Condolences
Where do I begin? It was almost 45 years ago at a Nabisco sales meeting. I was a rookie and I asked Dave how things were on his territory in Niagara Falls. We've been friends ever since.
We talked almost everyday on the phone when we were still working. We talked business, about our kids, sports...Or when my dad was sick he would always ask how he was. And even this past November after my mother had broken her hip, as sick as he was, he always asked about her. When my kids were little and Dave would come over to my house, he always made it a point to wind one of them up, and then leave.
We fished, played golf, had season tickets to the Bills during the glory years. In the early years, we bowled in a mixed couple's league. One Sunday when he was bowling, he kicked the ball return so hard he broke it. The three of us laughed hysterically and never forgot it. The words from his mouth flowed like a fine wine.
Once, when he and I were working together in one of his Tops stores, the salesman from Salerno put six or eight packages of his crackers in front of Dave's Triscuits. Dave's face got beet red and he threw the Salerno packages on the floor and started jumping on them. I laughed so hard I almost cried. And once again, the words flowed like a fine wine. He was a Master of the English language. He never sugar coated anything.
We had many great years together and the rest of the Nabisco family on our weekend trips to Toronto, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City. We all partied hard and Dave was always the life of the party.
When Dave was healing from his testicular cancer, Dave, Betsy, and Caitlin came to our house for chili and to watch the Super Bowl. I had a 36 inch TV in the family room and a 30 inch one in the living room. After we finished eating, Caitlin was a baby, he had her on his knee and we watched the game at the kitchen table on a 12 inch black and white TV,and just talked.
Dave was there when my daughter Erin had cancer. Dave was one of the groups that talked to Nabisco's Divisional Sale Manager into giving them a 50 inch color TV so they could raffle it off and get money for her medical expenses. And the group tried to fix the raffle so Erin would win. That was Dave.
I like to think we were more like brothers. 45 years and it was supposed to be a heck of a lot longer than that. We still had a lot more things we wanted and planned to do. I don't know when but I know I'll see him again because I know he's in a better place. How can he not be? He's Dave.
My wife wrote this quotation back when Dave got sick and she never showed it to me until Friday night. "The shortest life is the longest if it's the best! Our lives are measured by the things we do, the thoughts we think, and the things we pursue. And that's my friend Dave."
We are so sad for your loss. Dave was such a great guy and we enjoyed getting to know all of you, especially during Kaitlyn's softball career. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Risa and Fred
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. We are heartbroken to have lost such a special friend. The memories we have over the past 35 years are in our hearts forever. Dave was an amazing man, loved by so many. Heaven has gained the best angel yet! Love and hugs to all of you!
Love, Mark and Pat
Dear Betsy and Family,
Im so sorry to hear that Dave has passed.
We all had to work hard but we made up for it by playing hard as well.
May you all be well in the coming days. Ron.
