David C. Lamb

David Condie Lamb, a retired naval commander who grew up in East Hampton and New York City, died in Arlington, Va., on Nov. 10, following a series of strokes last summer. He was 87.

Mr. Lamb’s friends described him as “a world traveler with an encyclopedic knowledge of movies from 1930 to the present,” someone “who knew the exact date of birth of every U.S. president,” and “who as a young man delivered Jackson Pollock his dry-cleaning.” He died, they wrote, “flush in the knowledge that he had lived a full life.”

He went on multiple cruises each year, to places both expected and out of the ordinary. His extensive travels included trips up the coast of Africa, a visit to Iran, and “just every place you can imagine,” said Eleanor Reed, a friend from Arlington.

Mr. Lamb was born in New York City on Sept. 8, 1930, to Joseph Condie Lamb and the former Elizabeth Neale, known as Boots. His mother, who ran the Mrs. Condie Lamb Real Estate Agency in East Hampton, and his father, an artist, owned the house opposite Town Pond called the Studio, which was built by the artist Thomas Moran. After Mrs. Lamb died in 2004, it was bequeathed to Guild Hall. A major renovation of the house, which is a national historic landmark, is nearly complete. 

Mr. Lamb earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University before entering the Navy. He was stationed in San Diego, among other places, and served aboard such ships as the U.S.S. Constellation and the U.S.S. Forrestal. He ended his naval career in Arlington, where he had lived for the last 40 years. Although his military career took him away from East Hampton, he was a frequent visitor until his mother’s death.

Mr. Lamb made friends wherever he went, Ms. Reed said. “He was really good about remembering people and getting to know them. He was an extrovert’s extrovert.” 

He is survived by three cousins who were said to be like siblings to him, Barrie Collins of Connecticut, Mike Neale of Maryland, and Barea Seely of Massachusetts. 

Mr. Lamb was cremated. A brief service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Hampton tomorrow at 1 p.m., the Very Rev. Denis Brunelle officiating. A gathering of friends is planned for Friday, Dec. 2, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Rappahanock Coffee in Arlington.