David Imig was the epitome of cool. He was the envy of everyone. He had the coolest life, the coolest wife and lived in the coolest places. All the professors wanted to have his job. He seemed to come in a little later than most, kept open office hours all day and taught class like it was his living room. I can attest because I spent half my graduate career in his office - 203 Human Ecology. We would talk paradigms seemingly all day. He played golf with me at 7 p.m. during the summer - walking 9 holes on Forest Akers West - where the conversations turned to politics, family and finances. He entered my life about the same time my father died and David took that mantle. He was even in the room when I proposed to my wife some 19 years ago. 

He was so influential and so cool that I made it a goal to play golf with him "at least once a year." For the most part, we kept to this non-spoken agreement. I swear we could solve the world's problems in 18 holes. 

After talking about it for years, I finally invited myself and my family to stay at the "rustic" guest house on Drummond Island. He always talked about how cool the Island was, so something told me that this was the year to do it. I ventured on the ferry in our mini-van toting a wife, four kids and a dog. We went out to a local hang out with the Imig's for dinner, toured the house, looked at his collection of boats and enjoyed the weekend. 

Sure enough, Sunday came and David picked me up in his cool jeep and took me to his cool golf course on this cool autumn day. As usual, we decided what Dantonio should do to save the season and how to handle healthcare. But, mostly, we laughed and talked about our families. It was so cool. 

To be honest, I was anticipating another 10 years on the links, but we both understood that each time could be the last time. As it turns out, this time was the last. And while I am spent the day crying, I suppose spending your last 24 hours playing golf, watching a Key West sunset and taking a walk with your hot wife is pretty cool.  

The last text he wrote me  on February 5 said, "Figured I might lose you. Thanks for calling. Talk later"... I'll hold you to it, my good friend and mentor.  

Dave Imig, and just about everyone else, loves to take a boat trip to Marvin Key.  Sometimes there are 50 to 100 boats anchored, with people partying, dogs chasing tennis balls, men fishing and sunbathers floating on their rafts.  The beach is whiter than white, the sun shines brighter than bright, and the sky is bluer than blue.  Many (really many) drinks of your choice are consumed, a ton of picnic food is eaten and some of the world's problems are solved there.  Actually, I think Garland and Dave solved a few on this day, or maybe they just smiled and laughed until their faces hurt!  A Marvin Key day is the best way to spend time with friends and relax like you have no cares or responsibilities, except to safely get back home at the end of a glorious day and pass out from exhaustion after the best day ever doing hardly anything at all.  I know I'm supposed to tell a story here, but, all I can say is that what happens on Marvin Key, stays on Marvin Key!  If you have never been there, then you need to go there; and to be there with Dave made it the best day ever!

  Over the years I have enjoyed many rounds of golf with David at our Key West Golf course.  The last year or so, a little bit of politics crept into our golf game.  On the 15th hole there is a tree on the right side of the fairway that seemed to be a magnet for Dave's ball.  I would needle him about it all the time.  The tree is trimmed so that as you look at it from the tee all the limbs on the left side are removed and it definitely has a "right lean" to it.  This was too good to pass up, so I named it the "Trump Tree".  I explained to David that this was just a nice way for the Donald to say hello to him.  
Anyway as the campaign progressed, we continued to golf and David continued to find himself stymied  behing the Trump tree. Each time this happened I would ask him to take a closer look at the Trump tree because "I could swear that it was leaning more to the right" each time David was behind it. The last time David and I teed it up he found himself behind the Trump tree...again.  David did not hesitate, pulled out his 160 yard club(3 wood) and absolutely crushed it. Well that ball took off and hit the Trump tree absolutely dead center.    David looked and me.  I looked at him and deadpan said to him.  "I am amazed, I didnt know you were Republican. If you really were a Democrat you would have hit the shot to the "left" of that tree. 
Dave looked at me and said "Merry Christmas Rob"...or something like that. I will miss you my dear friend.