Obituaries

J. David Rockafellow, 90, Lifelong Doylestown Resident

Relatives and friends are invited to his memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday in Doylestown.

From Reed & Steinbach Funeral Home:

J. David Rockafellow, D.D.S., a lifelong resident of Doylestown, died Sunday, March 30, 2014, with his family by his side. He was 90.

Born in Abington, he was the son of the late Samuel Fries and Dorothy Fell Rockafellow.

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David was a graduate of Lafayette College, Class of 1945. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was awarded a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Penn Dental Medicine.

Dr. Rockafellow was honored for advancements in pediatric dentistry, adaptive prosthetic devices, and continuing education. He also served as national dental consultant for Prudential. Retiring from active practice at age 72, David was considered the 'Dean' of Doylestown dentists.

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An avid collector of New Hope School paintings and American decorative arts, David studied history through the tapestry of his own storied family genealogy. He was a supporter of the Mercer Museum, a congregant of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and a Rotarian hosting international exchange students.

David is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marian (Cadwalladar) and their three children, Peter Rockafellow and his wife, Pam Ernst Rockafellow, Daniel Rockafellow and Katharine Rockafellow, all of Doylestown; and three grandsons, James Rockafellow of Portland, Maine, William Rockafellow (a Lafayette legacy) of Rosemont, Pa., and J. Nicholas Rockafellow of Doylestown; close family include nieces, Carolynn Rockafellow of New York City, and Elizabeth Rockafellow of Deerfield Beach, Fla. His brother, Robert F. Rockafellow, preceded him in death last fall.

Relatives and friends are invited to his memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Acorn Room, Wesley Enhanced Living, 200 Veterans Lane, Doylestown.

David was deeply impressed by his grandmother, Clara Livezey Fell, a Quaker who gracefully fed released prisoners in her home kitchen. Memorial contributions in David's name may be made to: Philabundance, 3616 South Galloway St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 or www.philabundance.org Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home, Doylestown.


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