David W. Petegorsky (1915 – July 15, 1956) was author of an acclaimed book on Gerrard Winstanley and the Diggers. He was born in Ottawa, the only son of Leon and Beckie Petegorsky. He had three sisters and attended Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa followed by Yeshiva College where he was valedictorian of the 1935 class and received his rabbinical degree in 1936. In 1952, he married Carol Coan. They had twin sons, Stephen and Dan, born in 1954.