Dear Members of the Hamilton Community,
I am writing to share the sad news that life trustee David Mason ’61 has died, just eight months after his wife Peggy passed following a lengthy illness. On behalf of the College and David’s many Hamilton friends, I extend sympathy to the family, especially David and Peggy’s son Bruce ’93, daughter Sarah ’96, and grandson Avery ’25.
David graduated from Hamilton in 1961 with a degree in history, before receiving his law degree from the University of Chicago. Soon thereafter he began working for the Krasberg Corporation, a company north of Chicago co-founded by his father-in-law to manufacture tools, dies, metal stamping, and assemblies. Throughout his career, he served as director, treasurer, president, CEO, and chairman of the company.
During his first year at Hamilton, David’s father died of cancer, creating a financial hardship for the family. The College arranged for a full-tuition scholarship, and Alpha Delta Phi, of which he was a member, provided a grant to cover room and board. David never forgot that kindness, and in 2004 he established the David E. Mason Scholarship. A devout and religious man, he also created the Mason Fund for Spiritual Awareness to provide opportunities for the College community to explore spiritual issues in the Judeo-Christian tradition and funded the renovation of unused space on the Chapel’s third floor in 2000. He and Peggy were the lead donors for the recent Chapel steeple renovation. In addition, David supported endowments established to honor fellow trustees, former presidents, and notable professors.
David was elected a charter trustee in 1994 and a life trustee in 2002, and he served Hamilton as a volunteer for multiple capital campaigns. He was a member of the Alumni Council, Parents Council, and Class of 1961 reunion committees, among other volunteer roles for the College.
