David J. Curry

David Jerome Curry, 81, passed away at home on April 26th, 2026 after a two-year battle with ALS. He lived a life full of rich experiences driven by curiosity, empathy, and a strong sense of humor.

David was born on Halloween, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan to his tenacious mother Blanche. As a child, he was already developing a passion for one of the great loves of his life-skiing. After graduating from Walled Lake High School in 1962, David attended college at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he was a member of the ski team and formed lifelong friendships with the other racers.

He received his B.S. degree in 1967 and his MBA in 1968, and then attended the University of California, Berkeley where he received his PhD in Marketing with a minor in Mathematical Psychology and Psychometrics in 1973. Dave loved exploring the complexities of higher mathematics, and throughout his career as an academic was always excited to sit down at his computer and solve a difficult problem.

He started his academic career at the University of Iowa where he taught Marketing from 1973 to 1990. During that time, he spent a semester as a visiting professor at his alma mater the University of Colorado, Boulder, he worked as a consultant for a civil engineering firm in Sydney, Australia in 1978, and he wrote a textbook of marketing research during a sabbatical in Paris in 1986. A lifelong and determined learner, he began studying French in his forties and soon became fluent.

David subsequently worked as a Professor of Marketing at the University of Cincinnati from 1990 until his retirement in 2022. During that time, he served as a visiting professor for a year at the École Supérieure de Commerce, Nantes-Atlantique in France. 

During his long career as a university professor, David published and reviewed countless research articles in academic journals, chaired university committees, served as department chair, worked as a consultant, and contributed concretely to his academic field. Most importantly, he mentored many students, including chairing dissertation committees for more than a dozen PhD candidates. He loved engaging in intellectual debate, talking through ideas, and finding friends and colleagues who could match his intellectual fire.

Dave's curiosity never dulled-although he was a music lover his whole life, in retirement he dove deeper into guitar lessons, began composing songs more seriously, and played in a band. You can listen to some of his songs at davidjcurry.com. Beyond his academic writing, he wrote poetry and several non-fiction works throughout his life. He loved traveling and meeting new people, and remained curious about lives that were different from his own. If they left him alone for a few minutes, his family would often return to a restaurant, coffee shop, or park bench to find him chatting animatedly with a stranger he just met.

David was an accomplished athlete throughout his life who had stories about playing nearly every sport, some at a very high level. But he loved skiing most of all, and was happiest in the mountains on an early morning with fresh powder.

Dave could be demanding, stubborn, direct and impatient. He had strong opinions. But he was also kind and compassionate, and his strongest opinions were in service of a world that was fairer and more empathetic. He was goofy and funny. He was a great storyteller. He loved winter, sci fi, ice cream, and the outdoors.

Most of all, David loved his family. He is survived by his three daughters, Lauren, Olivia and Monica, by his former wife Jennifer Scott, by his grandson Leo Marshall, and by Patricia Smigielski Curry, his beloved wife and life partner of 39 years. His family hopes you'll think of him if you ever find yourself in the mountains on a snowy day.

In David's memory, please consider making a donation to ALS United Ohio (alsohio.org), which provides support and advocacy for people with ALS and their families in Ohio, or The ALS Association (als.org), which supports ALS research.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, with details forthcoming.