David Hammond Means, retired advertising executive, died peacefully at the age of 79 on September 21, 2008 after a short illness. Mr. Means, son of Dr. William Horace Means and June Zimmerman Means, was born in Lebanon, PA on December 15, 1928. He graduated from the Taft School and from Amherst College, where he was a member of Psi Upsilon. After college he was recruited and served in the Central Intelligence Agency in Japan and Korea from 1950-53. During this service he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Upon his return, he began a long career in advertising. Mr. Means started as an account trainee at NW Ayer & Son in Philadelphia in 1953 and worked there until 1974 when the company moved to New York City. In Philadelphia, Mr. Means’s primary responsibilities included 25 years on DuPont, as well as the Carrier, Hanes, Lees Carpets, and Goodyear accounts. In New York, Mr. Means was named Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and member of the Board of Directors. He was responsible, initially, for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. During his tenure, the agency launched its classic and award-winning campaign “Be All That You Can Be.” Later, he was in charge of Ayer’s direct marketing and promotion subsidiaries, as well as the company’s offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle. He retired in 1989. A 35-year resident of New Canaan, Mr. Means devoted much time to the community after his retirement. He served on the boards of Waveny Care Center, the Getabout, The SchoolHouse Apartments, the Senior Men’s Club, and the Nature Center. He also pursued many and varied interests, including golf, travel, and most of all, in recent years, bridge. He was an active member of alumni groups as both a member of the Alumni Board of the Taft School and as an officer of the Amherst class of 1950. In addition, he was a member of St. Mark’s Church and the Country Club of New Canaan. Mr. Means is survived by Nancy, his beloved wife of 56 years, and by his children, Elizabeth N. Means and Stephen Gardner of New York City, Susan Means Drake and Daniel Drake of Darien, and David H. Means Jr. and Katherine Means of New Canaan. Another daughter, Emily Means, pre-deceased her father. He also leaves nine grandchildren: Elizabeth, Caroline, and David Gardner; Kenly, Sarah, and Margaret Drake; and David (III), Katherine, and Julia Means. A memorial service will be held at 3 PM on Friday, September 26, 2008 at St. Mark’s Church, Oenoke Ridge Road, New Canaan. The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to the Waveny Care Center, 3 Farm Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840 or the charity of your choice.