David Eric Pines, an educator, sustainability advocate, distinguished consultant and transformational coach, died peacefully on the evening of May 19, 2024 at his home on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. The former Mount Washington native was 73.

Born at Sinai Hospital to Baltimore Judge Joseph I. Pines and Hopkins School of Public Health Administrator Marcia Gann Pines, David went on to graduate from Gilman School. He was the class of 1973 at Lake Forest College north of Chicago where he formed life-long friendships and fell in love with Native American culture. David rounded out his educational accolades with a Masters degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University in 1975.

A pacifist by nature, David began his multifaceted career at Friends School of Baltimore, where he taught History and Social Studies, meeting his future wife of 35 years and fellow faculty member Rachel. After 7 years at Friends, he cofounded Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center in Parkton, MD which ignited his passion for deeper youth community development. His next endeavor was working for the US Department of Health and Human Services to end violence and enable sustainability amongst youth in underserved communities in Los Angeles, Point Barrow, Alaska and a Native American reservation in Lame Deer, Montana. Amongst his proudest achievements was being donned “Tatanka Ska” or the sacred “White Buffalo” by the Northern Cheyenne chief.

After spearheading The Foundation for the Future of Youth until 2000, David’s career evolved yet again, this time as a business consultant at Gap International, based in Philadelphia. There, he traveled the world working with multinational companies to achieve breakthroughs. After his wife Rachel’s untimely passing, the final chapter of his career returned him to education where he served an Advisor to the CEO at CanopyLab, an edtech company based in Denmark.

“He was a renaissance man – interested in everything life has to offer,” his son Justin says of David. “He was a carpenter, building and restoring houses, a musician and collector of instruments, he loved cooking and gastronomy, an athlete, an artist…he knew how to live life to the fullest.”

Perhaps David’s largest passion, cycling, took him across the US, Jamaica, Canada, and Scotland where his fondness for bicycling was combined with his love for fine scotch whisky.

In 2020, David retired to Galena, Maryland along the Sassafras River. His gentle but impactful spirit will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.

David is survived by his sister Ellen, his son Justin and daughter-in-law Rachael, grandchildren Amelia and Maxwell and his partner Henni.

The family will hold a private memorial. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Chesapeake Bay Foundation or Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center in David Pines’ honor. 

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/david-pines/obituary/

Copy