Obituary of David L. Motycka

David Lawrence Motycka 92, of Glastonbury and Groton Long Point passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024 at home surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of Susan Goodrich Motycka.

Born in Hartford on July 30, 1931, he was the son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Newberry) Motycka. David was a graduate of Manchester High School. He received a B.S. in Military Engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and spent much of the next 4 years in Germany as an officer in the Field Artillery and Ordnance Corps. He later received an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. For more than thirty-five years, he was an engineer at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, retiring in 1993.

Dave enjoyed spending time at the family’s summer home at Groton Long Point. Never to be found on the beach; he was usually occupied with a maintenance project or working on his 29 Model A Ford truck. He was a former member of the GLP Association Board of Directors.

Volunteering was an important part of Dave’s life. A charter member of the Glastonbury Jaycees, he was responsible for planning and building the ski tow in Williams Park. He served on the Parks and Recreation Commission; the Welles Turner Library Board; Board of Education; and Board of Assessment Review. In 1992, he was elected to the Green Cemetery Association Board and served as treasurer until 2017. For more than 40 years he sang in the choir at the First Church of Christ, where he served on numerous boards and committees. Much of his time was devoted to the Historical Society where, in addition to serving as treasurer for 14 years, he worked with the facilities committee.

He was also a member of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford; The Society of Mayflower Descendants; the Avery Family Association; and the Groton Long Point Yacht Club.

But most important, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In addition to his wife of 65 years, he is survived by his daughter Deborah Downie (Thomas) of Stonington, his daughter Sarah Motycka (Mike Gozzo) of Pawcatuck, his son David L. Motycka Jr. (Jodi) of Manchester, his grandchildren Captain Connor Downie (Stacey), Sarah Downie, Jessica Downie, MacKenzie Foster, Avery Motycka and Carleigh Motycka, and his great-grandsons Logan, Gavin and Declun Downie. He also leaves a brother John Motycka (Susan) of Coventry, a sister Diana Day of Wooster Ohio and his special caregiver Ruth Marfo. 

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 11:30 am at First Church of Christ Congregational, 2183 Main Street Glastonbury CT. Donations may be made to the First Church of Christ Congregational at 2183 Main Street Glastonbury CT 06033 or the Historical Society of Glastonbury. P.O. Box 46, Glastonbury CT 06033.  For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.