David Allan Ramsay
David Allan Ramsay
April 28, 1949
February 18, 2019
David Allan Ramsay, my identical twin brother, died peacefully on Feb 18, 2019, at the age of 69. Born and raised in Schenectady, NY, he was a nearly 50 year resident of southern Maine, a passionate collector and antiques show exhibitor, until ill health sidelined his career, three years ago. Educated at Northeastern University, Boston, MA, after a brilliant early career in journalism, he followed me (it’s a twin thing) into the antiques business, in 1980. Pursuing a very active show schedule, he exhibited from Texas to Florida to his adopted home of Maine, exhibiting at major shows throughout the country. David’s tenacious personality served, as those who knew him well, both as his foil, and his greatest asset. Admirably, to the credit of his insistence on living an authentic life, he “outed” himself as a gay man, in
1967, decades before such courage became common. When gravely stricken with esophageal cancer, in 2016, he fought bravely to recover. Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer metastasis, this past October, he beautifully embraced the perspective he’d been introduced to, 35 years earlier, as a member of Alcoholics Anonymous; the importance of living fully, one day at a time. He faced his last few months of life feeling blessed, with gratitude and grace. My personal thanks to his best friend of 25 years, Billy Winslow, whose unconditional devotion sustained David’s spirits throughout, unrelenting, as his end approached. David passed in the compassionate care of Gosnell Memorial Hospice, Scarborough, ME. I’ll remember him, always, with love, as my other half. Rest in peace, brother.
Doug Ramsay DBR Antiques, Hadley, MA
Online condolences may be expressed below.
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