Dave’s last contract took him to the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. He spoke so kindly of the native people of the islands and the friends he made in the Police Dept. Shortly after his death, his friends on the base presented the family with a wonderful shadow box of Dave’s achievements. (Click on the badge on opening page of website) During his one year contract, Dave touched many lives. They in turn touched our hearts.

When I reached out to see if someone from Kwajalein Police Dept. would spread Dave’s ashes in Roi Namur, there was no hesitation. Sandy H immediately agreed to do this for us. So I shipped her a small wooden trinket box with some of Dave’s ashes. I only asked that she send me a picture so I could share another of Dave’s resting places with friends and family.

Not only did she do this for us, but I was so touched when I received the trinket box in the mail with the picture on the box that we posted with this message. The box contained some sand taken from the beach in Roi Namur, along with a handful of very fragile shells—all of which arrived unbroken!! Needless to say, I smiled through my tears!

Here is the e-mail that accompanied the pictures:

Attached are the pictures taken this past weekend. I flew up to Roi and Joe C. and John L., friends of Dave’s, help spread his ashes. Jeff B. and Kelly F. helped by taking pictures. It was a beautiful day. Joe choose a point at the end of the runway. This was a place that Dave liked to fish. Picture #001 shows this point in the distance. We then went out on the police boat and spread his ashes in the lagoon.

I am glad we were able to do this for your family.

Sandy

Click for More Pictures

We all know that Dave loved to travel. He was always looking toward new horizons and wanting to experience the world. So when Dave was cremated, we made a promise to bring a little bit of Dave wherever we travelled and sprinkle his ashes in places that we knew Dave would love. As we planned our Jamaica trip over Thanksgiving, I hoped we would find just the right spot that would suit Dave.

On the second day of the trip, we headed out on a catamaran for snorkeling and a picnic lunch on a nearby island. We brought along Dave’s ashes—just in case.

As we waded ashore, my niece said, Aunt Pat, look over there! Tears instantly welled up as I saw a hammock at the water’s edge between two trees in a cove. There was an archway in front of the hammock covered with tropical flowers. We all knew that THIS was the PERFECT spot for Dave.

Anyone who remembers Dave’s stories from the Marshall Islands knows that he put up a hammock in such a location so he could enjoy reading or just pondering life in such awesome surroundings.

We spread some of his ashes over the rocks and coral under the hammock, said a few words, shed some tears, and added a sprinkling of Red Stripe beer for good measure a touch we’re sure Dave appreciated. Some of us took turns relaxing in the hammock pondering life, just as Dave had done so often. The rest of the afternoon was spent with his whole family quietly enjoying such a perfect spot while taking note of the beautiful butterflies visiting the cove.

There were so many sides of Dave. One final resting place would simply not be enough.

So, Dave rests in Pine Bush, NY in the camping surroundings he so loved and now at Half Moon Bay, Green Island, Jamaica overlooking the surf that also brought Dave such peace and solitude.

As Dave wrote to me in an e-mail, I’m just glad that I have the opportunity to sort my life out while sitting on a beautiful desolate beach. I feel it is necessary to remind me of what’s important.

From Patricia (Dave’s mom):

Dave’s Kinda Day

…a fantastic fall day displaying autumn’s rainbow of colors a brilliant blue sky and white puffy clouds—a brisk fall breeze propelling the leaves for their final dance to the ground, and a perfect day for friends and family to say good-bye to Dave at his favorite place — Pine Bush, NY; a place that was always one of the first “gotta do’s” on Dave’s list when he came home from any of his many journeys.

As we walked along the path that Dave walked many, many times, we absorbed the beauty and splendor surrounding us. As we neared the campsite, the haunting sound of bagpipes filled the air bringing tears of appreciation to our eyes—thankful to friends who provided such a touching, never-to-be-forgotten moment. We have never seen (and probably will never see again) a bagpiper in full traditional attire in the middle of the woods. What a sight to see!! It literally took our breaths away.

While listening to the mournful sound of “Amazing Grace,” we buried Dave’s ashes where he always sat in his camping chair enjoying the vista before him. We spoke of friendship, love, and butterflies. After a moment of silence, a large boulder was rolled on top of Dave’s ashes. Tulip bulbs were planted around the boulder. For as the bulbs are a symbol of hope and rebirth, so is our love for Dave. Once past the all-consuming grief of our loss, we will keep Dave in our hearts forever with the hope that one day we will all be reunited on the other side and what a party that will be!!! And that’s exactly what the rest of the day was — a party in celebration of Dave; a day filled with laughter and wonderful stories around the campfire he so loved.

We all awoke to another picture perfect day. We sat around the burning embers discussing how well we all slept the night before. Once mustering up enough energy, we all began to pack up camp and say our goodbyes. I think we all agree that it was a beautiful weekend in a beautiful place in honor of a beautiful person. The plaque, hand-carved by one of Dave’s friends, says it all

Only the good die young!

Thank you, Dave, for sharing your favorite escape with the rest of us! We wish you were here!!!

 

 

 

 

From Lauren Weissberg:

Last Saturday, September 9th, was Do it for Dave Day. I was part of a group of 10 people who love Dave who volunteered together with Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County to renovate an apartment. All of the apartments in the building will eventually be sold to low-income families in exchange for a very low mortgage and hours of “sweat time”.

I organized the group in an effort to channel my feelings connected with losing Dave. I felt so confused, angry, devastated…the same way you probably feel about his loss if you are reading this message. It was extremely empowering to get a group together and to do something positive in Dave’s honor with some of the people who share my feelings. I knew it wouldn’t make the hurt go away, but I hoped that it would make Dave’s death easier to handle, if only for a day.

Do it for Dave Day went beyond everything I had wished it could be. I can’t express how therapeutic it felt to be with old and new friends of Dave’s who all love him and who all feel his loss like I do. Not only was it gratifying to volunteer our time for families in need, but spending the day smashing down walls and beams was an energy release that we all needed. We worked hard, got dirty, shared stories, caught up, laughed and cried together. Dave would have treasured every minute of it and he would have been proud of our efforts (as well as our t-shirts!).

We would like to make Do it for Dave Day an annual event. We also encourage others who love Dave to start projects like this one–it really helps.

Dave–wherever you were watching us from, I’m sure you had a good laugh watching me, Peter, Rosanne, Krissy, Erin, Rachel, Dusty, Ken, Dan, and your Mom kicking ass. We love you.