FRANKLIN, Vt.—David Happich Breed passed away Thursday, April 14, 2011, at his home in Franklin, Vermont.

He was born February 27, 1943, in Norwich, New York, the son of the late Claude and Gladys Breed.

He graduated from Norwich High School in 1961 and spent the summer of his junior year in Sweden as an American Field Service exchange student.

Enlisting in the Navy, he served on the mine sweeper, The Frigate Bird, as a radio controller.

After serving in the Navy, he studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering. After graduation from RPI in 1970, he worked for the Jones Division of Beloit Corporation in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

In 1974, David was hired as Union Camp Corporation’s first environmental engineer and moved to Franklin, Virginia, with his wife, Nancy, and their two children, Aaron and Rachel.

He continued employment at the Union Camp facility in Franklin for the remainder of his career and retired in 2000 as the plant manager for the Pulp Deinking and Recycling facility.

During his years in Pittsfield and Franklin, he enjoyed hiking, canoeing and camping with his family. He was an accomplished woodworker and loved cooking. He was an active participant in the Jaycee’s and the YMCA.

After retirement, he moved from Virginia and resided in Franklin, Vermont, for the last eight years. David was involved in the local emergency medical response team for several years, active with the Franklin Watershed Committee and an active member of Franklin United Church.

He took great pride in the accomplishments of his children Aaron and Rachel, and stepsons Jonathan and Clark Galli, and enjoyed sharing photographs of his two grandchildren with friends.

He is survived by a son, Aaron of Richmond, Virginia; a daughter, Rachel of Culpeper, Virginia; a grandson, Adam; and granddaughter, Natalie. Also surviving are his sisters, Betsy Bennett, Claudia Walsh and Gretchen Farnsworth, all of Vermont, and a brother Alan Breed of Wisconsin.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 27 at 10 a.m. at the Franklin United Church, 5414 Main Street, Franklin, VT.

Should friends desire, gifts in David’s memory may be made to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Gifts Processing Center, P.O. Box 3164, Boston, MA., 02241-3164, or a charity of one’s choice.