David V. Sanborn, 81, of Morrisville, passed away on June 24, 2025.

He was born in Bridgeport, Conn., in August 1943 to Florence and Vernon Sanborn and his elder sister, Nancy. He said he had an idyllic childhood growing up in the suburbs and shorelines of Connecticut and playing with numerous cousins.

After graduating high school, David wanted to pursue teaching as his career in the steps of his parents, but not in Connecticut. He chose to attend what was known then as Johnson Teachers College in Johnson, Vermont. He loved the clean air and quieter lifestyle up north, even if it lacked fresh shellfish.

At a spur-of-the-moment house party in Morrisville, he met Sonnie Emmons and fell in love. They were married in July 1967 and welcomed daughter Suzanne in 1970.

David taught at Lamoille Union for more than 30 years as a teacher of disabled children and later as a driver’s ed teacher. He was involved with the Special Olympics as a coach for winter sports. In the summers, he had varied jobs, notably as a patrolman for the Morristown Police Department for a few years early on, and as a groundskeeper for the Morristown Cemetery Association for many years. He quipped that he had many good people under him in that position.

He was blessed with five nephews who thought the world of him, as they went on many camping and canoe trips during the summers. These “boys’ trips” with his brothers-in-law and nephews made great memories and cemented a love of the outdoors with most of them. He was a mentor and steadfast ally to many people growing up in the 1970s and ’80s, and a wise and loving father to his only daughter. She also fostered a love of the outdoors, camping and canoeing as a family.

David had many friends through teaching and, after retiring, through his love of trains. He went on many trips with his train buddies and had a huge amount of related memorabilia and equipment. He and Sonnie loved to travel and visit friends up and down the East Coast, and visited his college roommate and best man in Monterey, Calif., several times. He also volunteered many early morning hours washing dishes at Breakfast on Us through the United Community Church of Morrisville.

He is survived by his sister, Nancy of Boscawen, New Hampshire; his daughter, Suzanne of Morristown; nephews David of New Hampshire, Peter of South Carolina, and Jeff and Kevin of Morristown; his brother-in-law, Leon, and wife, Linda of Shelburne; and numerous friends and neighbors.

A quiet graveside service was held at the family plot in Pleasant View Cemetery on June 30 at 3 p.m. Donations in his name can be sent to Lamoille Home Health & Hospice or Breakfast on Us via the United Community Church of Morrisville.