David R. Irons

WESTBROOK – David Royal Irons, 85, of Lori Lane, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Oct. 8, 2023.

David was born in Portland on March 31, 1938, the son of Mildred (Boucher) and Kenneth Irons. David grew up in South Paris, graduating from South Paris High School in 1956. In high school Dave and his siblings speed skated in The Silver Derby in the Boston Gardens. In 1959 he married Mary Ann Perham and they had two children, Debi and Nancy.

David started his career in sales, working for Metropolitan life, Casco Bank, Dale Carnegie and WOKO. His work with WOKO brought him into the field of radio, announcing play by play games for Oxford Hills.

Dave was an avid skier and his interest in skiing opened up a whole new career. He became the Certified Professional Ski Patrolman for Lost Valley and Sunday River and began broadcasting ski reports for WMTV. This led to writing ski reports for both the Portland Press Herald and Lewiston Sun Journal, which he continued writing up until this year. Dave’s writing also appeared in the Boston Globe, New York Daily News, Ski, Skiing and Snow Country.

In 1979 Dave met Pat Delaney at an apres ski party and this led to years of ski travel together. Dave and Pat skied all over the U.S. and Canada and enjoyed trips to Europe and Argentina. They enjoyed taking their granddaughters Kate, Courtney and Morgan on some of their trips.

Dave was a member of the Eastern Ski Writer Assoc. and served as its president from 1990 to 1992 and a member of the North American Snowsports Journalists Assoc., serving as its president from 2000 to 2002.

When Dave took up golf, it was another opportunity for writing and travel and led to multiple golf trips in the U.S. and Canada. His articles appeared in the New England Journal of Golf and the Boston Globe. He served on the board of the Maine Golf Hall of Fame.

Dave was very proud of the history of Maine skiing. In 2003 Dave founded the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2007. He wrote the book “Sunday River: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future”, and received the Skade Award. “Shawnee Peak At Pleasant Mountain” and “The History of Mt. Abram” were to follow. He was in the process of writing about Lost Valley. Besides his two daughters, Dave was most proud of these accomplishments. Dave never stopped writing, he died at his desk.

Dave was predeceased by his brother, Gerald and brother-in-law, Earle Batchelder, and brother-in-law, Phillip Allen.

He is survived by his wife, Pat; his sister, Sue Batchelder, of Norway; his daughters Debi Irons, of Norway, Nancy (Jay) Morrissette, of Paris, stepchildren Tom Delaney (Susi), of New Gloucester and Tim Delaney, of Westbrook; brothers-in-law Paul Allen (Donna), of South Portland, Peter Allen, of Portland, Patrick Allen (Colleen), of Carrabassett Valley, sisters-in-law Cheryl Allen, of Cornish, Paula Young, (Paul), of Gray, Pamela Kaufman (Charles), of Buffalo, N.Y.; several grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday Oct. 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Dolby, Blais, Segee Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook ME 04092. A reception will follow at Stockhouse Restaurant, 506 Main St., Westbrook, ME 04092.