David K. Ettman, a longtime Seneca County attorney, town justice, coach and community volunteer whose ties to the Finger Lakes stretched back more than three decades, died Aug. 1 after a battle with cancer.
Ettman, 69, had lived in Fayette before retiring to Southampton in June. His professional and civic life was deeply rooted in Seneca County, where he served in a series of legal and public-service roles and spent years working with local students and community organizations.
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Ettman came to the Finger Lakes through military service. After earning his law degree and MBA from the University of Memphis, he served in the U.S. Army through ROTC and later as a captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
He was eventually stationed at the Seneca Army Depot. As the installation moved toward decommissioning in the early 1990s, Ettman left active duty in 1992 and chose to remain in the area his family had come to call home.
That decision began a long stretch of public service in Seneca County.
Ettman worked in private practice and also served as an assistant district attorney, public defender, Varick town justice and Seneca County attorney. His career put him on multiple sides of the local legal system over the years, from prosecution and defense work to municipal and county government.
His impact in the region extended well beyond the courtroom.
Ettman served on the board of the Romulus Educational Foundation and was involved with the Seneca Community Players as both an actor and supporter.
He also spent more than 15 years coaching track and field at Romulus Central School and Mynderse Academy. According to his obituary, Ettman was known for pushing student-athletes to exceed their own expectations while making sure the program had a place for everyone who wanted to participate.
That combination of professional service and community involvement made him a familiar figure across Seneca County.
Several people who left remembrances after his death described Ettman as a lawyer who vigorously represented his clients while maintaining a warm, approachable demeanor. Others remembered his work with Romulus athletics and his willingness to help people throughout the community.
Ettman was born June 30, 1957, to Irving and Julia Ettman. He attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he met Dorothea Ridgway. The two married in 1980 in Southampton.
He is survived by his wife and their three daughters, Kelsey Ettman and Melissa Ettman, both of New York City, and Kate Ettman of San Francisco. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jim Ettman, and sister, Elaine Ettman.
Services will be private.
Those wishing to honor Ettman’s memory are being encouraged to support the Romulus Foundation for Educational Opportunities or the Seneca Falls Performing Arts Center.
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