David M. Bestwick

David M. Bestwick, Industrialist and Civic Leader

David M. Bestwick, 76, Greenfields, died July 18, 2010 in his home surrounded by family during a long battle with cancer.

He was a husband of Rosemary E. (Walker) Bestwick with whom he shared almost 55 wonderful years of marriage as of July 30th of this month.

Born in Grove City, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Harry L. and Mabel M. (Moore) Bestwick. David had one older brother, Richard L., Athens, GA and four younger siblings, James, Sharon, Pa., Charles M., Sharon, Pa., Carolyn L., Sharon, Pa. , and William R., Grove City, Pa.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children, Robert D. Bestwick, Princeton, NJ, husband of Eugenie, Catherine A., wife of Gregory Ciatto, Wyomissing and Nancy L., wife of Phillip Tietbohl, Colony Park. He was predeceased by his youngest son, Scott W. Bestwick. David was blessed with fifteen grandchildren including girls Adrienne, Emily, Francesca, Mary, Whitney, Elizabeth, Isabelle and Morgan and boys, Brian, Charles, David, Matthew, Nathan, Quentin and Peter.

David and his family were active members of Atonement Lutheran Church in Wyomissing.

David graduated from Sharon High School in 1951. He was a member of the US Army and served in Europe from 1953 to 1955. He graduated from Grove City College in 1957.

In 1957, he began a ten year career with General Fireproofing Company and became the District Sales Manager for the State of New York. His driving goal in life was to own his own business and in 1967, he joined with a former colleague from GF to purchase Business Equipment & Supply Co. in Reading on S. 4th Street where he remained a partner until 1974.

David was involved as an investor in numerous businesses in Berks County over the years. He was a receptive ear to young people interested in starting a business who might need capital to start a business and encouraged many young local entrepreneurs who came to him. Subsequent to Business Equipment & Supply, he became involved in real estate investment including a warehouse complex in Pottstown, PA and later with two other partners, purchased the OPS Division of W.R. Grace in 1975 to form Tray-Pak Corporation becoming sole-owner in 1982. Under his leadership, Tray-Pak's thermoforming business grew from 36 to over 250 employees. He retired from that firm in 2000 but remained active in the business until he sold Tray-Pak in August 2009. During this period he formed other businesses including TPSource and with a partner, acquired the assets of Neomet, New Castle, Pa., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Materials in 2000 and formed a business named International Specialty Alloys. As a long time member of the Berks County community, he devoted a large part of his life to business and industry. David served on the Berks County Manufacturing Board of Directors, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners at Lehigh University and a member of the Society of Plastics. He was also a member of the Reading YMCA Board of Trustees.

In 2002, David and Tray-Pak received the 2002 Pennsylvania Department of Commerce Award, 2003 Ben Franklin Technology Partner Grant for Economic Development and the 2007 Ben Franklin Technology Innovation Award. In 2009 The Society of Plastics Engineers' Thermoforming Board of Directors named David as its 2009 Thermoformer of the Year. Most recently, David was honored with the Richard J. Caron Award of Excellence in April.

He was an avid sportsman and played football in high school and college and followed the Wilson Bulldogs and Philadelphia Eagles all his adult life. He enjoyed golf, and playing cards with his many friends and his wife. He was also an avid handball player all his life. He was a member Berkshire Country Club, Reading, Pa., Ibis Country Club, West Palm Beach, Fl., and Maidencreek Fish and Game Club. He enjoyed spending time at his home in Florida with his family and as well as Pinecrest, Pocono Pines, Pa. and Walkers Point, Ont. Canada.

A memorial service to celebrate David's life will be held Friday July 23rd at 11am at Atonement Lutheran Church, 5 Wyomissing Blvd., Wyomissing, Pa. 19610. Friends may call from 5 to 8 pm on Thursday, July 22nd at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, 739 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA 19611.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in David's memory to: Buhl Community Recreation Center, formerly FH Buhl Club, 28 North Pine Street, Sharon, PA 16146 or Olivet Boys and Girls Club, 1161 Pershing Blvd, Reading, PA 19611 or Atonement Lutheran Church, 5 Wyomissing Blvd., Wyomissing, PA 19610. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc. West Reading, is in charge of arrangements.