David John McGonagle, 85, of Odenton, Maryland, passed away peacefully in Annapolis on September 30, 2026. 

Born on April 22, 1941, in Beckley, West Virginia, David was the son of David V. McGonagle and Kathleen B. Aldworth. He spent most of his adult life in Bowie, Maryland, before making his home in Odenton, where he lived for the past 11 years. 

David had a lifelong love of learning, particularly the classics. He devoted more than 40 years of his life to The Catholic University of America, where he taught Greek and Latin, served as Assistant to the Vice Provost, and later became Head of the Registrar Department. He retired in 2015 as Head of the Catholic University Press. David took great pride in his work and in the many students and colleagues who became part of his life. He was a beloved teacher and a respected colleague, and the impact he had on those around him extended well beyond his years at the university. 

His faith was another important part of David’s life. He was a longtime member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Bowie, where he shared his beautiful singing voice as a member of the church choir. After moving to Odenton, he became an active member of Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church, which became an important part of his life and community. 

David also cared deeply about the people and community around him. In his Odenton neighborhood, he became actively involved in the homeowners’ association, serving as a board member and representative for his building before being elected President, a position he held for several years. He enjoyed being involved, helping others, and making his community a better place. 

Above all, David was a family man. He was married to his beloved wife, Sally, for 57 years and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, and friend. He treasured his family and the many years they shared together. 

David had a wonderful appreciation for the simple pleasures in life. He was a loyal Baltimore Orioles fan and loved sitting in the stands, where a baseball game was made even better with a hot dog and a cold beer. He enjoyed mystery novels, playing solitaire on his tablet, and spending time on his computer. He was also an enthusiastic traveler and ventured with his wife to many places, including Greece, Italy, Croatia, France, Germany, Holland, England, and Canada, as well as destinations throughout the United States. 

Some of David’s most cherished journeys, however, were the ones that brought him back home to Bluefield, West Virginia. Those trips carried a special kind of comfort and nostalgia, especially when his mother would have a lemon meringue pie waiting for him on the stove. Those memories, like so many others, reflected the people and places David held close to his heart. 

David is survived by his wife, Sally Ann McGonagle; his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Betances and her husband, Jaime F. Betances; his brothers, George McGonagle and his wife, Carol, and Charles McGonagle and his wife, Heather; and his sisters, Mary McGonagle, Barbara Groont and her husband, Ralph, Frances Almond and her husband, David, Anna Cyphers and her husband, Randall, and Christina Weary and her husband, David. He is also survived by his grandsons, Anthony Michael McGonagle and Jordan Scott Betances, and his granddaughter, Taylor Marie Betances.

David was preceded in death by his parents, David V. and Kathleen B. McGonagle; his daughter, Katherine Marie McGonagle, who passed away on July 11, 1978; and his son, John Edward McGonagle, who passed away on October 28, 2014. 

David will be remembered for his love of learning, his devotion to his family and faith, his beautiful voice, his curiosity about the world, and his appreciation for life's everyday pleasures. He leaves behind a lifetime of memories and the love of a family and community who were fortunate to have shared so many years with him. 

A Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church, 1070 Cecil Ave., S., Millersville, Maryland 21108. Interment will immediately follow the Mass at Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church. Relatives and friends are warmly invited to join the family for a reception and celebration of David’s life following the interment. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in honor of David John McGonagle to The Parkinson’s Foundation at The Parkinson's Foundation.