David Shepard was born in 1940 and died on January 31, 2017.
He was a film preservationist.
His company, Film Preservation Associates, was responsible for many high-quality video versions of silent films.
Works from Blackhawk Films library (also owned by Shepard) and others from materials owned by private collectors and film archives around the world.
He began restoring films when he joined the American Film Institute in 1968 as one of their first staff members.
During 1987, David bought the Blackhawk Films library.
During January 2017, Shepard suffered a kidney failure and was hospitalized.
After he discovered cancer in his lungs and he died shortly thereafter.
David Shepard passed away at 76 years old.