David Peter Brophy, 73, of Naples, Florida, and Essex, died on Sept. 16 at South Miami Hospital. He was the husband of Ruth Brophy. David was born in New London in 1939, the youngest of three children born to the late Frank Raymond and Grace Catherine (Horgan) Brophy.  David had lived in Essex until he was in his mid 30s and in various other cities in Connecticut until he moved to Florida in 2004. 

Living in the boating town of Essex, David was drawn to the water at an early age.  His first job, at the age of 13, was as a launch boy at the Essex Yacht Club.   He moved up from there by offering to be a deck-hand on many of the members’ yachts, thus honing the skills necessary to operate and race many types of vessels.

David had a passion for strategic navigation and competing in the waters off the Northeast U.S. coastline.   Many years ago, David obtained his United States Coast Guard license to operate passenger-carrying vessels (both power and sail) and, for several years thereafter, had the credentials of a professional captain, operating a number of private and business-operated yachts.  David also did extensive coastal and offshore sailing and racing.  He owned his own cruising/racing sailboat for many years and was a skipper on boats of various sizes up to 60 feet in the Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans.

David graduated from St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, Massachusetts, in 1957 and also attended Boston College in Boston, Massachusetts, where he studied business administration.   In order to earn a living and to pay for his passion, he spent a few years early on working at Electric Boat as a radiographer and 22 years working as a credit executive with General Electric Credit in Connecticut, retiring in 1990.

David was loved dearly and will be missed by all who knew him. 

Besides his wife, he is survived by his son, Daniel Brophy of Naples, Florida; his brother Donald and wife Patricia of New York City; and his sister-in-law, Judith (Mrs. Robert) Brophy of Santa Fe, New Mexico.  He is also survived by his grandson, Ian Brophy of Grand Junction, Colorado. He was predeceased by his brother Robert in 1988.

 Friends and relatives are invited to attend a graveside service in Riverview Cemetery, North Main St., Essex, at 11:30 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 1.   In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorial contributions in David’s name be made to Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, 14 Prospect St., Essex, CT 06426. The Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook, is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory of David or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com.