David Davis-Van Atta passed away on July 26, 2025 at the age of 79. David was a Carleton alum (class of 1972), step-father to alum Joshua Startup (class of 1999), and the Director of Institutional Research and Analysis from 1995-2007. He will be dearly missed.
Information regarding his service and obituary can be found online here.
Comments
I have so many fond memories of working with David at Carleton and Vassar. He was such a kind, caring person and so, so gentle.
David was also extremely smart and a wizard of his craft. He described himself as an Excel ninja (which I would agree!) and so very thorough in his work and analysis. He was also a proud and fervent Carleton alum and was happy to remind me that he was the first astronomy major at the college.
He was also very committed to his family. I vividly remember the excitement he showed when sharing a picture of him, his wife, and son, Casey, in the White House Oval Office meeting President Obama, when Casey worked for the administration.
I also always appreciated the curiosity David demonstrated. There were many times while at meetings when I thought David was doodling on his writing pad to pass the time. I would later learn that he wasn’t doodling, but taking the time to solve complex math equations. His talents were off the charts!
Lastly, as I mentioned David was a caring soul. When I was hired at Carleton I learned that he made a donation to the college in my honor. I was a gracious gift only David would think of.
David will be missed by his friends and colleagues. I was sad to hear the news of his passing and send my heartfelt condolences to his family.
I, too, remember David fondly. His excitement about data was contagious, and he loved using great data points to tell Carleton's story in compelling ways. He knew Carleton from so many angles, thanks to his alumni experience and his care in assembling and stewarding the institution's data over many years.
David was a friendly colleague, always glad to connect and to share stories (one of my favorites was the story about his summer job on "bat patrol" with a tennis racquet in the Old Stewart Hotel--before it was the Archer House). His smile and his laugh are vivid in my memories of him.
My condolences to Casey and David's extended family. He made a lasting impact on the Carleton community and will be missed.
My earliest memory of David Van Atta was during the summer of 1970 when Jane Dilley and I were keypunch operators in the basement of Laird. He was one of the student computer wizards working w/Graham Kimball + Ed Geigler. Always friendly, smiling, and brilliant! It was a delight to welcome him back when he returned to Carleton many years later, the same warm-hearted guy. He will be greatly missed. With deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and colleagues.