David and I grew up and went to school together and Scouts, especially Cub Scouts. I will always remember his sharp wit and humour, which often cut through to usually ironic facts or the emotion of the situation.
For example, one day at the Woodstock Public School, Gene Mann appeared bragging about his new, expensive shoes; David, Gene, and I were buddies. Gene wouldn't stop saying how much his shoes cost and how he felt "He was walking on air". Later that morning, David and Gene did something (David and Gene were always up to something no good) and were being punished by having to stand in the Principal, Ed Seney's office for most of the day. At the end of their punishment, with sore feet having had to stand silently for hours, David turned and asked Gene, "So do you still feel like you're walking on air." The whole office broke into laughter, even Ed Seney (I had just finished doing some copies for some teacher, so I was there in the office).
In later years, when David had returned to live in Woodstock, he was always well informed with what was happening locally both in terms of people and politics. Sometimes when I would run into him, I was surprised that he often knew more about what was happening on the Woodstock Board of Education than I did, and I was on the Board!
David, your ironic character and oracular presence will be missed in Woodstock.
Your old friend,
Jay
