David J. Tomlinson

David J. Tomlinson, age 69, of Erie, PA passed away, after a brief illness, on Tuesday, April 11^th, 2023 at St. Vincent Hospital. 

He was born in Baltimore, MD on November 12, 1953, a son of Joseph Hanson Tomlinson III and Martha Johnston Tomlinson. 

David graduated from Baltimore Polytechnical High School in 1972.  He graduated from Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama in 1976 with a B.A. Technical Theatre.  Beginning at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA; his career took him from Wisconsin to Indiana to Texas and to the Baltimore/Washington area.  It was in the various small theaters of the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area that he did most of his work.  He especially loved his twelve years at St. Andrews Episcopal School where he taught theater arts passing on the technical aspects of his craft.  One to eschew commercial theater, he did have a film credit as a master carpenter on a Discovery Channel production of Frankenstein. 

David was an avid reader, particularly Science Fiction.  David was also a devoted fan of the Baltimore Orioles, the Baltimore Colts and Auburn University Tigers football. David loved meeting people and socializing with any and all he met. 

David will always be remembered for his humor, love of family, his ‘secret Jambalaya recipe,’ his passionate love of chocolate and his work to teach the next generation of students about his love for the theater.  

In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by his grandparents and grand-nephews Gavin Scott and Samuel Douglas Tomlinson.

Never married, he is survived by: Richard Tomlinson and his wife Carol of Hagerstown, MD and Douglas Tomlinson and his wife Julie of Girard, PA; nieces: Terra Musolff, Susan Tomlinson, Amy (Clarke) Burns, nephews: Jason (Casey) Tomlinson and Michael Tomlinson, and seven grandnieces and grandnephews. 

For the last five years David resided at Western Reserve following a traumatic brain injury.

His family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Western Reserve for their dedicated care and the staff of St. Vincent’s ICU for their excellent care. 

Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.  A future memorial service will be announced to family and friends. Arrangements are entrusted to Burton Funeral Home, 525 Main St. E., Girard.

Send condolences to www.BurtonQuinnScott.com.