1929
David
2021
David M. Morris
April 11, 1929 — June 5, 2021
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Isaac Morris and Sarah Mary (Levy) Morris, David grew up in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, where his parents owned a small department store. He enjoyed an idyllic childhood, ever after speaking fondly of his neighbors and remembering swims in the local crick as well as roaming with friends. His love of farm-fresh fruit, corn, and tomatoes began with purchases at Mennonite and Amish farm stands in the area. As an adult, he had a hard time passing by a farm stand in tomato season.
An athlete, David played baseball, basketball, and football in high school. Drafted a few months before the end of WWII, he served his deployment in occupied Japan, managing the athletic club for military women in Tokyo.
Upon his return home, rather than working at the store owned by his parents, David became a traveling salesman, selling home goods door-to-door. His territory included rural Connecticut. One day, he noticed Lotti Turshen leaving the house next to the one he was calling on. He asked his customer, "Is that girl Jewish?" Discovering that she was"a requisite for his parent' approval"he wooed her. Although Lotti said no three times, he kept asking until she finally said yes over a grilled cheese sandwich. They married in 1954.
Settling in the Bronx, David continued his work while Lotti was employed as a childrenswear illustrator for the John Wannamaker department store chain. A few years later, David's parents helped the couple buy Sheila's, a childrenswear store in Newburgh, New York. David and Lotti had their first two children in Newburgh, but the economics of the area were changing. After a few false starts, they moved to Bennington, Vermont, where David became the proprietor of The Children's Bazaar.
As discount stores were born, Americans decided they preferred less-expensive children's clothes"children grew out of them so quickly didn't matter if the clothing didn't last as long. So David went back on the road. He represented a variety of wholesale childrenswear companies to higher-end department stores and boutiques in New England and New York state. This situation suited him perfectly; he could work hard for a few intense weeks each season and golf or ski the rest. At the end of his career, he became the National Sales Manager for Pipiniki, one of the companies he had represented as a salesman.
For many years, David and his salesman friends ran big seasonal sales where they sold off samples they were required to purchase from the companies they represented. Having learned from those sales that there was a market for discounted fine childrenswear, Lotti and David returned to retailing, opening Small Ones and Reruns on Upper Main Street in Bennington. David's granddaughters fondly remember the fancy dresses their grandparents provided. His eldest granddaughter loved visiting a stuffed-toy wholesale company with her grandparents to pick out stuffed toys to sell in their store. Her grandfather always made sure she received a toy for herself.
David was 39 when he fell in love with skiing. His adventures on skis began when his ten-year-old daughter developed a rope-tow phobia. He decided to show her there was nothing to fear. On borrowed skis, David went up the tow at the local ski hill without incident. But having gone up, he had to come down. Unfortunately, he didn't know how to stop"or slow down. After yelling his wild way down the slope, David arrived at the bottom in one piece and was hooked on skiing. Because he was wearing a green jacket that day, his children's nickname for him on skis was "The Big Green Thing."
David skied in Canada, France, and Switzerland. In their later years, he and Lotti bought a condo in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where they spent many wonderful winters with friends they made on the slopes.
David was fearless about the unknown and loved to travel. He instigated many enjoyable trips with his wife and family. These included a visit he and Lotti took to Hong Kong and China. They also toured Europe and England by car several times during their ski trips. David and Lotti drove across the United States many times. They loved stopping in small towns where they asked the locals to recommend the best places to eat. Many adventures ensued.
Meandering by car was one of David's favorite activities. He adored children and liked to load his family into the station wagon on summer evenings to wander local backroads. At some point during these excursions, he would claim to be lost, yet he always managed to become "unlost" at an ice cream stand before heading home.
Socializing with friends gave David joy. He was a master at staying in touch with folks all over the country, from the buyers who once ordered from him, to his cousins and friends. A consummate schmoozer, David could not be near strangers"from the people surrounding him in baseball ticket lines to pre-event seat mates at a classical music concert"without learning something about those around him.
David skied until he was 79, but golfed to the end. He was golfing with his buddies a couple of days before he passed away.
His family wishes to thank his many devoted friends, including Mike Day and Mary Muckle, for their support of David when he developed dementia in his last years. His pals made it possible for him to continue enjoying his life and the pursuits he loved. David was a longtime member of the Mount Anthony Country Club, where owners Maru Leon and David Griffin also helped keep David on course"even when he was making trouble.
David was predeceased by his brother Victor Morris, as well as his wife Lotti, who died in 2019. Survivors include his daughters, Leslie Morris Noyes and Perri Morris, and Perri's fiancé, François Secordel, of Bennington; his son, Ira Morris, and wife, Pam Reit, of Hinesburg, Vermont; and his grandchildren, Rae Noyes and Abby Morris of New York City, Jakob Zimmerman of Bennington, and Layla Morris of Hinesburg, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
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