From Bob:
What can I say? I miss him every day I wake up.
Every day when I go into the basement and walk into my shop, I think of Dave immediately. You see, I have a chess set that I always had set up on my workbench ready for the many days he would come in and say, “Ready to lose a couple?”
You see, quite some time ago I needed someone to play chess with so I decided to teach my other grandson, Rob. He learned very quickly and became a very worthy adversary and before long was beating the teacher, which of course, wasn’t too hard to do.
I can’t remember whether I asked Dave or he asked me to teach him how to play. But regardless, he learned in a very short time and became a very diligent player. I don’t consider myself a great player, but Dave would constantly ask me why I would make certain moves. I’d try to explain and, believe me, it wasn’t long before he, too, was beating the teacher.
He and Rob were so evenly matched so I matched them together. They were so evenly matched that you never knew who would win. I think it was so even that they didn’t want to play each other for fear of hurting each other’s feelings when one beat the other.
This was just a small example of when Dave made up his mind to learn something, he did—and quickly.
And I don’t mind saying,
“I’M DAMN MAD!!! SOMEONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY LOSING A BELOVED GRANDSON AND ONE OF MY BEST CHESS PARTNERS.”
His Loving Grandfather
From Thelma:
Remembering Dave…
I wish I could have said this at the funeral, I knew I couldn’t as I would end up in tears.
Last March 16th was our 60th Anniversary and Pat made plans for something special as she always does. We went on a cruise in New York with all my McAteer family from Ireland. It was a beautiful day planned for us. After we had our dinner, Dave wasn’t around. A while later, he appeared. He had been on the top deck of the ship sharing stories, laughs, and a few beers with all of the Irish clan. No matter where he was, Dave reached out to people and they in return became his new friends.
Both my husband and I had wheelchairs. At the end of the cruise, my son, Bob, pushed his father and Dave pushed me. Dave said, “Gram, do you want to do some wheelies?” I said, “Sure!” so we all raced down the sidewalk. We laughed as I bounced around in the chair.
Pat wanted to march with the McAteers in the St. Patrick’s Parade in New York City. Naturally, Dave said he would march with her. He even carried the Irish flag.
I wish I could have him back, but I know all of his friends and family will remember him with love!!!
Love Grandma