Dr. David McCain graduated from Berlin High in 1950. A competitor both in the classroom and on the field, David excelled in football and baseball throughout his high school and college years. At Berlin he was a 4 year member of both the football and baseball teams where he was co-captain of the football team and captain of the baseball team his senior year. The football team won the League Championship in 1947 and 1948 with the 1948 team going undefeated. The baseball team won its second Central Valley League championship his senior year. At Teachers College of Connecticut (now CCSU), he earned a varsity letter in both football and baseball and received his B.S. degree in 1955. A shoulder injury altered his plans for a professional athletic career. David had received invitations from the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team as a pitcher and the Los Angeles Rams football team as an offensive lineman. He remained actively involved in physical fitness programs: during the 40’s and 50’s he worked at the Berlin Lions Club pool as a lifeguard, swimming coach, and pool director.

From 1956-1958 David served in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and athletics coordinator at Camp Zama in Japan until his honorable discharge. After returning home he turned his attention to a career in teaching earning a M.Ed. degree in 1963 from the University of Hartford. After obtaining his C.A.G.S. (6th year) degree also from the University of Hartford, he earned his Ed.D. degree from Nova University in 1980.

David started his teaching career in Newington at Northwest Elementary School in 1955, later becoming president of the Newington Education Association. He then transitioned to administration as Northwest principal and continued there until 1976 when he became principal at John Wallace Middle School until retiring in 1990. After retirement his dedication to Newington’s children kept him involved as he served the town as a school bus driver for athletic teams for the next 13 years.

During his career as a principal he was an active member and officer of the Elementary and Middle School Principal Association of Connecticut, Principal of the Year Award winner, Newington Civitan Club member and officer, and an active supporter and participant in the Special Olympic Games. John Wallace Middle School has dedicated an award presented annually in his honor- The Dr. David W. McCain Award for Perseverance. David passed away June 23. 2004.