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David Andrew Hein

David Andrew Hein, 77, beloved husband of Penny Hein, passed from his earthly life after a lengthy illness, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his loving family. David was born in the close-knit village of Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1945 to Mary and Reed Hein. He was raised in a town with two stop signs, two cross streets, and two churches, and went on to confidently live and navigate the world at large. Growing up, he could always be found outdoors, riding his bike, playing with friends, cousins, and his many dogs;, fishing in nearby creeks, or hunting with his dad at their nearby cabin. He was raised with a strong connection to his faith, so much so at one point he considered becoming a minister.

From an early age, David was a tireless worker. As a young teen, he worked at the local general store where one of his duties was candling (or grading) eggs. Everyday all his neighbors looked forward to his enthusiastic greetings as he ran home and back to work for lunch. After graduating from Milton High School, David attended The University of Pittsburgh on full scholarship, where he graduated magna cum laude with degrees in electrical engineering and an MBA. He also worked at the school throughout his undergraduate years in order to pay expenses. He pursued his love of music while at school by joining the Pitt Glee Club. During each summer as an undergraduate, David held jobs at Bethlehem Steel Mills, Proctor and Gamble, and IBM. Upon completing graduate school in 1968, he moved to Boston where he took his first full time job with IBM.

It was at Pitt that David met his future wife, Penny, during the summer between his undergraduate and graduate years. David and Penny were married in Pittsburgh on David’s birthday, May 25, 1969 and remained married for 53 years until David’s passing.

Their life was an adventure, traveling and moving frequently. From Boston, they moved to Brookline, Framingham, Massachusetts; Ridgefield, Woodstock, New York, Winchester, England; Tokyo, Japan, then back to Ridgefield where they remained until finally retiring to Old Saybrook. During this time they were blessed with their three children, whom David called “his greatest accomplishments,” Lauren, Ben, and John.

Over his career, David worked for various companies including IBM and SNET. In the prime of David’s career, he led teams of developers at IBM, from the days of mainframes well into the personal computer revolution. He often said that his favorite thing about working for IBM was the opportunity to live and travel all over the world. In his spare time, he enjoyed coaching and “reffing” soccer, eventually becoming head referee for Ridgefield Soccer. He was an active member of his local churches, joining the choir and doing charitable work with the First Congregational Church of Ridgefield and, more recently, St Paul Lutheran Church in Old Saybrook.

David’s strength, wit, sense of humor, work ethic, and generosity leaves an indelible mark on his loved ones and community. He shared his incredible memory for history and music, as well as his love and dedication to God, instilling that love in his family and the world around him. Those who spent time with David carry memories of his generosity and wisdom. He cared for his friends, family, church, and community by sharing his skills, knowledge, and joy. Whether it was by sharing his voice, working with his hands or dedicating himself to making the lives of those around him better, his works and life echo on.

In addition to his wife, David is survived by a daughter, Lauren O’Hara and her husband Mark; a son Ben Hein; and a son, John Hein and his wife Emily. David’s greatest joy in later years was his cherished grandchildren, Libby O’Hara, Katie O’Hara, Wyatt Hein, and Reed Hein. He is also survived by two sisters, Linda Kirkner and Barbara Cromley, and their families of Pennsylvania; a brother-in-law Lance Sieger and his family of California; and countless friends and dogs who loved him.

A celebration of David’s life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at St Paul Lutheran Church in Old Saybrook.

Donations in David’s name can be given to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network — https://pancan.org/, St Paul Lutheran Church of Old Saybrook — https://www.stpaul-elca.org/, or the Connecticut Food Bank — https://www.ctfoodbank.org/. According to David’s wishes, our family will be planting a Japanese Maple Tree in our sweet David’s memory.