David Michael Darsch
1957-2025
David Michael Darsch, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va. and Barcelona, Spain, died on July 5, 2025 at 10:22 a.m. in New York City. He was 68 years old and had lived life to the absolute fullest. He died following a severe and sudden illness. Dave seemed to have waited just long enough for his family to gather before he took his final breath, surrounded with love by the presence of his wife Lisa, his son Davis, his daughter Kelly, his brother Stuart, his daughter-in-law Lisa K, and his friend Liam. Even in his final moments, Dave embraced the opportunity to bring loved ones together to share an experience and celebrate the journey of life together. Dave loved providing such possibilities for family and friends to create memories, as evidenced by his annual Pig Roast celebration held every single year for the past 33 years since he received his first porcine (pig) heart valve in 1991. Dave was always grateful for the medical interventions, nurses, and doctors that allowed him to live such a full life, including with a second porcine valve placed in 2003 and a bovine (cow) valve placed in 2022. At the 33rd Pig Roast held in 2024, Dave proudly distributed T-shirts that proclaimed that greater than 50% of his life had been spent “running on pig and cow parts.” Dave never took a day of life for granted and took the time to reflect regularly on the joy and seriousness of simply being alive.
Dave was born on January 8, 1957 in Plymouth, Mass. to Joan Madeline (Neri) Darsch and Richard Anthony Darsch. He enjoyed a wonderful childhood and was an avid motorcyclist as a teenager and all throughout his life. He developed lifelong friendships while growing up in Braintree, Mass. that he held dear until the day he died.
He attended University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and graduated in 1978 with a degree in International Finance.
In 1985, Dave was overjoyed to welcome his son Davis into the world. In 1992, Dave and Davis broke ground on the pond at the home in Berkeley Springs, starting a legacy of special memories at a place where Dave truly found peace and tranquility. In 1998, Dave made the outrageous and pivotal decision to move his family to Barcelona, Spain, ever eager to provide new possibilities to his young son who wanted to learn Spanish. Dave gifted Davis with many opportunities, including experiences under the sea with SCUBA, and travels throughout most countries in Europe. They continued their travel experiences after Davis went to college and together visited almost 50 countries. More recently, Dave and Davis were able to enjoy traveling to Cuba and Japan and shared their last trip together to South Korea in 2023. Dave and Davis had such a special bond and shared so much including their initials and their deep sense of duty and loyalty to their family and friends.
Lisa Macdonald Darsch was the light and love of Dave’s life. Dave and Lisa have a remarkable and enduring love that transcends time and circumstances. Their relationship blossomed later in life and they were married in 2010 in Berkeley Springs. Lisa and Dave founded the CEO-Collaborative Forum in 2005, a global CEO coaching organization that nurtured CEOs from around the world and allowed their businesses to flourish. The CEO-CF organization still thrives today.
Lisa’s skills as a nurse helped Dave navigate his health challenges throughout his life. Lisa remained Dave’s dedicated nurse until the very end when she advocated to ensure his peaceful and dignified death. Dave and Lisa traveled the world extensively together. They enjoyed every opportunity to share their lives with their family and friends in Berkeley Springs, Barcelona, and around the globe.
Dave especially enjoyed the time he spent with Julie and Kelly and their growing families, including 4 grandchildren and one on the way.
Dave started his working life as a paperboy at the age of 12, equipping his bicycle wheels with chicken wire so that he could deliver papers in the snow. He worked for his father in the south end of Boston as a young adult. As a very successful entrepreneur, Dave founded Data Management Design, Inc. (DMDI), a computer technology firm, and sold this business to DynCorp circa 1998. Throughout his life, Dave served as a consultant and trusted advisor for many large multinational corporations. He served as Advisor to the CEO and Board for the Col·legi Oficial de Metges de Barcelona (College of Doctors). In his final professional years, he concurrently served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Shenandoah University leading global experiential learning trips to Cuba and Barcelona. The work he was recently most proud of was his role as Chairman and Member of the Board for Gat Furniture Works, a furniture company in Berkeley Springs. Dave was motivated to lead and inspire the next generation of U.S. and European business leaders.
Dave is survived by his beloved wife Lisa Darsch; his son Davis Darsch and Lisa Kodadek of New Haven, Conn.; his daughter Kelly McGowan and Christian McGowan and grandson Calum of Cumming, Ga.; his daughter Julie Dahlum and Jamie Dahlum and grandchildren Alex, Hudson, and Kennedy of Ashburn, Va.; his brother Stuart Darsch and Susan Allen of Sandwich, Mass.; his brother-in-law Kevin Potts of Berkeley Springs; and many more friends and loved ones all over the globe.
Dave is preceded in death by his brother Gerald Darsch of Braintree, Mass.
A public viewing is planned at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center at 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 on Friday, July 11 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. An intimate memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 11 a.m. at Greenwood Chapel, located at 12031 Winchester Grade Road, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411.
Please consider donations to these local Berkeley Springs causes that were dear to Dave and support local Morgan County youth in need: —Morgan County Family Support Center Starting Points and Morgan County Backpacks www.starting-points.org/ our-programs. —CASA of the Eastern Panhandle – Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children www.mycasaep.org.
