Thank you everyone who wrote a tribute! It was very comforting to go back and read them. Dad was truly a treat, I feel so lucky to have been his daughter.

It is so fitting that the one year anniversary of dads death falls on Palm Sunday. Church and religion were ever prevalent in his life. He sang in all the church choirs that we ever belonged to. He was also an usher at a church in mt Lebanon for several years. It was a treat to smell the carnation he got, on the car ride home.
We miss his cheerful spirit and look forward to a joyful reunion in heaven.

What a wonderful tribute to Dave. My husband, Rich, became friends with Dave through the Retired Men's Tuesday Morning Group at Christ Methodist. I became friends with him and Ruth through Rich, however, I became friends as I drove them to the airport frequently when they visited their son in Florida. They were the easiest and friendliest people to know. Over the years when they moved to FV they would invite us for dinner at FV diningroom. What a treat!
Dave was always singing or playing his banjo. He loved music and invited us to his "gigs" at FV.
He was such an "up" person even when Ruth or Ruthie (what he called her) was ill.
One of the things I remember so vividly is when you would call their home the message always rang to "Welcome to Hotel California" I just marveled to that. An 80 plus years old being hep with that music.
In closing, I just feel so honored that I knew Dave and Ruth. He sure was a Gem!!

 Dave was my favorite uncle. When he and the gang would arrive, the fun would start. Through my childhood, I always remember him as happy—being happy himself and making others happy. He would scratch on the side of the tent with a stick or make wild rabbit howls when we were sleeping out. He made us blueberry pancakes and lobbied for trips to the ice cream store. He swam with us at Forest Lake and joined in making sand castles. He sang with his ukulele or with his guitar. He was, in fact, always singing.
  He lived life with an amazing gusto and zest. I’ve heard it said, though I can’t confirm it, that he was trying out skiing in his seventies! When he and the gang went to Alaska, it was Dave who rousted everybody out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to see the Northern Lights.
  No matter what the occasion, Dave made it better by caring. When I moved to Denver, it was Dave (with Ruthie and Dan ) who took me out to dinner and helped me adjust to life in a new city. He was like a dad to me that evening. Once Dave sent me a letter with advice about relationships. He really cared; he wanted me to be happy.
  I will miss him terribly. I know he’s in a better place now— maybe trout fishing, or playing his ukulele, and, for sure, singing.

A common thread among the mourners who have lost a loved one, especially one that was very important to them, is that the person will be remembered, more, never forgotten.

I met Mr. Coate in the late 70s and instantly realized just how genuinely kind and inquisitive the man was. Dan had invited me to spend some time at their place on Lake Chautauqua back in 1982 and that was the last time I had seen Mr. Coate. (Yes, it is odd for a 57 year old man to refer to another adult as Mr. would probably be annoying to the Mr. in question, but I guess it is one of those many anchors to our youth.)

For the nearly four decades since I had last seen Mr. Coate, what I remember was that he worked at Dravo Corporation out on Neville Island. Living in Upper St. Clair for all these decades, I have not travelled up/down the I-79 corridor that goes over Neville Island a whole lot, but every time, and I mean every time, that I did, I always thought of Mr. Coate. And, now that I work in Cranberry, the passages are much more frequent. And, yes, I think of Mr. Coate each and every time.

No, it’s not as beautiful as the thought of a garden, although Silver Queen Corn is another memory because that was what he stopped along the road to purchase one day I was up at Chautauqua, or as wonderful as a piece of music conjuring a distant and fond memory, but it does testify to the strength of the positive impression the man had on me.

The statement at the top of this page, “forever missed” should read, “forever missed, but not forgotten” as I have always, and will continue to remember Mr. Coate every time I drive over Neville Island.

A man of smiles. I cannot remember a time seeing Dave that he wasn’t smiling.
While I have been friends with Lisa for yikes-45+ years, I didn’t really know her dad very well until later in life, when he and Ruth moved into Friendship Village. Since my parents lived there too, we would often see him, and all celebrated memorials of the loss of his Ruth and Amy and later, my mother Dorothy, eventually too my father Stanley two years ago.
Dave was a bridge player with my dad and a friend, and often took the time to visit with him, which meant a lot when dad’s activities became more limited. I would look for Dave at the programs, especially music events as music was always a big draw for him and my dad and it was nice to hear his cheery Hello and chat.
Dave was a giver. I know he was involved with his church and many volunteer programs throughout his life but if you didn’t know that, you could just tell it from how he treated people. He was always happy to see you and wanted to hear about you and what you were doing. Wish we could all have a little more of that.
I know the Coate family will miss him dearly but hope they know that I and my family have been made the richer from the privilege of knowing him.
Love to all.

When I reflect on the life and times of my dear Uncle Dave ("Unclee Dave" to me) so many wonderful things come to mind. He was certainly one of a kind! His devotion to family, his intellect on so many subjects, his prestigious engineering career, his impressive sailing skills, his ever-present sense of humor -- all of these are notable. But most of all I will remember the joy and happiness that would flow so easily from Uncle Dave to anyone and everyone nearby -- you just couldn't escape it! Uncle Dave, it seemed, was always singing or whistling or making music in some other way, or striking up some light-hearted conversation with, well, anyone. Often he combined his singing into light-hearted conversation at the same time! He loved life and no doubt lived each day to the fullest. I am very thankful that I could be the beneficiary of his good nature and unique personality in many wonderful locations -- Chautauqua Lake in New York, Little Mahoning Creek near my home, the Outer Banks in North Carolina, Maryland's Assateague Island National Seashore, Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, and a few other special spots. At these places, we fished and we camped, we sat around campfires telling stories, we spent quality time in canoes and sailboats. So many great experiences, so many memories. My life is richer for having known him. What a special man!

Dave truly was an inspiration. I learned so much from him, be it a novel way to split wood for a fire by the lake, how to get a few more years out of a water pump or simply a good way to enjoy the day. I can still hear him whistling or humming a tune - one I would eventually track down and add to my (cassette) play list. 

From Dave's nephew Dan Challener...

Your father inspired me with his love for literature— especially Robert Frost poetry and Henry David Thoreau. I still remember once in New Hampshire, as I read the morning’s newspaper, he shook his finger at me and said “Read not the Times, savor the eternities!” And the laughs— remember the time we slept in the tent in NH and he went out late at night and tried to scare us with a “wounded rabbit” howl. and when he tried to climb a gas station sign to get their last lucky (plastic) horseshoes? And his love of music. I remember well a visit to Pittsburgh my mom and I made about 2010 and Dave and Dan played guitar and sang, among others, “Wagon Wheel.” Did you know that when Grandpa Lester died, your dad gave me a pocket watch that my grandfather had been given when he retired from the Pittsburgh water heater company. I treasure that watch and bring it with me to very special occasions. I’ll have it in my pocket at Brandon’s wedding this fall— so four generations will be present.

DAVID, a fine gent who was my FVSH C4 friend/neighbor since 2015; always hearing him playing his guitar/singing/whistling when I passed his apt. door to get on the elevator nearby. Enjoyed attending DAVID & DAN GIGS in the sports lounge + DAVE'S ANTICS!!! FRIENDLY FRIENDS; who I call DAVID & MARY LOU; a compassionate twosome who are at peace in paradise with my HEARTFELT SYMPATHY, and that DAVID'S FAMILY GRIEVES HIS PASSING WITH GRACE AND A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE FOR YOUR LOVE OF DAVID. GOD BLESS