Dr. David C. Remy

David C. Remy, Ph.D.

July 17, 1929 – September 28, 2023

Dr. David C. Remy, 94 of Gwynedd, PA died September 28, 2023.  Many words could be used to describe the arc of his life–husband, father, grandfather, friend, scientist, lover of travel, culture, astronomy, gardening, opera, reading, and conversation. David and his wife Nancy (Wagner) Remy were married over 60 years.


Dave was born in July 1929 to a poor family in Waco, Texas. Soon after his birth, the family moved to San Francisco, back to Texas twice and then to Los Angeles. He attended Hollywood High School, then worked in a butcher shop to put himself through UCLA where he obtained both his BS in Chemistry with honors, and his MS in chemistry.  He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and was the first member of his family to graduate from college.

He then attended the University of Wisconsin where he was awarded a Ph.D. in organic chemistry.  Midway through his studies at Wisconsin, he was drafted into military service with the Army of Occupation Medical Service Corps in Landstuhl, Germany.  Upon returning to the states, he completed his Ph.D., and served as a post-doctoral fellow in the McArdle Memorial Cancer Research Hospital.  It was there that he met and married Nancy, a graduate student in Oncology.

Dr. Remy worked at Merck & Co. for over 30 years as a medicinal chemist and made significant contributions in the fields of chemotherapy, cardiac medicine, blood chemistry research, analgesic analogs, and mental health medications.  He holds 86 patents and was the author of 34 scientific papers and 3 medicinal chemistry book chapters.

A lifelong love of astronomy led him to volunteer at Chestnut Hill College and the Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute.  Dave also dedicated over 12 years of service to the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia.

Dave & Nancy shared a deep love of travel and adventure.  Highlights included visiting over 70 countries on all 7 continents, witnessing numerous incredible astronomical events, and teaching English to high school students in Italy and Poland.

He loved gardening, and while at Foulkeways, maintained the community's trail system well into his 80s. He was a deep lover of music and opera, and will be remembered by his grandchildren for always bringing a portable radio, or "Moosib box," while visiting.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Dr. Eric Remy (Kaye) and Dr. Cynthia Warden (Robert), 5 grandchildren: Adam, Ian, Meredith, Jacob, Ana Lucia, and a nephew Douglas Remy Brown and family. He was preceded in death by his older sister, Winifred Remy Brown, and his parents.

A memorial service will beheld on January 6, 2024, 2:00PM at Foulkeways Auditorium, 1120 Meetinghouse Rd, Gwynedd, PA 19436.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Manna on Main Street, PO Box 763, Lansdale, PA 19446.