David M. Clapp, 56, passed away on April 28 in New York City. An international development professional fully committed to the ideals of the United Nations, David was a passionate family man, accomplished musician and gifted linguist. Above all, he was a loving husband and father of three who always put the needs of his family above his own. His unrelenting love and care for his family will eternally be remembered deep within our hearts.

Born in Kent, England, David attended Cheltenham Grammar School and graduated from Hertford College in the University of Oxford. David's earliest passion in life was music. During his teenage years he studied viola and piano, often performing in chamber music ensembles with students several years his senior. For two years he was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. At Oxford he was a member of the University Orchestra and a popular conductor of the Hertford College Orchestra.

After a year reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics, David seriously considered transferring to one of the leading London music conservatories, but ultimately chose to complete his degree at Oxford. As his studies progressed, he found his second passion - international development and humanitarian causes, subjects that became an integral part of his life. After Oxford, David earned a master's degree at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. While there, he completed an internship at his dream organization, the United Nations. During this time, he met his first wife, Charlotte, and they had two sons, Alexander and Sebastian.

David then started his career in the European Union civil service, with postings in Brussels, Budapest, Luxembourg and Turin. In his early thirties he decided to resign from the EU to become a United Nations volunteer in Poland, marking the beginning of a long and successful career in international development. His next assignment took him to Sofia as director of Care International Bulgaria. While with CARE, David uncovered potential fraud in the distribution of medical supplies and, probably not coincidentally, suffered a mugging that left him with a broken cheekbone and left hand, threatening to end his viola playing. Fortunately, he received expert medical attention in Bulgaria, and the movement of his hand was restored by a doctor, Yanna Miteva, who later became his second wife. David and Yanna relocated to the United States, where they settled in Princeton, New Jersey and raised Alexander, Sebastian and Yanna's son Dobrin. They were happily married for more than 15 years.

In the United States, David embarked on a fulfilling career at the United Nations. After a number of years at headquarters in New York, he took up field appointments in Kenya and Somalia, where he survived a terrorist attack. At the time of his death, David was a Director at the United Nations Development Programme, coordinating UNDP's work in the whole of Southern and Eastern Africa. His dedicated service in support of the goals of the United Nations will long be remembered by his colleagues and friends at UNDP.

David leaves his loving wife, Yanna, sons Alexander, Sebastian and Dobrin, father Richard, and siblings John, Elizabeth, Michael and Brian. He was predeceased by his mother, Susan, with whom he was especially close and whose loss he keenly felt.

Contributions in David's memory may be made to Doctors Without Borders ( https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/ ) or UNICEF ( https://donate.unicefusa.org/ ).

David's funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at Princeton Abbey & Cemetery, 75 Mapleton Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.