The Rev. G. David Sears, 90, of Utica, passed away on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the MVHS Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. Until his recent admission, he proudly maintained his home and lived independently.
Rev. Sears was born in Utica, New York, on June 23, 1935, the eldest of five children of George Sears and Regina DeMott Sears and a 9th great-grandson of Richard Sears of Yarmouth, Pilgrim, whose initial Sears history was recorded in a work by the celebrated historian, Samuel P. May, in 1890. Rev. Sears was educated in Utica public schools, graduating with honors from John F. Hughes Elementary School and Utica Free Academy. He always said mathematics was his first love. Throughout his academic career, on every level, he always selected “the toughest subjects and the toughest teachers.”
He entered the Holy Name Province of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), the Observantine Franciscans. Headquartered in New York City, the Provincial houses of study were St. Joseph’s College, Callicoon, New York; St. Raphael’s Monastery, Lafayette, New Jersey; St. Francis College, Rye Beach, New Hampshire; and Holy Name College, Washington, D.C.
Rev. Sears lived in the family home of 83 years until a few days prior to his passing, but also enjoyed spending time at the family camp on Upper Saranac Lake and the farm in Pompey. He is survived by his brothers Richard L. (Dick) Sears (and Carol) of Oriskany, Daniel (and Eileen) Sears of Winterhaven, FL, a sister Diana (and Steven) Babcock of Syracuse, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, George Sears, in 1957, his mother, Regina Sears, in 2006 and brother Dennis A. Sears, Sr., in 2002.
Services were held privately and interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Utica.
To read the obituary in full, go to https://www.fwefh.com/obituaries-and-services/rev-g-david-sears/.
