David Szymakowski, 78, passed away Sunday, November 3, 2024, in Easton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Bethlehem, he was a son of the late Stanley C. and Annamarie (Rohs) Szymakowski.

David was proficient in football at Liberty High School and earned a scholarship to West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M). He set receiving records and later was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He was drafted in the third round in 1968 by the New Orleans Saints. He was selected to play in the College All Stars versus the Green Bay Packers game in 1968. He played his rookie season with the Saints, then two seasons in the Saints organization in Richmond on their farm club which was the equivalent to today's practice squad. He also played football in the USFL in 1974 for the Southern California Sun with his former Saints coach Tom Fears. David was inducted into the Lehigh Valley Chapter, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2006.

David was employed in sales for most of his life.

Surviving are a brother Stanley of Reading and a sister Sharon M. Buck of Washington, DC.

A memorial gathering will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, November 16, in Holy Saviour Cemetery. If you are planning to attend this gathering the cemetery or funeral home staff will direct you to the grave site after entering the cemetery.