Dr. David Clark Redmond

David C. Redmond, DDS, passed away on January 9 at his home in Eads, Tennessee. He was 70 years old.

David Clark Redmond was born at Sewart Air Force Base in Smyrna, Tennessee, to Doytt Denton Redmond and Margaret Louise Dendy Redmond on August 21, 1954. He lived his earliest years as an Army Brat in Japan and Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. His family moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, after his father retired from the Service.

David attended Clarksville High School, where he met his future wife, Dawn Hackman, during his senior year. They were married in 1978. In high school, he also began to develop his artistic talent under the tutelage of his art teacher, who became a lifelong friend. After graduating in 1972, David entered Austin Peay State University as an art student. However, he became interested in the sciences and graduated with a BS Cum Laude in Biology in 1976. With a natural aptitude for detailed hands-on work, he pursued a career in dentistry, graduating from UT College of Dentistry in 1981. During the following five years, David became a proud father to two sons and a daughter.

Dr. Redmond was in private practice for 26 years before joining the UT College of Dentistry faculty as an Associate Professor in 2007. He enjoyed teaching for 12 1/2 years, passing on his knowledge and skills to future dentists until his retirement in 2020. Dr. Redmond greatly impacted his students and stayed in touch with many of them. Of all the awards he received at UT, he was most proud of those voted on by the students.

David was an avid golfer from childhood. One of the highlights of his teenage years was winning the Clarksville City Amateur in 1977. He loved golf and most sports, an enthusiasm he passed to his son, Dustin. He followed politics,world affairs, economics, and finance. He delighted in hearing or telling a good joke or story and was known for his humor and quick wit. He loved spending time with his family and friends but was happy just hanging out with his dogs. David was also a music enthusiast and skilled guitarist fond of early rock and roll. He shared this love with all his children. He taught guitar to his son, Nicholas, and was thrilled to watch him perform lead guitar with his own band. But art was his most enduring passion, and he painted all his life. That talent, and his ability to see and capture the beauty of the world, lives on in his daughter, Brittany. In retirement, he happily devoted his time to creating a large number of watercolors that demonstrated his mastery of light, movement, the beauty of the natural world, and the empirical effects of passing time. The resulting paintings are a beautiful legacy to his family.

Dr. Redmond was preceded in death by his parents; older brother, Dr. Doytt D. Redmond, Jr.; and infant sister, Margaret Jane.

David is survived by his wife of 46 years, Dawn Hackman Redmond; his sons, Dustin Redmond of Lamesa, TX, and Nicholas Redmond of Memphis, TN; and his daughter Brittany Redmond-Hawk and husband, Adam of Milwaukee, WI. His granddaughter, Penelope Lane Hawk, will arrive in June of this year. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Joanne Hackman; brother-in-law, Dr. Béla Hackman; niece, Olivia Barker; nephews, Will Hackman, and Leeds Hackman; and four great-nieces.

A celebration of Dr. Redmond's life is planned for February 15, 2025 from 3 to 5 P.M. in the Terrace Room of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

Instead of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary (Mt. Juliet, TN).

Dr. Redmond's legacy of compassion, creativity, and dedication will forever resonate in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him.