David Muchnick
David Muchnick was born on February 27, 1945 and passed away on September 15, 2019.
The following are excerpts from notes posted by Dartmouth classmates on dignitymemorial.com.
Dave was a role model for me at Dartmouth in several ways. We probably first met at the Dartmouth Political Action Committee where we were active in promoting civil rights. Being progressive and publicly acting on our beliefs and values put us in a distinct minority at Dartmouth. But being there with Dave made it much more comfortable for me. Right from the start he was warm and welcoming. He was also very smart. We both majored in Sociology. No matter how hard I studied, he always did better than I because he somehow absorbed and understood the material at a deeper level. In fact, he was one of the most outstanding students in our entire class. But he never bragged; he never put down any of us.
We were both interested in the social aspects of urban planning. He had a sophisticated knowledge of Boston’s urban problems and institutions, especially the Boston Redevelopment Authority. He taught me a lot about Boston and helped me with a project I worked on involving my hometown, Springfield, Mass. I got married after my first year in law school and didn’t see Dave too much. But we took a course in Law and Sociology together, and both of us volunteered at Harvard’s Community Legal Assistance Office.
Dave could have taken his law and other prestigious degrees and get fancy and lucrative jobs. But instead he stayed true to his principles: pursing justice, and helping others. It was a privilege to have known him. May his memory be a blessing.
— Mark Budnitz
Met David at Dartmouth. We and other friends were in the Dartmouth Christian Union which encompassed all faiths and helped us understand the problems encountered by the civil rights movement. And DCU helped some of us to go south to protest.
David was the one who encouraged me and others to go for graduate degree in city planning. When he came back from his MA degree in England, he joined me & 2 friends from college to share an apartment in Cambridge, MA.
We remember well his stress with Law School. Remember gladly his joy with every game the Celtics won.
He taught us all about Boston politics. David felt deeply about the wrongs that had been inflicted on people by the urban renewal process aka urban minorities removal as he put it. His senior thesis was on that topic.
After Law School, his work for the nonprofit company in the Bronx was an amazing accomplishment. e.g. jobs for the unemployed recycling wood pallets into office furniture. Big City Forest he called it. Do google his name and the company's for the fascinating story. Also read online the chapter about him in the book: Doing Good: Inspirational Stories of Everyday Americans at Home and at Work.
After recovery from surgery, he did more amazing things. Learning to drive again. All the work for the State on behalf of affordable housing. Getting married to the love of his life, as he explained often during our phone calls. Thank you D'Arcy.
The world has lost a great mind and a wonderful mensch. David would have been a great President.
— Gerhard Leib
Have many memories of Much. There was Dartmouth and when he lived with us in Greenwich Village, but one memory sticks out. He made it to our weeding on December 30, 1967. He was following us as we went to Willimantic to go to our new apartment, and we were going to get some coffee. Well we ran out of gas and he took us to get gas. I never did ask him were he stayed, but he rescued us.
— Elliot and Jennifer Taubman