David Ernest DeMarco

David Ernest DeMarco, age 54, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away on October 8, 2021, and his spirit went to be with his Savior Jesus Christ. His family and friends mourn our loss of David on this earth, but rejoice that he is with the God he loved, and to Whom he dedicated his life.

David was born in Philadelphia, PA, and grew up in Woodbury Heights, NJ, attending Gateway Regional High School and Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), majoring in Communications. His loving parents were Benjamin DeMarco and Lillian DeMarco (nee Danese). He was married for nearly 14 years to MaryEllen DeMarco, who adores him. At home, he is also survived by his mother-in-law Helen J. Knapka, a part-time daughter and dear friend, Ruth Brown, and his beloved goldendoodle Sophie.

One of four siblings, David is survived by his brother Richard DeMarco, sister Kathleen Niemann, and sister Denise Bonaventura. David is also survived by seven nieces and nephews Christopher Niemann, Christina (Niemann) Reilly, Richard DeMarco Jr., Ashley DeMarco, Jessica Bonaventura, Allison Bonaventura, and Annze Jo Hagan Knapka, as well as great nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Beloved to a large Italian family and a zillion friends, David was involved for many years with Calvary Chapel, helping the church get started in the 1990s. He spent a few meaningful years at Church of the Saviour in Wayne, PA, where he met and married his wife MaryEllen, then the couple returned to Calvary Chapel where they have been worshiping God in the Body of Christ since 2009.

David loved to shoot, edit and produce video that would change people’s perspectives, and even their lives. This was the great passion of his life on earth. In 1997 he traveled to the country of Chechnya as part of a mission trip with his church, Calvary Chapel, and edited a short video that helped raise funds to help those impacted by war in that country. For this short film he won a Telly Award, and this experience launched him into a life of creating great video to impact the world.

He spent 23 years working successfully as a video editor at Comcast SportsNet (later NBC Sports Philadelphia). David won four Emmy awards for individual and team editing projects. In 2017-2018 he joined MaryEllen in the fight against human trafficking, and played a significant role editing a film about sex trafficking in Pennsylvania called From Liberty to Captivity, a work that won multiple film festival awards including Best Editing.

David also loved learning. He spent countless hours building his video skills and strategy, studying internet marketing, and reading and listening to self-development books and podcasts. He sought to make himself a better person at every turn. His wife MaryEllen is a better person for spending 17 years of her life with him.

One thing that can be said of David is that he threw his whole being into everything he did. He was enthusiastic, passionate and dedicated to his family, friends, work, and causes that were important to him. David believed that one should be willing to give up his life to stand for the things that are most important. His latest “life purpose,” written at the beginning of 2021, was: “The purpose of my life is to live and authentically experience it as fully as possible as God intended it to be. It is to be more present and aware, to love deeply, be kind and compassionate and joyful, to give immensely and to serve and love others as Christ did to the best of my God-given abilities. It is to use all the gifts God has bestowed upon me and make the biggest, most positive impact for God on as many people as possible, including my family, in all that I do. It is to consistently learn, evolve, grow, have tons of fun and become all that I can become according to God’s will for my life.” Amen!

A Celebration of Life service will be held at David and MaryEllen’s home church, Calvary Chapel of Delaware County, on Saturday, November 6, 2021. The church is located at 500 Brandywine Drive, Chadds Ford, PA, 19317. Everyone is welcome to attend in person, or you may contact MaryEllen for a private live streaming link. Doors open at 10:00 and the service will begin at 10:30, and will conclude at 12:00. Friends and family are also welcome to break bread together afterward from 1:00 to 5:00 at the Red Clay Room, 423 Dalmation Street, Kennett Square, PA 19438 (610-444-3573).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations that are important to David: Calvary Chapel of Delaware County (www.ccdelco.com); The Chosen (a TV series about Jesus’ disciples being called to follow Him https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen); the ASPCA or a local animal shelter or organization that helps dogs; or an organization that promotes the arts in the realm of video communications. We are grateful for all expressions of love and sympathy.

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