David was born inSavannahGa.to Joan and Harry Rhame. He lived there with his parents and younger brother Mark until they moved to Florida in 1960. David and his family shared their lives with neighbors in a little subdivision inCape Canaveral, Fl. called Harbor Heights. Though this neighborhood was small in size it was large in love spirit and friendship. The tales I have heard over the years have made me laugh and wished I had known all of you back then. The friendships that have survived the test of time and distance are nothing less then heartwarming. The beauty of this small community was that you didn't have live there to be a part of it. In fact to this day if you ever find yourself at “The Surf” inCocoabeach around Thanksgiving weekend you will hear stories of days past. You can't help but feel the love.
David graduated from Cocoa Beach High school in 1974, he then went into the Navy where he served his country for 4 years. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1978. He came back toCocoa Beach where he got a job at Scotty’s Lumber went to BCC to earn his AA degree.
Now this is where I can pick up the story of his life, I met David my first day of work at Scotty’s and I was attracted to him immediately. Although at first I thought he was married and my first thought was DAMN IT. Why do all the good guys have to be taken? So in my own sneaky way I found out he wasn’t married or dating anyone. I had to work the night of my birthday, so when I went into the break room there was a bunch of people in there I wasn’t paying attention as to who was in there. So I walk in and announced “since I have to work on my birthday which one of you guys is gonna buy me dinner?” I was joking,….. that is until I hear a voice say “I will”, I look over and there he was; David. On the outside I’m cool as a cucumber and said “Ok, your on”, Now on the inside I was doing the Jig and screaming yes, hallelujah and thank you God. I was floating on air and already dreaming of what it would be like to be kissed by him. Oh and to that all I can say is DAMN! My birthday came and he picked me up after I got off work and that my friends was the start of a love that grew with each passing year. That was July 5, 1980, he proposed to me on Christmas Eve of that year. We married December 19, 1981, we moved to Pensacola Fl. Were David attended the University of West Florida were he earned his bachelors degree. He continued with Scotty’s and went into management which took us to different cities;Tallahassee,West Palm Beach, Clewiston (yes that’s in Fl), and finally we got to come home to Brevard Countyin 1988. In Oct of 1988 our precious son Sean was born. We bought our first house and we lived a simple life. David became a football official where he made a lot of friends and of course there were those of you on the side yelling at him for all manner of things that officials get yelled at for. Now David used to really enjoy it when the coaches were blowing a gasket. Because David would stand there and either smile or just stare and that just pissed the coaches off even more. He was so unflappable. When he left Scotty’s he worked various jobs until he finally decided to listen to what everyone kept telling him; that he would make a great teacher. He started teaching at Union Park Middle schoolI in Orlando I think around 2002 or 03 and after a couple of years he got a position at Jefferson Middle school in Merritt Island, where he stayed until he retired from teaching on Dec 20, 2012. I can not tell you how many times we would go out and a students from years past would say “Aren’t you Mr. Rhame, you were my 7th grade science teacher” These people remembered him, because he made an impact on their lives.
David and I had made a promise to each other that when there was nothing left holding us here we wanted move to the mountains. We had bought a house in Jefferson North Carolina and we were in the process of moving up there when he had his heart attack. We were starting a new chapter. A chapter, which ended way too soon, by circumstances beyond both of our control.
David touched so many lives and he died never really believing he did. He was a quiet man but a kind and generous man. He led a simple life with honesty and integrity as his compass. David and his brother Mark were raised by two wonderful people who gave them both a strong sense of moral values for which to live their lives. I believe in my heart that that legacy has been passed down to not only our son Sean, but to Marks sons Michael and Tyler as well. David was very easy to be around. He was very smart, but never arrogant. He never made you feel stupid because you didn’t know something, He loved to share his knowledge and if he didn’t know something he would find out about it. He had a wicked sense of humor. He loved to play practical jokes on us. He loved to laugh and make others laugh. He was one of the most even tempered people I’ve ever known; now having said that he had a bad temper. There a few things that would set it off. Sports, namely the reason I hate football to this day. The Miami freaking Dolphins. I have seen him become a human trash compactor, punch out a lamp and run up a tree. Yes up a tree, we have witnesses. He did mellow as he got older. Although I’m pretty sure his kids (students) could tell you what the other thing was that would make him yell.
David loved animals. Cats were actually his fav, but if you ask any of his students they would tell you squirrels. He did like squirrels, if he could have had one as a pet he would have. His love was our bengal cat Chopper. The only two dogs he ever loved; was Tasha our lab rotty mix who died in Dec and Myah Sean’s bluenose pit.
David was so easy to love. I used to always tell him that his hugs healed my soul. If I was upset, hurt, or scared all I had to do was take one step into his arms and I felt calm, happy and safe. His kiss always took my breath away and his touch always made me want more. As you get older and the longer you are married it’s almost inevitable that you take each other for granted and David and I were guilty of that at times and I think that’s why we decided to leave our well known nest of Florida and venture off on our own. Just the two of us. The one thing I can honestly say; we were as much in love now as the first time we kissed. We used to talk about how that was when we both fell in love. Ours was a love that has weathered many storms, but through each storm we held each other close and when it would pass, we just never let go of each other.
So I give a little advise to young and old lovers, don’t let the small stuff get in the way, treat each other the way you would like to be treated. Get all the facts before blowing a gasket. Jealousy is a little green monster that needs to be stomped on, you need to trust who you are with. When you can understand that everyone looks when they see something beautiful man or women alike, it doesn’t mean they are cheating or that they want to be with that person, it only means they're human. However I will say drooling and gawking cross the line. So at the end of the day if you find yourself mad at your love, remember this; we are not promised tomorrow and you may never get the chance to say I love you or I’m sorry or I forgive you. Embrace who they are and why you fell in love with them in the first place.
Ours was a love affair that lasted 32yrs 7mo 8days 15hrs and 45min. in godd times and in bad, in sickness, and in health. Through death we may be apart, but this Love, our love will last for all time. I am yours and you are mine. my darling D
Mark and I were with David when he took his last breathe and in that moment my world had crashed, I would not have made it through that had Mark not been there. He was in as much pain as I, yet he let me lean on him. So to that my loving brother in law I thank you and ask that you please allow me to continue to be a part of your life and not just because you are my sons Uncle, but because you are a part of the man I loved more then life itself.
I wrote something while David was in the hospital and things were starting to go bad. I wrote it with the belief that he would get better. I called it Defeated.
Defeated; is what you feel when you watch someone you love more than life itself go through hell. Hell; is the despair you see in their eyes and what you feel when you have absolutely no control over what is happening and all you can do is hope. Hope; is a fine fragile thread you hold onto that things will get better as you struggle to keep faith. Faith; is a belief that tomorrow will be a better day, that each small improvement can overcome any step back and that there will be answered prayers. Prayers; is a plea to God for a joyous outcome that will lead to a celebration of thanks and praise. Praise; is a thank you to God for helping us through the times when you feel defeated.
Though there was no joyous outcome and prayers were not answered in the way we ALL wanted, I have to believe that David is with God. Though we all feel defeated, because we have lost an amazing husband, father, brother, uncle, teacher and friend. In time our hearts will heal and we can thank God for helping us through this time of defeat.
David would not want any of us weeping over his memory he would want us all to raise a glass and celebrate his life. In his words “This to shall pass”. Let the pain go and remember him with a smile.
God Bless