[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 55 (Thursday, April 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING DAVID ARMSTRONG WEST

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 16, 2015

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I submit these remarks to commemorate the 
life of David Armstrong West of Blacksburg, Virginia, who passed away 
on April 2, 2015 at the age of 81.
  David was born in Beirut, Lebanon, where he spent much of his 
childhood. His father and grandfather both taught at the American 
University of Beirut, and his grandmother (who was born and raised in 
Damascus, Syria) also worked in Beirut.
  In New York City in 1958, David married Lindsay Lattimore Butte, with 
whom I later worked while I was in the Virginia House of Delegates and 
she was with the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. David attended 
Cornell University and studied ornithology, graduating in 1959 with a 
PhD.
  David spent two years doing postdoctoral genetics research at 
Liverpool University in England before he began teaching in 1962 at 
Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) in 
Blacksburg. At Tech, David taught biology and genetics until he retired 
in 1998. He, Lindsay, and their family restored and lived in an 1840 
brick house in town, and placed an historic and open space easement on 
their entire three-acre property in an effort to ensure it is 
preserved.
  After he retired, David pursued interests in music, reading, travel, 
and the local mountains. Additionally, although we never went birding 
together, he and I shared an avid love for bird watching. David has 
written two books on 19th Century German naturalist Fritz Muuller. The 
first is a biography entitled ``A Naturalist in Brazil,'' and the 
second (recently completed) traces the development of Muuller's ideas 
as well as his connections with other scientists such as Charles 
Darwin.
  David is survived by his wife, Lindsay; sister, Elisabeth FitzHugh; 
brother, Allen; his son, Peter and wife, Katherine Hood, of Brooklyn, 
New York; his son, Roger and wife, Deborah, of Silver Spring, Maryland; 
and his daughter, Susan West Marmagas and husband, William, of 
Blacksburg, Virginia. He is also survived by five grandchildren, 
Nicholas, Daniel and Tyler West and Anastasia and Elektra Marmagas.
  David's contributions and his love for his family, neighbors, and 
community will long be remembered and cherished. My thoughts and 
prayers go out to David's family and loved ones. May God give them 
comfort during this time.

                          ____________________