David T. Lucey Sr., a much-admired, distinguished and decades-long veteran of the New England newspaper industry, who served as first post-Utter family publisher of The Westerly Sun [in Rhode Island] from 1999 until his retirement in 2004, died in Punta Gorda, Florida, on March 19, at the age of 84.
His death was announced by his two sons, David T. Lucey, Jr. and Philip M. Lucey, both of whom spoke with pride about their father's impressive legacy in newspapers and journalism, his deep sense of family and community responsibility, his service to his country in the United States Air Force and his understanding and respect for the role of newspapers in the life of a community.
Philip Lucey, the executive director of the North Carolina Press Association, said his father — a devoted family man who had spent the last 20 years of his life traveling back and forth from New England to Florida following the various academic, social and athletic pursuits of his children and grandchildren — played his final game of golf just days before he died.
