David B. H. Denoon, emeritus professor of Politics at New York University, passed away peacefully at his Pennsylvania home on May 23, 2026.
David was born on April 12, 1945, in Toledo, Ohio. Growing up as a Quaker, he attended Buckingham Friends School and George School. He received a BA from Harvard, an MPA from Princeton, and a PhD from MIT. He was prominent in the fields of US Foreign Policy, Asian Political Economy, and Strategic Security. He served in the Federal Government as a USAID Program Economist in Indonesia, as a Vice President of the US Export-Import Bank, and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.
David was best known for his research on the rise of China as a global power and founding the Center on US-China Relations at NYU. Through the Center, he organized multiple annual discussion panels on economic interaction and policy issues, with the goalof seeking pragmatic solutions. Throughout his career, he authored or edited 12 books and wrote many articles. As a teacher, he challenged students to think and debate with a focus on facts while viewing issues from diverse viewpoints. He had a strong interest in solving real world problems and was an active member of numerous organizations, including the Council on Foreign Relations, the Foreign Policy Association, and the National Committee on US-China Relations.
In contrast to the urban setting of his academic activities, David spent his personal life in Bucks County Pennsylvania. He lived on a tree farm where he was attentive to land preservation and management. He particularly enjoyed all the activities involved in takingcare of the farm, which included working with his tractors, mowing large fields of grass, and the constant need to remove poison ivy.A public spirit, David supported land conservation and a wide range of educational and historical projects in his local community.
David is survived by his wife, Gloria, a son, Derek, and a brother, Ashby. He was a wonderful husband, father, and brother, always encouraging his family to find activities that interest them and to be positive contributors to society. With his inspiration, Gloria has become an origami artist and is now exploring other media including graphite and watercolor. Derek is a senior at Penn State doing research on active matter simulation and is involved in the club cross country team and in Penn State’s THON, a student-led charity supporting childhood cancer treatment. Ashby is enjoying his time at Pennswood Village and has completed a phonetic dictionary for English.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Michener Art Museum, 138 S Pine Street, PA 18901. For assistance, contact Sara Potts, development officer, (215)340-9800 x 161.
This will be a hybrid event - both in-person and on Zoom.
The Zoom link is https://tinyurl.com/mssp4j4s
Meeting ID: 990 5847 4302 Passcode: 780272