David E. Appleton

David Egert Appleton April 21, 1950 – March 5, 2026 David Appleton of Intervale, New Hampshire passed away on March 5th, 2026. He transitioned peacefully to a new life surrounded by his loving family at home after a two-year struggle with pancreatic cancer, which he faced with determination and optimism. His family is deeply grateful for the expert and compassionate care from Dr. Rachel Hamilton, NP Leona Cloutier, the MaineHealth Memorial Hospital & Cancer Care Center, the home hospice team from the Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice of Carroll County, and his team of home caregivers. David “Dee” Appleton was born in Lancaster, NH on April 21, 1950, to David and Ann Appleton. He grew up in the Mount Washington Valley, and his connection to and love of education were fostered early as his father was superintendent of schools in the areas and his mother was a dedicated elementary school teacher. He graduated as valedictorian from Kennett High School in 1968. He then went on to Yale University achieving a bachelor’s degree in history. Finally, in keeping with his family’s commitment to learning, he received a master's degree in Arts in Teaching at the University of New Hampshire. David’s passions and interests were numerous and in-depth, a testament to his lifelong love of learning and education. First and foremost in his heart was his beloved family, followed closely by being an educator and living a life of public service both domestically and abroad. He loved traveling far and wide, writing with his sister Joanne when together or apart, and reading endlessly. British mystery novels were a perennial favorite, as was the culture in which they took place. He particularly loved the streets of London and the highlands of Scotland, experiencing the local flavor, history, and enjoying the occasional single malt scotch. David was also an avid sports fan, rooting for New England teams, and loving skiing and hiking, especially in his beloved White Mountains of New Hampshire. He always told a good story too, capturing the room, whether it be at the family dinner table, with close friends at cozy gatherings, or improvising exciting bedtime stories for his stepsons. His early career was in education in New Hampshire, teaching high school, coaching cross country skiing, and working as a high school principal. David joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1980 and had a 30-year career as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State. His first foreign post was as consular officer in Ecuador, followed by tours of duty as political officer in Liberia, Norway, and Ghana. Ultimately, he served as the Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge de’ Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In between his overseas assignments, David had several tours of duty in Washington, DC as a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State. He served as a political officer in the Political-Military Bureau; the Office Director of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration; and the Office Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. David is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Jennifer Grise, and stepson Evan Fritz of Kearsarge, NH, and stepson Daniel Fritz and daughter-in-law Emma Fritz of Somerville, MA. He is also survived by his sister Joanne Arnaud of Concord, MA, niece Cassie Arnaud and her husband Jonathan Case of Somerville, MA, and nephew Rick Arnaud and his partner John Burke of Hudson, MA. David’s life will be celebrated at a memorial service on April 25, 2026 at 2:00 pm. Please join the family for visitation at 2:00 pm followed by the memorial service at 2:30 at the Cranmore Mountain Resort, 239 Skimobile Road, North Conway, NH 03860. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a gift in memory of David to the: International Rescue Committee https://help.rescue.org/donate/make-tribute-donation