David T. Lucey, 84, of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away on March 19, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of Monica (Anderson) Lucey for 59 years and a devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle, colleague, mentor, veteran, sportsman and friend.

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and raised in Andover, Dave was the son of the late William and Grace (Monahan) Lucey. He attended St. Augustine’s Grammar School in Andover, went on to New Hampton School in New Hampshire, and later graduated from Suffolk University in Boston with a journalism degree.

Dave served his country in the United States Air Force, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and later served as a captain during the Vietnam War era. His military service took him to every continent including Antarctica and Southeast Asia, and he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

He went on to build a distinguished career in newspaper publishing and management. He joined the Meriden Record-Journal in 1972. Serving as General Manager of the Record-Journal Publishing Company in Meriden, Connecticut, served as Past President of the New England Newspaper Association and became Publisher of The Westerly Sun in Westerly, Rhode Island retiring in 2005 after 33 years of service.

Dave’s professional life was marked by leadership, civic engagement, and deep ties to the communities he served. He held numerous affiliations with business and civic organizations, including leadership roles with Meriden, Wallingford and Westerly Chambers of Commerce, chairing the Town of Wallingford annual spelling bee and sitting on the YMCA board of directors in Wallingford, Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island. He also served as President of the Rotary Club of Meriden and President of Twin Isles Country Club in Punta Gorda, FL.

In Punta Gorda, Dave also gave his time to the Military Heritage Museum, where he served as a dedicated flight simulator instructor. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Holy Trinity Church of Wallingford, CT and Sacred Heart Church, Punta Gorda, FL and brought to every community he joined a sense of service, warmth, wit, humility, and quiet generosity.

As an active sportsman, Dave enjoyed playing a wide variety of recreational sports: racquetball, pickleball, skiing, fly-fishing, boating, aviation and most passionately, golf where he enjoyed the fellowship and friendships that came with the game he dearly loved, playing countless rounds throughout the Merrimack Valley, the Farms Country Club and Twin Isles Country Club. An avid Boston pro teams and University of Connecticut Huskies basketball fan and nothing stopped him from attending children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and dance recitals.

Above all, Dave was deeply proud of his family. He and Monica raised their four children in Wallingford, Connecticut: David Thomas Jr. and his wife Kerri of Scituate, Massachusetts; Monica Amy Jagoda and her husband Michael of Charlestown, RI; Sarah Anne Mik and her husband Brian of Wallingford, Connecticut; and Philip Matthew and his wife Christine of Apex, North Carolina. He was also the cherished grandfather of eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren whom he doted over from the gymnasium stands, ice rinks, lacrosse and soccer fields, boat helm, golf tourney rope lines, dance halls and shorelines. His most cherished tradition was gathering the entire family on Christmas Eve and handing out the first gift to the youngest grandchild.

He was predeceased by his brothers, William F. Lucey Jr. and John R. Lucey, and by his daughter-in-law Kathryn (Holbrook) Lucey. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Anne Lucey of Middletown, Rhode Island, Ruth Ann Lucey of Groveland, Massachusetts, and Judith Dugan of Seabrook, New Hampshire, along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

A graveside service with military honors will be performed Friday, May 8, 2026, Noon at Middletown State Veterans Cemetery, Middletown, CT.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Military Heritage Museum, 1200 West Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.

Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Punta Gorda Chapel.