David F. Sobey

David Frank Sobey (22 March 193118 September 2023) was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist known for his role in the Sobeys grocery store chain, founded by his grandfather in 1907. He was the chairman and CEO of Sobeys from 1986 to 1995, and chairman from 1995 until his retirement in 2001. He remained on the board of Empire Company until 2015. His philanthropic contributions included a 9 million donation to Saint Mary's University in Halifax in 2019. Sobey received a variety of honours across his career, including appointment to the Order of Canada in 1995 and induction into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2007.

Early life and education David Sobey was born on 22 March 1931 to parents Frank H. Sobey and Irene Sobey. His grandfather, John William Sobey, was the founder of the Sobeys grocery store chain in 1907, which grew into a national company under the leadership of Frank Sobey. David had two brothers, Donald Sobey and William Sobey. At the age of 12, David kept laying hens and sold eggs, encouraged by his father. David attended Horton Academy in Wolfville with his brother William, and started working in the family business at an early age. He was chairman and CEO of Sobeys from 1986 to 1995, and chairman from 1995 until he retired from the business in 2001. Following his retirement, he stayed on the board of Empire Company until 2015. His son, Paul Sobey, also joined the family business as a director. In 2019, Sobey made a donation of 9 million to Saint Mary's University in Halifax, as part of an $18 million gift from the Sobey family, the largest in the university's history.

Sobey died on 18 September 2023, at the age of 92. He was remembered by Premier Tim Houston as "a very insightful person and a very calming voice".

Sobey and his brothers were appointed to the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame in 2002. Him and his brother Donald were also appointed to the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2007, and awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Retail Council of Canada in 2019. He received honorary degrees from Saint Mary's University, St. Francis Xavier University, Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University and Mount Allison University.