David Ligget Potts

David Ligget Potts, 65, passed away suddenly on May 28, 2026 in his home in Sun Valley, Idaho, due to heart failure. Born on January 10, 1961, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, David graduated from nearby Haverford School. During his high school years, he spent two summers as a camper on the “Western Safari” trip kindling a special interest in outdoor activities, especially in the Western states. He then headed to the University of Virgina where he majored in history, was the vice president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, and proudly touted himself as a student bail bondsman. Following a brief stint as a financial analyst in the General Electric management training program, Dave entered the Fletcher School at Tufts University and graduated in 1988 with a master's degree in international economics. Dave’s initial business career was in senior positions related to the sales and marketing of software that was then licensed to other companies to capitalize on the internet revolution. Most notably in 1999, David joined the Cobalt Group headquartered in Seattle, WA, as Vice President of Business Development, a position he then held for 7 years. David left Cobalt and joined the RPX Corporation, a start-up that was a defensive patent aggregator where he was also Vice President of Business Development. David was in that industry for approximately 10 years before retiring in 2018. One of David’s former bosses communicated “David had friends from all the moments of his life. It takes a special person to maintain so many relationships. It was a gift he had, and I admired him for it.” No one could have said that better. Outside of his professional career, David married Christiane Relph in 1998, and they were blessed with daughter Kathryn arriving in 2000. David was an accomplished snow skier and spent many weekends skiing with Kathryn and friends in the Cascades. He also traveled to many destinations around the world, often with Kathryn after he had retired. In addition to skiing, David pursued many outdoor activities. He was an avid bicyclist, often participating in events like the Tour de Tucson, Ride-the-Rockies, and Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day. He summited Mt. St. Helens in 1979 before its eruption and Mt. Rainier in 1983. He completed seven ‘half-Ironman’ competitions and in 2015 the full 140.6 mile Ironman Canada race held in Whistler, BC. David is survived by his daughter, Kathryn; his former wife, Christiane Relph; his sister Susan Bloom; and his two brothers Robert (Buzz) Potts and Tom Potts. A service will be held on Saturday October 24th at 11 AM in Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr, PA, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Higher Ground, Ketchum, ID, and the Squam Lakes Association, Holderness, NH.

David Ligget Potts

January 10, 1961 - May 28, 2026