Necrology

David Harry Postles, Jr. '64

Jul. 17, 1942-Mar. 6, 2022

David Harry Postles, Jr. ’64 died on March 6, 2022, in Highlands, N.C. Born on Sept. 17, 1942, in Sylacauga, Ala., Dave relocated with his family to the Rochester, N.Y., area where he spent his youth. He came to Hamilton from Irondequoit High School.

A member of Chi Psi fraternity, Dave majored in biology in preparation for medical school. Immersing himself in his studies, on March 23, 1964, he was one of 10 seniors inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated with honors in the Biology Department and also won the Holbrook Prize in Biology, which is awarded to a senior with the best academic record in six courses in that discipline. 

Dave did break away from his academic work on one occasion. On the spur of the moment on Sunday, Nov. 24, 1963, he left campus and drove overnight to Washington, D.C. to attend the funeral of President Kennedy.

From Hamilton, he proceeded to the SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse to begin his medical education. He distinguished himself academically there, too, and was inducted in 1967 into Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical profession’s honorary fraternity. In the midst of medical school, on Aug. 21, 1965, he married Barbara Jean Andrus, whom he had known since high school in Rochester. They later had a daughter and a son.

Beginning in 1968, Dave interned at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals of Cleveland and began his residency at the same institution. In July 1971, he was inducted into the U.S. Army with the rank of major and stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Discharged two years later, having earned the Army Commendation Medal, he returned to Cleveland as chief resident and completed his specialty in obstetrics and gynecology in 1974.

That year, Dave and his family moved to Columbia, S.C., where he began a private practice with three other specialists. Their collaboration would eventually become the largest in the city: South Carolina OB/GYN Associates. For many years he served as the practice’s president. In 1976, Dave became board certified as a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dave was highly regarded by colleagues and patients alike. One tribute posted to his online obituary captured the sentiments of many: “Dr. Postles was a great physician, and a kind and caring person. He truly cared about his patients, and it showed in his excellent care of them.” That care extended to his community service as a staff member of the Columbia Free Clinic. In 1996, Dave stepped away from obstetrical care and for the next 17 years focused his attention exclusively on gynecology. 

When not at work, Dave and Barbara spent many weekends on the South Carolina coast. He liked deep-sea fishing and would happily spend Saturdays out in the Gulf Stream waiting to hear the scream of a line peeling off a large trolling reel indicating that he had a large “fish on.” Later in life, they would also travel by boat up and down the Atlantic coast, from lower Chesapeake Bay to Key West to the Bahamas. From time to time, they would head west in their recreational vehicle. On several occasions, their destination was the Grand Tetons National Park.

At other times, they drove up to Highland, N.C., along the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau on the southeast side of the Appalachians, where they had a second residence, to spend weekends with their children and grandchildren who lived in Atlanta. When poor health eventually compelled Dave to retire fully in 2013, Highland became their permanent home.

Dave was a loyal supporter of the College through regular contributions to the Hamilton Fund and as a member of his class’s reunion gift committee. As he wrote in his 25th reunion yearbook, the College represented “the finest in liberal arts education. I am grateful for how well Hamilton prepared me for my profession.”

David H. Postles, Jr. is survived by his wife, two children, three grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren.

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