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He was a man of many talents, appreciated by and inspiring to those who knew and loved him.

The large body of work he leaves behind is a testament to his passions and unique life. In addition to his talents as a decoy carver, David became a gifted Impressionist painter and continued painting up until his death.

A dedicated student of Impressionism, stirred especially by the work of the artists from the Old Lyme art colony, David began his journey en plein air oil painting, later working with the Lyme Art Association curating and hanging shows. David took a break from carving decoys in the late 1980s and turned his attention to fine art. Bird watching, collecting antiques, sailing, playing music, as well as reading and collecting books enriched his life every day. David and Linda were co-owners of the Red Balloon on Main Street, and he was proud of the restoration work he did at Hastings House. All who knew David knew that he lived a "life of precision," focusing on doing what he loved, being where he loved, and doing these things with whom he loved. His work may be seen locally at The Connecticut River Museum in Essex. His uniquely simple style of sweeping lines and tonal finishes made his decoys sought after by collectors worldwide. David became an accomplished decoy carver in his own right and was featured in numerous publications. An enthusiastic English major at UConn, David initially worked as a policy writer at Aetna for four years until he decided to pursue his dream of becoming a woodcarver, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Ted Mulliken, who began Old Saybrook's Wildfowler Decoy Company in 1939. David and Linda were married after graduation on June 7, 1969, and briefly lived in Hartford until moving to Essex in 1971. He graduated from Westbrook High School and from the University of Connecticut, where he met the love of his life, Linda Diane Kuenkler, from Newington, freshman year. David was born in Middletown, CT, on September 3, 1947, and was raised in Little Silver, NJ, through age 9, settling in Westbrook, CT, shortly after his father died in 1956. of Essex, passed away at his home on Friday, September 4, 2020, the day after his 73rd birthday.