved studying and sharing his knowledge of the Bible with all of us at the study. After the studies, Dave and I would type up the notes from the study and distribute them to all who came. Then we would walk over to Top of the Hill Apartments where Dave lived at the time while discussing the Bible Study non-stop. May God be merciful to the family. Al & Trena Allen

01/23/2022 03:08 pm

Jane Duggan Terhune lit a candle and writes,

I was lucky to know Dave while we were both members of a small group of 100 full time students called "January Matrics" who began our studies towards our MBA degree at the Wharton School of Business in January of 1983 so we could plow right through the summer and finish the program in an expedited fashion. He was well regarded as one of the smartest among us though he was also very funny, a great dancer, a wonderful addition to any social setting and all around decent human being. I am so saddened to hear of his death.

02/22/2022 11:21 pm

Martin Wickenden writes,

I am sorry to hear of Dave's passing. I served on the USS Rathburne with him. When we relieved the watch, he would ask "what's the status of your apparatus?"

05/24/2022 10:09 am

Greg Miller writes,

I am very saddened to just hear of Dave’s passing. He was a kind and helpful soul who had an amazing knowledge of wine that I will truly miss. He had a passion for wine that was contagious as we dashed from isle to isle filling up my cart every time. His recommendations were always spot on and he loved his Italian reds and the secret moderately priced gems he would pull from the racks for me. My trips to ABC will never be the same without my “wine guy” Dave! Thanks Dave!

07/25/2022 04:49 pm

John E. Thomas, Sr. writes,

I learned of Dave's passing as a consequence of cleaning out some old papers which included letters he wrote 30+ years ago which prompted me to do a search. Dave was a classmate and best friend of mine at Harvard. We spent many hours together in the lab and studying for environmental microbiology exams. These sessions were usually interspersed with discussion of his favorite science fiction writers , Arthur Clarke and Isaac Asimov. I still have five of their novels that he gave me that will require another reading. Our last get together was a Philadelphia dinner in the early 90's. We exchanged gifts, bottles of Amarone of course, Dave's Quintarelli for my Bertani. His military service during the Cold War on an Ohio Class submarine is more than admirable; I remember him saying "you may not hear from me for six months." He noted Reserve Duty was enjoyable being at the helm of a destroyer on occasion and work at the Pentagon. There is an empty bottle of Amarone next to my desk, one of his highly recommended and favorite vintners, Masi that my wife and I drank to celebrate his life and reminisce of the times when we enjoyed Dave's company. A great man and good friend!

09/28/2022 09:37 am

Lisa Padilla lit a candle and writes,

I just googled his name out of the blue and found this very, very sad news. I remember David very well, he was one of the kindest men I know and he made the best chicken divan. Of course he always had great wine pairings with anything. We were stationed together at the Pentagon and were neighbors in Park Fairfax when he lived in Alexandria. I remember his red sports car, don’t remember its name but always fun to ride in. He introduced me to his friends and family and we shared some incredible memories. I am shocked to read of his passing, always hoped to see him again. Rest in peace dear David. Condolences to his family.

11/21/2022 07:39 pm

Lisa Padilla writes,

WILDFIRE. I believe that was the name of his car. So many memories from years ago coming back but happy I remembered that. At least I hope that was the name of the car. RIP my friend. Wish we could have had a few more conversations and visits.

11/21/2022 09:15 pm

Lisa Padilla writes,

He used to make me chicken coq au von, not chicken divan. Memories still coming in. Some of the best years and best times of my young life were spent with Dave. On the weekends we used to hit every wine tasting in Washington DC and northern VA. Still in shock.

11/26/2022 08:56 am

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