WATERFORD — David Sanderson, 80, of Waterford, passed away on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, as the result of a logging accident while assisting a neighbor.

David was born in Providence, R.I., to Robert and Julia Sanderson. He grew up there with his family and younger brother Arthur. David attended Brown University, and then Indiana University, where he met his future wife, Cathy who predeceased him. They married in 1970 and were together for 50 years of marriage, until Cathy’s death in 2020.

In 1973, the Sandersons moved to Newburyport, Mass., where David was engaged in the management of an organization that promoted off-road motorcycling.

David would go on to have a varied and diverse working life. This included stints in the world of marketing, acting as a lobbyist for the recreational vehicle industry, co-founding an early software startup and finally working as a database developer for many organizations around New England.

David managed to sneak into retirement in the early 2000s and was soon living full-time at the family farm in Waterford, that was built by his family in 1855.

David will be known to many in the area for his historical research, knowledge, and writing. The history of Waterford, Norway and the surrounding area was his primary focus. His written works were published in several journals, newspapers, magazines and other specialty publications. He had a special fondness for such local characters as Artemus Ward and Mellie Dunham.

David is survived by son Stephen, his wife Betsy, a granddaughter as well as brother Arthur, sister-in-law, niece and nephew and many others.

No public service is currently planned. Instead, his son wishes those who would honor his memory to make contributions to appropriate charitable or nonprofit organizations, such as local historical societies.

For consolation etc.: Sanderson, P.O. Box 186, Waterford, ME 04088.