David Seal

E. David Seal born July 17, 1942 passed away during a Taos sunrise, October 4, 2007 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. David was larger than life, ready to laugh and playful in spirit. His life was lived to the fullest with not a moment wasted. He served in Ethiopia in the Peace Corps for two years and then returned to the U.S. and was Press Secretary to the Senator Stuart Syminton for four years. He then went on to the U.S. Foreign Service and served as a Diplomat for the United States for 26 years. Together, the Seal family traveled the world, to Ethiopia, Pakistan, the Congo, Chad, Ghana, Egypt, Japan, Australia, India, Sri Lanka. David received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts to bring peace in the Middle East. He returned to the United States to become President of AMC International and went on to develop motion picture theatres for United Artists. He served for three years on the President's Advisory Board. In the year 2000, he was knighted by His Imperial Highness Ermias Sahle Sellasie Haile Selassie. The order is Knight Grand Cross, Imperial Order of the Holy Trinity. He was an amateur astronomer an avid collector of telescopes, a lover of the sky and stars, unique to this planet, a lover of life and life's pleasures. He is truly among the stars and we look up to see him there. He is preceded in death by his father, Col. Earl Seal and his Mother in-law, Eleanor Kostelny. He was a beloved husband of 31 years to Linda Lee Seal (Kostelny), a devoted father to David Allen Seal, Remi Gabrielle Gibson (Seal), Darin Adam Seal and a loving "papa" to granddaughter Ella Taylor Gibson (age 5), his mother, Alta Reiff (Arvin), and dearest friends Roberto and Shaula de Lopez-Martinez. A ceremony was held on Monday, October 9, 2007 at Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Alzheimer's Association of America, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601 or online at www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate, in memory of David Seal.