David Andrew Colvin

David Andrew Colvin, 65, of Durham, NC, passed away unexpectedly at Duke Hospital on August 6, 2026, after a brief but courageous battle with pneumonia.

David was born on November 8, 1960, at Passavant Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was extremely proud of the fact that this was the same day John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon to become President of the United States. He spent the first 15 years of his life in the Chicago area before moving to Southern California. He attended Mission Viejo High School and graduated from San Dimas High School. David stayed in the Los Angeles area, attending Cal State and working at the LA County Fairgrounds to save money for college. He later transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacology.

His career in scientific research began at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he worked in cancer research in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Next, he achieved a major life goal of living in San Francisco by securing a position at the Stanford University School of Medicine, where he sequenced DNA as part of the largest HIV sequencing program in the world. Finally, David worked at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the School of Public Health’s Toxicology Department, managing a lab focused on developing ultrasensitive assays to measure DNA damage and repair mechanisms.

David was warm, witty, highly intelligent, kind-hearted, and curious. He had a deep appreciation for the world around him. He loved the outdoors, particularly the landscapes of North Carolina and Northern California, and spent many happy hours hiking and mountain biking. An avid photographer, he had an eye for both nature and architecture and especially enjoyed photographing the distinctive landscapes and cityscapes of San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City.

Music was another enduring part of David’s life. He enjoyed playing guitar and attending concerts and had a particular love for classic rock of the 1960s and 1970s, and other popular music of the 1980s and 1990s. Despite the many places he called home over the years, his Chicago roots remained strong: David was a loyal Chicago Bears and Chicago Bulls fan. After making North Carolina his home, he also became a devoted UNC Tar Heels fan.

While living in Chapel Hill, David met Susan Lee Greenfield of Durham, whom he married in 2022. They were the loves of each other’s lives, sharing a love of music, movies and nature. They attended numerous music concerts together and frequently traveled to the mountains of North Carolina, always taking their beloved dog, Winston. They also enjoyed discovering new places throughout the United States and particularly enjoyed visiting National Parks.

David is survived by his wife, Susan Lee Greenfield; his mother, Sue Colvin of Chapel Hill, NC; his brothers, Jeff Colvin of Las Vegas, NV, and John Trevor Colvin of Chapel Hill, NC; his sister, Diane Colvin of Chicago, IL; ten nieces and nephews, including his goddaughter, Jackie Colvin Maguire of Chicago, IL; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Visitation will take place Monday, August 17th from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Hall Wynne Funeral Service, 1113 W Main Street, Durham, NC 27705. A private inurnment service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of David to Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.