Obituary of David Kendall Sunderland

David K. Sunderland March 25, 1930-December 17, 2023 Long-time Colorado Springs, Colorado resident and beloved community member, David Sunderland, passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2023. David was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 25, 1930. David spent many of his younger years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is where he fell in love with the game of baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1952 with a degree in economics and the University of Michigan Graduate School of Business. David served in the Navy from 1952-1955 as a Lieutenant on a naval destroyer. He then worked in many areas of business, including General Motors, Detroit, Michigan; Raytheon Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts and Onard, California; Janss Corporation, Los Angeles, California; and Gates Land Company, Colorado Springs, Colorado. While working at Gates Land Company, David developed Cheyenne Mountain Ranch, a 3,300 acre mixed-use planned community which included homes, commercial and industrial space, the Country Club of Colorado, and Cheyenne Mountain Conference Resort. David was recognized in many areas of business and community involvement. He served on the University of Colorado Board of Regents as a two-term chairman; served as Chairman of the Board of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and named Business Citizen of the Year of this same chamber; recipient of the Colorado Association of Home Builders Industry Man of the Year award and president of this same organization; named Colorado Springs Builder of the Year; Co-founder of the Quality Economic Development program in Colorado Springs. David served the community of Colorado Springs in many capacities including Director of the Colorado Springs World Arena Corporation; US Olympic Hall of Fame committee; President of the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council; Member of the Community Development Council of the Urban Land Institute, Washington, D.C. David was the most recent recipient of the Trailblazer Award of Economic Development, given by the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. David Sunderland is preceded in death by his wife, Brooke. He is survived by his four children, Mark and (Liz) Sunderland, Cary (Sunderland) and (Brad) Meuli, Matthew Sunderland, and Tracy Sunderland; 8 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Colorado Springs Humane Society, hsppr.org/donate; American Rose Society, rose.org/donate; University of Colorado Foundation, giving.cuedu. There will be a private family memorial to celebrate David's life.