Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
David O. Oberkircher of Collegeville
David O. Oberkircher, 58, of Collegeville, PA, went peacefully to his Lord Sunday, October 30, 2016. David, who fought cancer for two years, passed away in his home, surrounded by his family.
Born November 13, 1957, to Barbara Stewart (Thomas) and Dr. Paul Oberkircher Sr. of Buffalo, NY, David is survived by his wife, Kathleen (McGinnis); children Katherine, Margaret and David; brothers Douglass (Evelyn), Paul (Lisa) and Peter (Elizabeth); brother-in-law Patrick J. McGinnis (Susan Stratton) and sister-in-law Barbara McGinnis; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
David graduated Great Valley High School, Malvern, PA, in 1975, and Lafayette College, Easton, PA, in 1979. He was an accomplished businessman and a committed philanthropist. In 1999, David was a founding partner of Trion, which grew to be the largest privately-held employee benefits consultant and broker in the United States. He helped oversee Trion’s acquisition by Marsh & McLennan, the world’s foremost risk management and human resources consulting company. David was a nationally recognized leader in his industry and sat on the Board of the Council for Insurance Agents and Brokers, as well various industry and insurance company advisory boards. He served on the Board of Trustees of Germantown Academy, for which he had formerly served as chairman. He was active on multiple committees of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation and had sat on the Board of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. David was an active member of Sunnybrook Golf Club, Merion Golf Club and the Wanderer’s Club of Wellington, FL.
David was a visionary entrepreneur, passionate philanthropist and avid sportsman. Until the very end of his life, he was a force for community, economic and political good. His life was remarkable for its successes, and his family, friends, community and business associates regret only that he was taken from them at the peak of his many strengths.
Family visitation will be held 5:00 to 8:00PM this Thursday evening, November 3, at St. Helena’s Church, 1489 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422. Following a private internment, the family will again greet friends at St. Helena’s the morning of Friday, November 4 at 10:00AM, to be followed by mass at 11:30. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations in David’s memory be made to Inglis House, www.inglis.org, 2800 Belmont Avenue Philadelphia, PA (215-5810701). Online condolences may be made to the family at www.rlwilliamsfuneralhome.com
As Aristotle observed: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” In all ways, David had the habit of excellence. He has left the world a better place.