David Terence McCabe

May 2, 1935 -

May 9, 2023

Longtime Anchorage, Alaska, resident David Terence "Terry" McCabe died peacefully at his home, at age 88, on May 9, 2023, from Alzheimer's disease. His friends and neighbors are invited to a Celebration of Life service at the family home, 1326 K Street, starting at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 14, 2023, followed by a reception. To ensure a COVID-19-free event, guests are requested to test themselves on the day of the event.

David is remembered by many for his kindness and generosity of spirit to people from every walk of life. He was always ready with a show-stopping story, a witty quip or a historic or scientific insight. As a child he felt that he "needed to gather all the knowledge in the world." People who knew him thought he nearly succeeded.

Born in Hartford, Ct., on May 2, 1935, to Lavinia and Frank McCabe, David attended high school in Wellesley, Mass. There he served as a co-editor of the high school newspaper and met his wife-to-be, Janet Lee Walker. David entered Princeton University after winning a military ROTC scholarship. He majored in history and graduated from Princeton with honors in 1957. He and Janet were married the next year at the historic Church of South Natick, Mass.

David served his ROTC tour of duty in the Navy, including combat in Lebanon. In May 1960, he was honorably released from active duty as a Lieutenant.

Enticed by the prospects of life in a new state, David and Janet decided to drive to Alaska, camping from their Volkswagen Bug. Settling in Fairbanks, they soon welcomed their first child, Sarah. David was employed by the First National Bank of Alaska and managed their branch bank in Nenana.

In 1962, they returned to Massachusetts, where they both earned master's degrees. David's was from the Harvard Business School. Back in Anchorage in 1964, David worked in banking and real estate appraisal until he founded the Alaska Mortgage Group, a private financial partnership that provided a much-needed source of venture capital in the new state with its expanding and undeveloped economy.

His vast knowledge was astounding. His spelling skills were so sharp that, for a number of years, his "Orthographic Surgeons," won the annual spelling bee sponsored by ADN to raise funds for literacy. After a lengthy run of consistent wins, David's team was barred from further entry so other teams could win.

David was a longtime member of the Russian Jack Rotary Club and traveled to India to help accomplish Rotary's mission of eradicating polio. He and Janet hosted several Rotary exchange students, including Annu Webb from Finland and Niels Fulglede from Denmark.

For years, David served as Regional President of the Princeton University School Committee, striving to arrange face-to-face interviews with all applicants, including some from remote Alaska villages. He was proud that well above the national average of admitted Princeton applicants were from Alaska.

David also served with dedication on the Anchorage Municipal Board of Equalization, He was a member of the Alaska Purchase Centennial Commission in 1967, and helped found Hope and Sunrise Historical Society. He was awarded for service as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. An enthusiastic voter, he often worked at a voting station.

David was a loving husband and father. He is survived by Janet Walker McCabe, his wife of 65 years; daughter, Sarah McCabe and son-in-law Bill Ostrand; son, David Thomas McCabe and former daughter-in-law Rebecca Lee McCabe and daughter Margaret "Greta" McCabe; son, Michael McCabe and daughter-in-law Sara Gallagher and children Andrew McCabe and Jane McCabe; sister-in-law, Anne Uribe Walker; sister, Jeanna Wordell; brother, Michael R. McCabe; nephews, Crispin McCabe, Douglas Wordell, Joseph Thomas Walker, Carlos Andrew Walker and James Isaac Walker; and nieces, Stephane McCabe Lawrence, Kathleen Elizabeth McCabe and Emilie Jeanette Walker. David is also survived by Linda Selk, his collegue of nearly 50 years at the Alaska Mortgage Group. He is preceded in death by his brother, James Kennard McCabe; and brother-in-law, Thomas Woodley Walker.

David's family requests that any memorial donations be made in David McCabe's name to Partners for Progress, 417 W. 4th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501; or to the Hope and Sunrise Historical Society, P.O. Box 88, Hope, AK 99605.