David Forbes McKnight

David Forbes McKnight On March 26, 2014, David Forbes McKnight passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. David was born on November 9, 1942 to Florence Sievwright McKnight and Hugh Copeland McKnight in Manhattan, New York. His family lived in Astoria, Long Island, New York where David attended public schools. In 1953, David's family moved to Orlando, Florida where he subsequently graduated from Edgewater High School in 1960. David attended the University of Florida in 1960, graduating in 1965 from the Rinker School of Building Construction. He was a proud member of the Phi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and a career Gator. Upon graduating from UF, David worked for J.A. Jones Construction, followed by a time with Rooney Construction. In 1972, David and George Caldwell partnered to form Caldwell-McKnight Construction. Over the next 20 years, Caldwell-McKnight built many prominent structures including, Embassy Suites, The Quay Shopping Center, Jacaranda Country Club, Memorial Medical Building, and numerous other commercial buildings. D.F. McKnight was formed in 1995, and built the rare book section of the Broward County Public Library, Lauderdale Marine Center, as well as the Broward County Humane Society, and many other buildings. David was President of the Broward County Builders Exchange, and involved in the Broward County Gator Club as well as a scholarship partner of the University of Florida Athletic Department. David is survived by his wife, Martha Reuther McKnight; his daughter, Shannon Kimberly McKnight Sobolewski and her husband, Kirk Sobolewski; three grandchildren, Trenton Forbes Sobolewski, Broden Bronson Sobolewski, and Baylor Leighton Sobolewski, all of Plantation, Florida; one brother, John Hugh McKnight, of Los Angeles, California; brother-in-law, Jon Batman, of Altamonte Springs, Florida; and three cousins, Nancy Sievwright Griggs, Gilbert Matthews, and Jill Matthews Gallow. David was predeceased by his parents, Florence and Hugh Copeland McKnight, and his sister, Linda McKnight Batman. Visitation will be, Monday, March 31st, from 5:00PM-8:00PM at T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home, 7001 NW 4th Street, Plantation, Florida 33317. Funeral Services will be held, Tuesday, April 1st, at the First Presbyterian Church, 401 SE 15th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 4:00PM, followed by a reception at the Embassy Suites Hotel on 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The family requests that donations be made to either The Salvation Army,PO Box 230, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302 or the American Lung Association, 6852 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, FL 32216 or First Presbyterian Church 401 SE 15 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 A Graveside Service will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando, Florida on April 3rd, at 3:00PM. Arrangements entrusted to T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home (954) 587-6888