Obituary of David Alan Mittell

David Alan Mittell, 97, died at Newfield House in Plymouth on May 28. He was born in Jamaica Plain on January 22, 1918, the son of Carl L. and Edythe Mariani Mittell. He was the devoted husband for nearly 74 years of Mary Louise (Boss) Mittell; the father of David A. Mittell, Jr. of Jamaica Plain; the late Stephen Boss Mittell; Jonathan B. Mittell of Watertown; Betsey M. Houghton and her husband Robert of Plymouth; and Nicholas G. Mittell of Roslindale. He was the grandfather of Winslow Houghton and his wife Lillian of Moab, Utah; and Dr. Haley D. Oates and her husband Matthew (deceased) of Lansing, Mich. Mr. Mittell graduated from Roxbury Latin School in 1935 and from Harvard College in 1939. A wholesale lumberman, he was president of Davenport, Peters Company of Boston and Quincy from 1968 until 1991. He was a devoted trustee of more than 25 non-profit institutions. Among these were Children's Hospital; the Center for Blood Research; the Historic Winslow House in Marshfield; Plimoth Plantation; the Shirley-Eustis House in Roxbury; and, from 1954 until his death, of Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury. Donations in Mr. Mittell's memory may be made to Roxbury Latin School, 101 St. Theresa Avenue, West Roxbury 02132. At his request services and burial in Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury are private.