David Jay Ontell was born in Newark, NJ to Mildred and Robert Ontell z”l. He was the younger brother of Barry Ontell z”l. The two of them shared a brotherly relationship, sometimes going to movies, sometimes playing tricks on each other. Summers as a child were spent at the “shore”.

After graduating Weequahic High School, David attended Rutgers for undergraduate, supporting his studies with an early morning newspaper delivery job that he woke himself up for every morning before sunrise without an alarm clock.

Ever the independent spirit, David set out to study law at the George Washington University Law School. His studies were interrupted for a time during the draft when he served in the US Army and was sent to Korea in the late 60’s, eventually becoming an Officer for a short time before being honorably discharged. We thank him for his service. He returned to finish law school and then stayed in Washington, DC where he remained and practiced law for the remainder of his career. He kept up his GWU connection with a position of Business Manager for The Advocate, Student Newspaper of the National Law Center, GWU.

David took on many different kinds of cases over the years from criminal to “L&T” (Landlord & Tenant for those of us who don’t speak “Law”). He made many friends through his work at the Courts, including his wife-to-be Lois (nee Goodman). His MO was to represent defendants who were assigned court appointed attorneys when they could not afford their own. He defended them wholeheartedly, striving to make sure they were treated with the utmost rights and leniency entitled by the law. Often a thankless and poorly paid job, he was known as “brilliant” and established a remarkable presence.

At 44 years old, David married Lois, becoming stepfather to Lily. David and Lois’s union was inseparable, and they were forever by each other’s side, including working side by side. Dinner table conversations were characterized by law jargon and strategies, as well as recounting the “W’s” (and sometimes “L’s”).

David and Lois loved each other, loved family and loved traveling. They travelled the world together, always finding creative ways to do so on a budget. Their honeymoon was a two-month road trip from WDC through Canada all the way to Alaska and the Canadian Northwest Territory (and back). They traveled Europe on a working cargo ship, an industrial alternative to commercial luxury cruises, where the passenger max is capped at 12. They toured Argentina renting a car and driving from Buenos Aires down far to the south. They visited Lily and her husband Carlos twice while they lived in Thailand. They attended a friend’s wedding in Slovakia.

David was a true family man and took every opportunity to visit his parents, his brother and his niece and nephews, Lori, Larry and Andy. He made it a point to be present at weddings, b’nei mitzvah celebrations and funerals. He was even known to drive through snow to attend shiva minyanim. (A Cohen, he clung to his Jewish faith with great respect.) He adored his grandchildren, Leo and Sara, making a point to see them at every opportunity which usually included a trip to the zoo, the library or the circus.

David loved life and people and would have happily continued for many more years doing “a little of this and a little of that.” The loss of his wife on May 21, 2026 was extremely difficult on him, and his body also had other plans. David passed away on November 1, 2026. He is survived by his (step) daughter, Lily (husband Carlos) Landau, and his niece Lori Garden and nephews Larry Ontell and Andy Ontell, and his great-nieces and nephews, Briana, Seth & Ben Garden, Robert & Allison Ontell, and Brandon, Emma & Brooklyn Ontell. We are all blessed to have had his presence in our lives. May David ben Reuven veMiriam's memory be for a blessing. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.