Dear Mary,
I was just looking into some old things from Colorado State, and I was saddened to discover that Dave, your husband and my graduate adviser, had passed away. Late as it may be, I wanted to reach out to you and your family and express my condolences.
I entered graduate school in the Fall of 1985. When I met Dave for the first time, my first thought was: "My graduate adviser is Kenny Rogers!" David was an outspoken faculty member who said what was on his mind, but to me, he was ALWAYS gentle and supportive. He always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell (though most of the jokes cannot be repeated here). David always took his work seriously, but he never took himself (or anyone else) too seriously.
I am the son of a factory worker, and I am the first person in my family to attend a four year college. So, when I entered graduate school, I lacked confidence in myself and I wondered whether I was smart enough for graduate school. David never questioned my talent and made me feel like an equal from the first day I showed up at CSU. I am now the Director of a Neuroscience Program at Stonehill College near Boston, MA. I am now in a position to influence other young people who may lack confidence in their abilities. I remember well how David treated me, and hopefully, I treat my students the same way and inspire them to reach their full potential. So, in this way, David's legacy lives on through me and through his other students. It is clear to me that David valued his family more than anything in this world, but he also was just as supportive to all of his students at CSU. I am sure I speak for all those students who had the good fortune of having him as a mentor. I wanted you to know this, and I wish you and your family all the best.
Most sincerely,
John McCoy -------------------------------------------------
THIS MORNING I WOKE WITH NOT ALOT TO SAY
I FELT WEARY AND CONFUSED AS THOUGH I'D LOST MY WAY
AS I LISTENED TO THE QUIET MELODY OF THE NEW DAY'S SONG
I COULDN'T HELP BUT FEEL AS THOUGH THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG
AND THEN IT CAME TO ME IN MY NERVOUS STATE THAT MAKES ME
FEEL STRUNG OUT.......
IT WAS A YEAR AGO TODAY THAT BROUGHT THIS ALL ABOUT
TODAY, OH TODAY...A YEAR AGO, YOU STARTED ON THE ROAD TO HOME
AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE WITH YOU, YOU HAD TO GO ALONE
LIVING WITHOUT YOU HERE AS TAKEN US UP AND DOWN
WITHOUT OUR ROCK HERE WITH US, WE STAND ON SHAKEY GROUND
WE KNOW WE MUST MOVE FORWARD BUT STILL SO SAD YOUR GONE
WE TRY TO HONOR YOUR WISHES AND HAPPILY CARRY ON
I KNOW SOME DAY I WILL EMBRACE YOU AGAIN AND NOT FEEL SO ALONE........BUT THAT DAY WILL WAIT FOR US UNTIL I START MY ROAD TO HOME
Hiking and camping were our great joys as a family. All the preparation, the packing, the pre-cooking, and traveling to our camp spot , and then setting up our camp are wonderful times I will never forget. Shelly and Matt were always so excited, and loved the hikes, all the animals we saw, and Dave loved teaching them about being outdoors in the mountains - how to build a fire, how to cook on a fire, how to rig up a shower, how to fish in the lakes; how to make a walking stick, and how to enjoy and appreciate the nature all around us.
