David Irvin Scott

David Irvin Scott was born in Baltimore City on December 19,1929 to Frederick I. Scott, a postman, and Rebecca Waller Scott, a homemaker. His maternal grandfather was Rev. Garnett Russell Waller, a founding member of W.E.B. Dubois' Niagara Movement, which led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Rev. Waller became the first president of the Baltimore Chapter of the NAACP. David attended Baltimore City Public Schools and was an avid tennis player. In 1947 he won the Baltimore City Colored Intermediate Tennis Championship. In 1948, after graduating from Frederick Douglass Senior High School, he entered Howard University's School of Pharmacy. He may have been inspired to become a pharmacist while delivering prescriptions as a drug store bicycle delivery boy for FIBUS Drug Store in Walbrook Junction. He attended Howard because the State of Maryland paid his tuition there to keep him out of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, unfortunately a common practice at the time. Ironically, after being denied entry to the University of Maryland due to his race, David was later appointed to the Task Force on Recruitment and Retention of Minority Students instituted by his IOTA chapter of Chi Delta Mu, a black medical, dental, and pharmaceutical fraternity, and the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Graduating from Howard University in 1953, David passed both the Washington, D.C. and Maryland Pharmacy boards. He then completed his military obligation as an Army pharmacist at Fort Knox, Kentucky. David returned to Baltimore where he became a retail pharmacist, and in 1962 married Norma Grace Walker. Over the years he worked at various Rite-Aid Pharmacies, the East Baltimore Medical Plan, and several Reads Drugstores, including Mondawmin Mall, as well as Turner Station's Village Store and Dickman's Pharmacy. There was always someone saying hello to him because he had filled their prescriptions. After 44 years as a pharmacist he retired in 1997, 3 days after the birth of his quadruplet grandchildren, Alexis, Brandon, Christina, and Dominique Scott. He was a helpful, loving, father and grandfather. David enjoyed bowling and playing Bridge and was a member of the Stag Bridge Club and later the Double Finesse Bridge Club, which met at The Forest Park Senior Center. He also liked to bake and was well known for his popular rum cake, which was a real treat. He was very active for many years in the Forest Park Golf Course Neighbors Association, Inc. and had been treasurer of his pharmaceutical fraternity. At 94 David's mind and memory were exceptional. He was an avid daily newspaper reader and retained much of what he read. He possessed a wealth of knowledge about so many things and although he didn't say a lot, he would offer words of wisdom when he felt it was important. David didn't go out of his way to socialize, but he was quite well known, well liked, and well-travelled. While his mind and memory were exceptional, he had faced several health challenges in recent years. David is survived by his wife of 62 years, Norma Walker Scott; a daughter, Damita Scott MacFarlane (Earl); a son, Adam David Scott (Lisa); grandchildren, Jerrod MacFarlane, Alexis Scott, Brandon Scott, Christina Scott, Dominique Scott, Jordan MacFarlane, and Jasmine MacFarlane; a sister, Patricia Scott Waddy (James); and a Goddaughter, Candace Davis Hawkins. He is also survived by a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and dear friends. David was predeceased by his sister, Rachel Scott, and his brother, Frederick I. Scott, Jr. David Irvin Scott’s life was marked by dedication to his profession, love for his family, and a commitment to his community. He will be dearly missed!

Tributes

David Irvin Scott

December 19, 1929 - May 3, 2024