Obituary of David G. Welch, MD

Dr. David George Welch, 79, of Lake Placid, NY, died suddenly on January 10, 2025 while cross-country skiing on local trails. Dave was born on July 26, 1945 in Rochester, NY and adopted by George and Martha (Brewster) Welch of Schenectady, NY. He graduated in 1967 from Cornell University, and from Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in 1971. Dave married the love of his life, Mary (Arnold), on August 19, 1968, and together they built a family of love and trust. They raised their three children in Glens Falls, where they enjoyed outdoor activities together, including cross country skiing, cycling, and hiking. Dave was a father, coach, timer, cheerleader, guide, and organizer, not just for his own children’s activities, but for the neighbors and community. He never missed a ski race, Little League game, diving competition, or concert in which his children participated. He’s traveled thousands of miles to cheer on his grandchildren. His idea of a family summer vacation was to grab a map, pack the gear, and lead the family on a ten-day bike tour of the region. Once the children were launched, Dave and Mary combined their love of the outdoors and travel. Together, they spent a decade of Ride the Rockies in Colorado, numerous walks and bike rides through the Adirondacks and Europe; they celebrated their 60th birthdays and semi-retirement by riding their bikes across the country. Dave parlayed his love for the outdoors into community and volunteer activities, serving as a leader of the cross-country U.S. Ski Association Mid-Atlantic Division and NY State Ski Racing Association. He was a certified technical delegate, organized high school and USSA ski races, led several Jr. National Championship squads, and enjoyed the occasional race himself. He was a volunteer ski instructor at the Paul Smiths VIC and always enjoyed clearing and grooming skiing and hiking trails. He helped build houses with Habitat for Humanity, and he has volunteered with the local parishes of Our Lady of the Annunciation (Queensbury) and St. Agnes (Lake Placid). Professionally, Dave was a Physiatrist based in Glens Falls for more than 30 years, where he worked side-by-side with Mary at the practice they founded - Adirondack Rehabilitation Medicine. Taking his role of rural doctor to heart, he would regularly do house calls to patients whom he cared for as family. Dave and Mary moved to Lake Placid permanently in 2005, and he continued his practice at Adirondack Internal Medicine & Pediatrics in Saranac Lake until he “retired” in 2017. Throughout his career, Dave took on roles to provide medical services across rural New York, including as the Hamilton County Public Health Service Medical Director from 1978 through 2024, the Wilton Developmental Center, and many small-town clinics for several decades. He trained medical providers to listen to their patients and treat them as people, not symptoms. He was a career-long member of the American Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, including serving a term as Treasurer. Dave was a man of faith - in both God and people. He found great peace in the exploration of faith and love and sought to lead by example, but did not impose his beliefs on others. He truly believed that loving and doing for others makes the world a better place and he put that into practice every day. At 6’4” he was hard to miss and even harder to keep up with on the many journeys he led. He was a gentle giant whose grin and humor put others at ease. He is loved by his family and many others. There are few corners of the eastern Adirondacks, or anywhere he traveled, where he didn’t leave an impression on those who met him. Dave is preceded in death by his parents, Martha and George and leaves behind his beloved wife of 57 years, Mary (Arnold); his children Brian, Peter (m. Pamela), and Kate (m. Ray Eldridge); grandchildren Patrick, Parker, and Kelsey; and his sister, Nancy (m. Teddy Arotsky). He also leaves innumerable friends, neighbors, acquaintances, patients, and coworkers. He will be sorely missed but remembered with love and a smile. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 PM Wednesday Jan. 15, 2025 at M. B. Clark, Inc. Funeral Home in Lake Placid. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Thursday Jan. 16, 2025 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Lake Placid. Rev. Larry Anderson will officiate. Please visit www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book, leave condolences, share a memory, or upload a photograph to be added to the memorial tribute book for the family to Cherish.