David John Breithaupt was born in Kitchener, Ontario in 1916 to parents Albert Liborius Breithaupt and Lydia Louisa Anthes. His siblings were Frederick Albert; Maria Martha Louise; Rudolph Anthes; Ruth Anna Catherine; and Arthur Liborius.

David attended the University of Toronto medical school, graduating in 1941. In 1943 he is listed as temporary Surgeon Lieutenant on the Royal Canadian Naval volunteer and reserve lists through 1948. He lived in Wellington North, Ontario in 1945 with his wife Mary (surname unknown), eventually residing in Toronto, employed as a medical director. He died in October of 2003 in Toronto.