Amesbury - David Thomas Hildt, of Greenfield, Mass. and formerly Amesbury, MA, died peacefully at home on July 16, 2026.

Born in Locust Valley, N.Y. on July 20, 1946, David was the middle of five siblings: Anne H. Geddes, J. Bradley Hildt, Daniel T. Hildt and Cary H. Mathews. His parents were John Hildt and Patricia Delehanty Hildt. The family lived in Hunting Valley, Ohio for much of his childhood, where he attended the Hawken School.

David was a 1968 graduate of Georgetown University. Weeks after graduating, he married Barbara Angell Hildt, and the couple soon embarked on three years of service in the U.S. Peace Corps in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

David and Barbara moved to Amesbury in 1976 where they would raise three children: Natalie H. Treat, Michael Hildt and Simon Hildt.

He spent much of his career in education and public service, including School Volunteers of Boston, working with English language learners at Northern Essex Community College and as Assistant Director of Outreach at Lawrence Public Library, at Adelante and at the Lawrence Family Development Charter School.

David also served on numerous Amesbury committees and volunteered in youth programming and other organizations. The pinnacle of his career was serving as Mayor of Amesbury 2002-2006; he also served a term as president of the Massachusetts Mayors Association.

David married Kate Broughton in 1997, and was a loving step-father to her children Tess and Ross Brady. The couple retired to Greenfield in 2017 where he enjoyed gardening and yard work of all kinds, hiking, and bird watching.

David loved music, language, and the natural world. Among his favorite places were Plum Island, Lake Gardner, Apex Orchards, and the backroads of the Pioneer Valley.

His wit, warmth, and kindness always made those around him laugh and feel joy.

Aside from his wife and children, David leaves behind his children's spouses and partners, Thomas Treat, Tara Hildt, Ashley Hildt, Brian Nolin, five grandchildren, Della and Teddy Hildt, Samuel and Solin Hildt, and Julia Treat, and an extended family and many loving friends from throughout his life of service.

The family is deeply grateful to LifePath of Greenfield, whose dementia programming introduced David and Kate to a loving community of caregivers, and to the angels of Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, who provided constant comfort and care during David's last days.

A celebration of David's life will be planned in the coming months.