David Steven Pelland

Dave Pelland, of Hampden Sydney, Virginia, passed away on June 29, 2026, with his wife and

two children by his side.

Born in 1951 to Oliver and Mary Pelland of South Hadley, Massachusetts, Dave developed an

early love for mathematics, cats, and the New York Yankees, which continued throughout his

life. He earned his A.B. from Dartmouth College and Ph.D. from Wesleyan University, both in

mathematics, and started his teaching career at Murray State University in Kentucky in 1978.

Dave moved to Farmville, Virginia, in 1981 to join the department of Mathematics and Computer

Science at Hampden-Sydney College (H-SC), which would become his professional home for

37 years and his community for more than 40.

Over his 37-year career, Dave taught nearly every mathematics class the College offered. His

approach was to not simply teach the material but help his students develop the critical thinking

skills necessary to solve problems long after graduation. He adapted his teaching approach to

meet generations of students and provided significant one-on-one help to ensure all his

students succeeded. This level of dedication earned him the Cabell Award for Distinguished

Teaching.

Dave’s support for his students extended beyond the classroom through his love of Hampden-

Sydney athletics. A true member of the College community, he was not only an avid Tigers’ fan

but also a staunch supporter of the students he taught. He attended hundreds, if not thousands,

of H-SC sporting events throughout his more than four decades in the community. His favorite

H-SC memory was the 1999 Division III national basketball championship, a 76-75 double-

overtime heartbreaker he called the most exciting Tiger game he’d ever seen, and he was

elated when the Tigers returned to the national championship game in 2024.

His commitment to the institution ran equally deep. Dave served the College administratively in

every capacity asked of him, including as department chair, member of the Budget-Audit

Committee, and Associate Dean of the Faculty from 1997 to 2004, with two of those years as

Acting Dean of the Faculty. He advised the math club and H-SC’s chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon,

served as secretary-treasurer of H-SC’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and directed the College’s

Honors Program. For his devoted service to H-SC, he was awarded the Thomas Edward

Crawley Award for Distinguished Service.

Outside of his professional life, Dave’s passions were consistent and lifelong. A die-hard

Yankees’ fan from childhood, he watched virtually every game, followed the team year-round,

and in retirement became a regular at Spring Training. Trips to Florida were always paired with

visits to Disney World, one of Dave’s happiest places. The beaches of North and South Carolina

were another favorite, with Duck, NC standing out as his all-time favorite.

Dave was also a lifelong cat lover. He and Patsy always had several, with orange cats holding a

particularly special place in his heart, and his lap was a favorite spot for many family cats

throughout the years. In retirement, Dave also gave his time to his local community, joining the

board of Meals on Wheels of Prince Edward County and serving as a weekly driver, bringing

meals to those in need around Farmville.

Dave is survived by his wife Patsy, his two children—Katie (Matthew Perez) and Chris

(Mackenzie), grandson Callan, one dog, two cats, two grandkitties, and two granddogs.

A memorial service will be held at College Church in Hampden Sydney on August 15 at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Meals on Wheels of Prince

Edward County, VA, which provides meals to the elderly, disabled, and homebound adults in

and around Farmville. Donations can be sent to to https://givebutter.com/0r9v1Z.