Avanti’s David Magill Passes Away
January 31, 2014
David Magill — icon of the chemical grout industry and Avanti International — passed away peacefully in his home on Jan. 19, surrounded by his wife and children.
He was born to Julia Scholl (Judy) Magill and Francis David (Frank) Magill in Montclair, N.J., on Oct. 7, 1943.
He received an engineering degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1965 and an MBA in 1975 from Louisiana State University. David Magill, an icon in the chemical grout industry. When Avanti International was formed in 1978 by four rehabilitation contracting companies, Magill was hired as its first employee and the company’s first president. He led Avanti International until his son Daniel took over leadership in 2008.
Magill loved cruising – on his boat and on large cruise ships, around continents or up and down rivers. He really liked to read (novels, history, spiritual) and to listen to music (smooth jazz, some country, some easy). He was a friend and mentor, and an inspiration to many. He will always be remembered for his generosity, optimism, non-judgmental acceptance of others, and for his overwhelming kindness to help anyone in need.
Magill was preceded in death by his eldest son, Charles David (Chuck) Magill by only 14 months. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Angela Magill, and three surviving children: daughter Darby Magill Sager of Menlo Park, Calif., and her husband Brian Sager and their two sons, Aidan and Brennan; son Daniel Magill of Houston, and his wife Melissa Magill, and their daughter Delaney (and another daughter on the way); and daughter Debra Magill of Palm Harbor, Fla., and her boyfriend Rick Bales. David is also survived by grandsons Nikolas and Alex Magill of Houston, and their mother, Marina Miklaszewicz-Magill and Robert Miklaszewicz. He is also survived by his siblings: Judy Rehberg of Dalton, Ga., Martha Ann Cooper of Birmingham, Ala., and Will Magill of Greenville Tenn., and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and family too numerous to list but not forgotten.
A memorial service was held Jan. 26 at Lakewood Yacht Club, Seabrook, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Online or Phone: 800.822.6344 Tribute Account #: 35199222
