David Allen Starr

Williams & Jensen mourns the loss of our colleague, David Starr. David had been an integral part of the firm and its success since 1989. He was highly respected in Washington for his good humor, kindness, brilliant intellect, knowledge, insight, and unique ability to solve challenging policy issues. David passed away on December 15, 2022, following a six-year battle with cancer.  

David graduated from Miami University (Ohio) in 1978 and received his law degree from Washington University School of Law in 1981. Following graduation from law school, David served as a legislative assistant, and later legislative director, for Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH), focusing on tax and benefit issues. Jeff Birnbaum, in his 1987 book Showdown at Gucci Gulch, described David’s key role in executing Senate floor strategies. David was respected on both sides of the aisle, earning public praise from then Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bob Dole (R-KS) in the Congressional Record.

At Williams & Jensen, David became known for his creative and carefully crafted solutions to complex problems. His years of work for tailored clothing manufacturers helped save many U.S. jobs and preserve a historic and vital domestic industry. 

David served as a faculty member at two ABA sponsored National Institutes on Employee Benefits and Bankruptcy and was a sought-after speaker for pension conferences.

As an avid sailor, David would often take advantage of breaks in the congressional schedule to ply the Chesapeake Bay with his family on the aptly named Recess.  A devoted coffee connoisseur, David and his wife Amy transformed their coffee roasting hobby into Beanetics, a popular micro-roasting coffee house in Annandale, Virginia.

David was a devoted husband to Amy and beloved father to their son, Adam. The Williams & Jensen family joins together in offering Amy and Adam our condolences and deep appreciation for sharing David with us.  

A celebration of David’s life and career will be held in early 2023.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts in David’s memory are made to further the thyroid cancer research of his two brilliant oncologists at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute. Please direct gifts to Dr. Sehgal’s Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.  Checks should be made out to Dana-Farber with “Dr. Sehgal’s Research Fund” in the memo section. To give online, please visit http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/DavidStarr. Amy and Adam Starr thank you for your generosity.