David Kibben Ingalls

 David Kibben Ingalls died peacefully at home in Santa Fe at the age of 91 on Tuesday, August 31st surrounded by family, his books, and music.  Born on June 3rd, 1930 in Chicago to Lorene Whitham Ingalls and Allin Kibben Ingalls, he grew up in Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois along with his younger sister Mary. He graduated from Yale University in 1952 with a BA in English and proceeded to study piano at the Cosmopolitan School of Music in Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Music in 1954.  He served in the US Army in Germany for two years before moving to Los Angeles in 1957 where he taught in the public schools.  He left teaching in 1968 to cofound Hennessey + Ingalls, an art and architecture bookstore.

 In Los Angeles with his first wife Alice Karen Bergstrom, he had two sons, Glen and Stephen Ingalls.  In 1985 he married Kay McCracken Duke. The couple lived in Pacific Palisades for 8 years until moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  David and Kay have relished life together in Santa Fe for the past 28 years.

David was passionate about literature and all things artistic, especially music.  He loved opera in particular for how it combines stories, music, and the visual arts on a grand scale. Starting from an early age he played the piano, often for several hours a day.  He would forego lunch and use the money to buy records until his parents put an end to it.  He created elaborate puppet shows to the delight of his Oak Park childhood friends.   As an adult he took active roles in supporting the Lyric Opera in Chicago, the LA Opera, LA Chamber Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival.  He was also deeply committed to his community whether through leading a neighborhood association or supporting food banks, schools and other local organizations.  David regularly attended First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe where he also taught a class on opera.  

 A devoted father and husband who shared his love of the outdoors with his boys, he learned to ski at the age of 50.  David was adored by his family for his soft-spoken, thoughtful, kind presence.  He is survived by his beloved wife Kay Duke Ingalls, sons Glen and Stephen Ingalls, daughters-in-law Renée Pacheco and Rebecca Perrine, grandsons Winston and Parker Ingalls, and his labradoodle Max.   His family is grateful for the loving work of care providers in his final years: Lorna Calles, Alejandro Martinez, Donald Montgomery, Francesca Orofino, and all of his medical providers.

 A memorial service will be held in Santa Fe on Monday, September 20th.  To help with planning and space considerations, please email Ingallsmemorial@gmail.com for details if interested in attending. In lieu of flowers the family would kindly request a contribution in David’s memory to support the Child Development Center at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe.  Donations can be made to CDC Scholarship Fund at 208 Grant Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David Kibben Ingalls, please visit our floral store.