David Loveday’s career as a political strategist and communications executive took him not only to the halls of the White House and the Illinois Statehouse but also to countries around the world, where his calm and joking demeanor belied his specialty of dealing with crises.

Loveday, 65, died of cancer on Saturday, July 3. A Villa Park resident, he was global government affairs director of the Water Quality Association, an international trade group, for the past 14 years.

Loveday played key roles in several Republican campaigns, serving as spokesman for the late Judy Baar Topinka’s unsuccessful 2006 run for governor, Jim Ryan’s winning 1994 bid for attorney general and Rich Williamson’s failed 1992 campaign for U.S. Senate.

He also was a former executive director of external affairs for the Illinois Toll Highway Authority and the Regional Transportation Authority and put in stints as press secretary for the Illinois House Republican caucus.

“Dave Loveday was a colleague and friend who enjoyed many successful positions during his professional career,” said Lee Daniels, the former state House GOP leader who served two years as speaker in the mid-1990s. “His calm demeanor and professionalism was relied upon as we addressed the governmental issues of the day.”

John Hoffman, a friend and colleague of Loveday’s for almost 30 years, noted his work as a mentor to others and his ability to inject humor to lessen the stress of serious situations.

“Dave immediately saw challenges and obstacles, then with his unflagging cheer motivated those around him into working together to move ahead and build for the greater good,” Hoffman said. “He taught me lifelong lessons about how to think imaginatively and act with decency more than any school could ever offer.”

Loveday’s career in public service began as one of the earliest members of Ronald Reagan’s presidential transition team in 1980. He later oversaw federal disaster relief in Ethiopia and Sudan while traveling extensively in Africa. He also was called on to work closely with senior officials in Mongolia and Iraq, advancing human rights and fair elections.

During the national savings and loan crisis of the 1980s, Loveday was hired by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board to oversee media relations aimed at assuring the public of the stability of the nation’s financial credit system.

Loveday met his wife of 35 years, Natalie, when they both were working at the Reagan White House. Their home displayed a letter from Reagan reading: “On a happy note, they say you get out of an undertaking what you put into it. Well, Dave, you gave us your dedication and service and we, in turn, gave you Natalie. I would say that definitely is a fair trade!”

Loveday also served as a volunteer fireman and president of the local hockey league, a sport he played avidly for years.

At the Water Quality Association, Loveday was in charge of developing ways to help ensure safe and clean water for local communities nationwide.

The group’s Water Quality Research Foundation established a David Loveday Memorial Research Fund to help with “scientific research to support David’s passion for water quality and continue his legacy of sound science in policy and decision making.”

Loveday is survived by his wife and three children, Drew, Cate and Emily, and a grandson, Lincoln.