David Wesley Feeney, age 84, a long-time resident of Rumson, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2023 (Easter Sunday) surrounded by family. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 1, 1938. He, his mother Katherine Barr, and his two brothers Gerry and Bill Feeney moved to Belmar, New Jersey when he was in grammar school. Dave was an exceptional high school student, athlete, and football player. He attended Asbury Park High School where he was a leading member of a state-champion football team and named First Team All-American. But more importantly, this is where he met, the cute cheerleader and the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betsy” Shamel.
After graduating from high school, Dave was recruited by many top college football programs. He committed to playing football for Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York because it was located within 20 miles of Elmira College – the school where his high school sweetheart and future wife, Betsy, planned to attend college. Dave was an offensive guard, linebacker, and three-year varsity letterman in football (1957-58-59)at Cornell University. He was selected as an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press in his final season while playing offensive guard. Additionally, Dave was chosen as a Coaches All-Ivy first-team pick. The American Peoples Encyclopedia named him to its All-Ivy Scholastic first team in 1958. Dave was Captain of the Cornell Football Team and was awarded the Pop Warner Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player. Although Sports Illustrated featured him as “one to watch,” he believed his greatest accomplishment was marrying Betsy in the summer between his junior and his senior years at Cornell. Dave earned his bachelor’s degree at Cornell University in 1960. Prior to his college graduation, Dave and Betsy started what was to become a large and growing family with the birth of their first child – a daughter – Shawn Feeney.