Today is September 4th and the picture above was taken on July 16th - just a short 7 weeks ago. I was lucky to be able to visit with Dave (along with our wonderful friend Tammy) at Dave’s favorite bar (Dad’s) in Thayne Wyoming. We were able to contact a few mutual friends on the phone while toasting so many great years of friendship over Tanqueray & Tonics. I met Dave back in the early 1990’s when we were both working in the Pick (MultiValue) Database industry. Dave was an IT Manager at a prominent Orange County firm and I owned a Hardware/Software company. I had barely met Dave when he told me he was looking for a replacement system for the company where he worked. I quickly told him I was his man and would provide him drinks for life, each time we were together, if he paid list price. Well, those of you that know the two of us will quickly realize he got the better end of that bargain! Dave and I ultimately became roommates, sharing a nice home in Point Loma (San Diego). In 1999 we signed a three year lease and then I proceeded to leave him holding the bag as I ran off and got married less than one year later. As partial restitution, I made him a computer dealer for General Automation and together we bagged the biggest deal the company had sold in a long time - the customer was Elizabeth Arden Salons with HQ in Phoenix (thanks Steve Raimo!). During off hours, Dave became a founding member of the Fiddler’s Green Book Club. Fiddler’s was (is) a local bar & restaurant on Shelter Island in San Diego where we made many long lasting and great friendships. Dave knew everyone in the bar, even if he didn’t. Through the years, Dave worked together with me in various businesses that I created during my attempt to ‘ring the bell’. He sold wine, he sold computers, he sold HUD Housing Authority Reporting software, he sold Wine Club Management software, he sold Tasting Room POS Systems and he made Wine Barrel Furniture. It seems wherever I went or whatever I was up to - Dave was there! Dave was in one of my weddings, Dave and I were roommates in at least 3 homes in San Diego, Dave and I took many business (and a few monkey business) trips together. Dave and I spent one New Years in San Jose del Cabo on a last minute adventure. Dave was a soft spoken sort of guy and a friend to everyone. Dave loved the water and sailing - in fact Dave and I owned a Coronado 30 Sailboat together and we kept her at the Kona Kai Marina on Shelter Island. Dave loved Porsches and he owned an older model bathtub style Porsche when we first met. Dave was also a good father and grandfather to his daughter and to his son and to his grandchildren, all of whom I have had the privilege of meeting. Dave was a smart guy with an advanced degree in Physics. He used this talent, for a period of time, teaching at the Hong Kong International School and he remained in contact with many of his students. I never heard Dave say a bad word about anyone.

I will miss him being part of my life - rest in peace my friend, Via con Dios! Cheers Dave, I am off to grab a stiff Gin and Tonic.