David (Dave) Deifer, 63, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2026 from complications of throat cancer treatment. He was surrounded by his loved ones.
Born near Seoul, Korea and raised in Allentown, PA, Dave graduated from William Allen High and eventually landed in Philadelphia, a city he proudly called home for nearly forty years. He worked as a fish cutter and teppanyaki chef while earning certifications in aerospace engineering. He could flip a shrimp into your pocket with one hand and solder a circuit board with the other.
In 1989, he joined the University of Pennsylvania’s Information Systems & Computing department as a technician, working his way to the role of Associate Director during his 36-year-long career. An avid bicyclist, he rode his bike nearly every day from Center City to University City. But he also loved to explore the city by foot, often accompanied by Marylee, his proud daughter and sidekick (known as “Little Dave” to his colleagues).
At Penn, his creative pursuits as a writer and poet grew, and Dave found an exciting new horizon with the emergence of the internet. In 1996, he became one of the founding members of the university’s Kelly Writers House, a volunteer-driven space that aims to equalize access to the Arts by providing literary opportunities to the university community and beyond. It celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Shortly after, he founded “CrossConnect”, a literary magazine that blazed a trail in the digital publishing world. It became the first ever digital magazine to make the leap to print, and those editions were carried nationally in independent bookstores and major retailers alike. The magazine, housed in and ultimately endowed by the Kelly Writers House, was published for 12 years.
Dave’s creativity, tech savvy, and love of Philadelphia converged in 2012 when he began taking photos. His street photography showcases the brief and often forgotten beauty in the quiet moments between the destinations of passersby. His photography has been exhibited in Penn’s Burrison Gallery (“Departures: Relevance of In Between”), was published in regional and local publications, and shared online millions of times on social media, via his Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/ccphilly.
He left Philadelphia in 2017 to enjoy a gentler pace along the Delaware River in Titusville, NJ, with his wife, Annette, and son, Calvin. Dave loved his work and continued to commute to his job at Penn, even as he privately and bravely beat cancer twice over the course of 2 1/2 years.
A lifelong Jets fan, Dave always rooted for the underdog. He was an optimist at heart, believing in the power of raising people up, second chances, and giving grace to those in need. Enthusiastic to pay forward the kindness bestowed upon him by others, he mentored students, coached colleagues, and stalwartly supported those around him. His unwavering love, generosity, and loyalty will be missed and forever cherished.
Dave is survived by his beloved family; wife, Annette Earling; son, Calvin; and daughter, Marylee (Tim). He is survived by his father, Paul; twin brother, Richard; sister, Lee Anne (Brad); grandson, Kieran, and many proud nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his mother, Helen Bok Duk Yang.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, January 16, 2 pm, at the Barn at Gravity Hill, 67 Pleasant Valley Road, Titusville NJ. In lieu of flowers, the donations can be made to support young artists at the Kelly Writers House: https://writing.upenn.edu/wh/.
