Passed away peacefully August 15, 2025, at home with family by his side. Dave was born October 15, 1939, in St. Martinville, Louisiana, the son of Clarence Duchamp and Marie Fournet Duchamp. His mother died when he was 17 and his father later married Eunice Broussard who remained a beloved member of the family throughout her life. David grew up in St. Martinville where he developed a strong interest in science and nature that would remain with him throughout his life. Early in life, he demonstrated a talent for understanding the inner workings of mechanical devices and their repair. As a youth, he enjoyed exploring natural areas as part of the Boy Scouts of America. After graduating from St. Martinville High School, he attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana where he earned Bachelor of Science Degrees in both chemistry and mathematics. He then earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the California Institute of Technology. As a graduate student, he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and National Science Foundation Fellow. During this time in California, he met Annette Sleigh while horseback riding; they fell in love and married. After completing his graduate work, Dave began as a research scientist with the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He continued to work at Upjohn for over 30 years advancing to the position of Executive Director of Information Technical Research and Development before his retirement in 1996. Professionally, he served as a National Institutes of Health (NIH) reviewer and was a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Crystallographic Association (ACA), serving as president of the ACA in 1990. Dave loved spending time with his family, hiking, camping and canoeing. In his free time, Dave enjoyed building furniture, traveling, photography, reading, and model railroading. Even with his busy professional and family life, he made volunteering a priority. For years, he took on leadership roles in both Boy Scouts of America and American Youth Soccer Organization, along with assisting Annette in running a Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. After his retirement, he volunteered at Isle Royal National Park, a place close to his heart that he regularly visited with his family. He also constructed an elaborate model railroad layout and was an active member of the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society and the National Model Railroad Association.