The Life and Legacy of David Landry
Dr. Michael Quinn, president of Spectrum Healthcare Partners, remembers CEO David Landry, who passed away unexpectedly on October 22, 2025. David joined Spectrum in 1998 as the COO and assumed the role of CEO in 2007.
In describing the life of David Landry, it is hard to know where to begin. David was a dynamo, both professionally and personally. He was the rare leader that had the perfect blend of business acumen, strategic vision, and an ability to authentically communicate and connect with an incredible breadth of individuals. David was a formidable negotiator who got significant professional satisfaction from “making the deal,” but even his adversaries across the table respected and valued him, because they knew his passion on any given topic was always rooted in the interest of improving the lives of Spectrum’s patients, employees, or other citizens in the communities Spectrum serves.
I first met David nearly 30 years ago when we joined Spectrum at nearly the same time in 1998. I got the opportunity to work more closely with him when I joined the board of directors, and closer still when I assumed the role of physician president in 2016. Working with him in a dyad partnership was incredibly rewarding, although admittedly sometimes exhausting. David’s energy and passion in the pursuit of excellence was seemingly limitless. There were many meetings, late nights, and weekend phone calls, but his commitment never wavered. We experienced a number of stressful times together, but these times are eclipsed by the positive moments and the many shared laughs. In addition to being a fearless business leader, he was also an incredibly kind human being that I am proud to call my friend.
In the past few days since David’s tragic and unexpected passing, I’ve been regularly reminded of the impact he had on so many people. Our leadership team has been in contact with what seems like hundreds of individuals in David’s vast network, and the sentiments are always the same: Leader. Mentor. Innovator. Compassionate. Knowledgeable. Kind. Colleagues from Maine to California and everywhere in between have shared stories about David that speak to the long-lasting imprint he made on them. It offers some measure of comfort in this terrible time that David’s legacy will live on through the many people who benefited from his expertise and generosity.
Spectrum will reach its 30th anniversary next year – a milestone we might never have reached without David’s leadership and vision. While it is hard to imagine what Spectrum looks like without him, I have no doubt we will continue to thrive well into the future and as a company we are committed to that legacy. David’s contributions to Spectrum were not limited to his individual accomplishments – although they were countless. David was also a mentor, a collaborator, and an architect who built strong teams, developed strategies, and engaged everyone in Spectrum’s mission. Spectrum will continue its success if for no other reason than we can all still hear David’s voice and we know how profoundly irritated he would be if we didn’t keep moving forward. Although Spectrum will be different, it will still be Spectrum. Because what David builds, lasts.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Michael O. Quinn, MD
Spectrum President & Chairman of the Board
