David Chmiel Obituary

John David Chmiel, 61, of Pensacola, FL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, after a long illness.

Born on July 11, 1964, in Houston, TX, David was the cherished son of Dorothy Lynn Chmiel (née Hoffart) and Ike Louis Chmiel. He attended St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School and St. Pius High School in Houston, later pursuing higher education at Texas A&M and earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas. David dedicated his professional life to public health, beginning with the Bureau of Immunization at the State of Florida. His career took him to Merck, where he and his family enjoyed what they fondly called their “five-year vacation” in Las Vegas. Upon returning to Pensacola, he worked with Abbott before settling into a meaningful role at the Florida Department of Health. There, he served as an epidemiologist, led public health preparedness efforts, and concluded his tenure in the HIV/AIDS program - always driven by a deep commitment to the well-being of others. David was a beloved son and brother, a devoted husband, and a loyal friend. But above all, he was an extraordinary father. To his children, David was everything a dad should be - strong, funny, wise, patient, and endlessly loving. He showed them every day how deeply he cared, and they knew they could always count on him.

David is preceded in death by his father, Ike Louis Chmiel, and his beloved son, Asher Gabree Chmiel.

He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Lynn Chmiel; his wife, Theresa Marie Gabree Chmiel; his children, Alexander Lockhart and his spouse Anthony, Andrew Chmiel and his wife Mykale and their children Hazel and Rosie, and his daughter Madeline Chmiel Respondek and her husband Luke and daughter Freya; his sisters Robin Lynn Chmiel and Terry Lynn Howard, along with Terry’s husband Bill Howard and their children John, Austin, and Kate, and Robin’s daughter Chelsea Chmiel.

David lived his life with grace, humility, and quiet strength. He embodied the words of 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind… It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” That was David. David was love. He leaves behind a legacy of compassion, integrity, and unwavering devotion to his family and community. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00pm Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Cathedral of the Scared Heart, with Fr. Frank Watts celebrant. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Give Kids the World, in Kissimmee, FL - a cause close to David’s heart.