David Owen Decker of Salem MA and Marlboro, VT died peacefully at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers MA on March 25.   Born in Toledo, Ohio on March 30, 1936, he was the son of Mary Elizabeth [Jones] and Charles Rutherford Decker of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He attended Asheville School and Woodstock Country School and graduated from Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT.  He then attended University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and graduated with a master's degree from NYU.

David taught at the University of Maine, Orono for thirty-five years where he was a professor of design, architecture and Canadian studies.  He exhibited in juried exhibitions at museums in California, Oregon and Washington and also in New York galleries and many other museums around the country.

David was a lover of opera and chamber music.  His love and knowledge of jazz led him to produce "Salt Peanuts", a weekly program for Maine Public Radio.   As a college student, he worked for the Marlboro Music Festival and later enjoyed and supported it for over five year decades.

David was known for his generosity of spirit, his humor and his ability to connect with people.  David reconnected with his "high-school sweetheart", Lynn, after forty years.  He is survived by his wife, Lynn Latta Frothingham, his sister, Alexandra O'Gorman and her husband, Ronan, of Encinitas. California, two step-children, Mary Newhall Higgins and her husband, John, of Manchester, Massachusetts and Charles L. Newhall and his wife, Trish, of Salem, four grandchildren, John and Sarah Newhall and Ellie and Bridget Higgins.

A celebration of life will take place on Saturday April 8, 2017 from 4 to 6PM at the Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Marlboro College, P. O. Box A, Marlboro, VT 05344 or Marlboro Music Festival, P. O. Box K, Marlboro, VT 05344. For additional information or online guestbook please visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com or call 978-744-0497.