Dr. John David Laughlin of Williamsburg, Virginia and Woodstock, Vermont died September 6 at Mt. Ascutney Hospital following a brief illness.

David was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia February 17, 1940 the son of Carl Adam and Frances Ann (Knee) Laughlin. He attended Dartmouth College (Class of 1961) and graduated from West Virginia University School of Dentistry in 1963.

Shortly after graduating from dental school David began practicing dentistry in Woodstock, VT at the Ottauquechee Health Center. He practiced there for 45 years. David truly loved practicing dentistry. He enjoyed his patients immensely and became good friends with many over the years. His staff were like family to him and he maintained relationships with them even after retiring. Upon his retirement David was very pleased to have Dr. Mark Knott take over his practice.

In the early 1970's David led the effort to clean up the Ottauquechee River which at the time was basically an open sewer. In the wake of that successful effort David, his former wife Sally, Rick Farrar and June McKnight decided that education was a better way to prevent environmental damage and engage people with the natural world rather than having to reclaim it. They founded the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in 1972. David remained active and engaged with VINS to the end of his life. It gave him great pleasure to visit the VINS campus every summer watching both children and adults learning about the natural world.

An avid birdwatcher throughout his adult life, binoculars were always close at hand along with books to help confirm identities. David could identify many, many birds by their songs & calls and helped others to do the same.

Outside of his dental practice David's favorite pastime was racing cars. He began racing as a teenager and continued throughout most of his adult life. He was chief driving instructor for Corvettes of Massachusetts Sports Car Club (COMSCC) for several years. In 1985 he and friends Sam Shanaman and Kurt Gerrish were able to live the dream of pro-racing in the Firestone Firehawk Endurance Series. They were able to drive at some of the most famous race tracks in the country while creating lifelong friendships.

In 1990 David and Sam created Woodstock Motorsports to not only build their track cars but to also provide automobile service for the local population. They continued to race in the Firehawk Series for two more years. The final race team was sponsored by the creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Traveling the country with the Ninja Turtle cars was an amazing experience that David described as "like being in the circus". He loved every minute.

David dearly loved his family, both immediate and extended. He took great pleasure in planning family reunions where three and sometimes four generations of Laughlin's would gather at Bailey's Mill B&B near his former home in Reading, Vermont.

In 2008 he and his wife Janet began spending winters in Williamsburg, Virginia. They returned to Vermont every summer. In recent years David enjoyed spending time on the porch of their Woodstock summer home talking with friends, former patients and tourists as they walked by.

David never lost his taste for good food and became an excellent cook always willing to try a new recipe. When traveling he had a knack for finding the best food, no matter how obscure the venue.

David was predeceased by his brother Patrick Laughlin of Williamsburg, Virginia. He is survived by his wife Janet Mayberry, son James, daughter-in-law Rebecca and granddaughter Adeline (Addy). Also, brothers Joseph, Mark, Adam & Travis as well as nieces and nephews and their families.

A public celebration of Dr Laughlin's life and contributions to his community will take place at a later date.

The family requests that anyone wishing to honor Dr Laughlin's life and legacy visit VINS often, become a member and support it in any way that you can. (VINSweb.org)

Cabot Funeral Home is assisting the family. An on-line guestbook can be found at cabotfh.com