David Allan Schunk, of Meadowbrook Manor Rest Home Centerbrook, CT passed away on Jan. 5 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT, from multiple myeloma and plasma leukemia.
He was 66 years old.
David’s brother, Ralph C Schunk, and his wife, Lynn A. Cabana of Plymouth, were unwavering in their support of David. He was dearly loved and admired by all who cared for him. David was brave, courageous, kind, and thankful. We were simply blessed to have him in our lives.
Preceding David in death were his parents, Ralph Carl Schunk and Virginia (Reinke) Schunk.
David is survived by his brother Robert Schunk of Providence, RI, and his Aunt Terri and Uncle Roy Smith of Florida.
David was born February 19, 1959, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the youngest son of Ralph and Virginia. The family moved to West Hartford CT in 1972.
David graduated from Conard High School in West Hartford Connecticut in 1977. He attended the Morse School of Business in Hartford beginning in September 1977 and graduating in 1979 with a degree in Marketing Management.
David suffered a psychotic break in his early 20s. He was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, a chronic, persistent, and disabling illness. David was cared for at his home in West Hartford by his parents. David’s father moved him to Meadowbrook Rest Home in Centerbrook, CT, in 1997. He was a resident of this loving home for the past 28 years. He was adored by all and given loving care each day.
We wish to thank the entire staff of Meadowbrook Rest Home for their loving care of David. David made remarkable progress with his care and quality of life while residing at this home. Special thanks to Cathleen Carter, Cheryl Dohnert, Kimberly Bouchard and Tammy Senecal. His overall health and quality of life improved under their supervision.
We wish to thank his oncologist, Dr. Karthikeyan Kandavelou and the staff of Connecticut Oncology Group of Westbrook, Connecticut, for providing David with four years of care and quality of life.
David established a consistent routine while living at Meadowbrook Manor. He took long walks into downtown Essex, and the bus to Old Saybrook for the day. David loved cars and auto racing.
He is survived by his brother, Ralph Schunk, sister-in-law Lynn Cabana of Plymouth, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing David.
A visitation will be held at the Cartmell-Davis Funeral Home, 373 Court St., Plymouth, on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a Mass at St. Peter’s Church, Plymouth, at 11 a.m. Burial will take place at Vine Hills Cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial donations in David Schunk’s memory may be made to
Mental Health Services Connecticut, 76 Batterson Park Road, Suite 303,
Farmington, CT, 06032, or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. 383 Main Ave., 7th floor, Norwalk, CT, 06851.