DAVID WILSON CONOVER
October 23, 1935 – November 29, 2025
PARSONSFIELD- David Wilson Conover, passed away peacefully at age 90, having lived a very productive life as an accomplished architect, educator, and caring family member.
He was born to A. Wilson and Nelda P. Conover and grew up in Salt Lake City, UT, where he attended Elementary, Junior, and Senior High Schools. He completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Architecture at the University of Utah where he was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the Naval ROTC program. He spent three summers participating in the required ROTC Naval training cruises for Midshipmen, and, upon graduation, served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. He was trained at the Naval Law School at Norfolk, VA, and became the legal officer of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier for three years. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant J.G. He then went on to complete his advanced Bachelor of Architecture degree at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, being honored as their outstanding student in the program. He completed his required architectural internships in Salt Lake City, UT, and Boston, MA, and earned his architectural licenses to practice in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. He also taught evening classes at the Boston Architectural School of Design, and developed his own architectural firm in Cambridge, MA. He completed many large urban renewal and redevelopment projects in Boston, MA, Cambridge, MA, Portsmouth, NH, and Maine over the years. He was named as a Harvard Fellow by the University’s Department of Architecture in the 1990’s, providing lectures and participating in departmental activities. Upon retirement, he moved to Portsmouth, NH, and Parsonsfield, ME.
David was very multifaceted in his interests and activities. As most architects, he had a wide spectrum of knowledge about structural and spatial design, environmental factors including geological terrain, mechanical and constructional factors, building materials, and human patterns of habitat behavior in addition to his skills in aesthetics and creativity. He also enjoyed classical music, the visual arts (both viewing and producing as an artist), live theater, extensive reading, gardening with sustainability, and travel. His travels took him to many places in the world, especially Europe. He and his wife, Barbara, spent extensive time over the years visiting and exploring Italy’s historical and modern art and architecture. In his “free time,” he remodeled and restored his own personal homes of historical vintage (i.e., an early 20th century house in Salt Lake City, UT, a 19th Century town house in Boston, MA, a 19th Century cottage in Stonington, ME, and a 17th Century farm house and barn in Parsonsfield, ME).
David characterized himself as being very independent (as is engraved on his headstone). His sister, Rosemary, agrees, adding that “he enjoyed the challenges of solving his own life issues, preferring to maintain his privacy and rarely sharing his personal successes or experiences with others. He did, however, take pleasure engaging in discussions of national and world events, always being well informed of current affairs.” His stepdaughter, Kathy, added, “to me, he was a private, proud, and incredibly intelligent man [who] was always interested in exploring other ideas and points of view.”
In 1962, David married Annik Francotay. They later divorced. In 1986, he married Barbara Brane, who brought her two mature offspring to the marriage (David and Katherine Brower), and created a family for whom he had great regard and love. Kathy added, “I knew he would always help me if I needed help, … [and] he will be missed.”
David is survived by his two stepchildren (David C. and Katherine M. Brower), a sister (Rosemary Conover), an aunt (Marice B. Parkes), and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife (Barbara B. Conover), his parents (A. Wilson and Nelda P. Conover), two siblings (Marilyn Conover Barker and Stephen P. Conover), a sister-in-law (Virginia Schulz), and two brothers-in-law (Desmond J. Barker and C. Luckey Heath). He was a descendant of the Mayflower, the original New York Dutch, and the Utah Pioneers.
The family would like to note special thanks to Cecile Dumont and her family of Parsonsfield, ME, and Michael and Renee McKinney of Cornish, ME, for their attentive and caring support of David these past few years.
A graveside event will be held to honor David at the Dearborn-Foss Cemetery in Parsonsfield, ME, for family and friends on December 12, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Sacopee Rescue Unit Inc., P.O. Box 367, Parsonsfield, ME 04047.
Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home website, www.mainefuneral.com