David was truly 1 Of A Kind. I grew up 5 houses away from him and probably know him as well as anyone. We went thru grade school, Hebrew school, Jr High & High School together. Oddly enough, we ended up in the same business after college, so i bought product from him and our relationship continued until his end.
His nickname ( dubbed by me ) was "Wally" and it fit, and it stuck. David was one of the most fun loving guys i ever knew. ALWAYS with a smile on his face, probably because he was up to something, but that was David.
I remember playing Stick Ball, Basketball and tackle football with David ( and the rest of the crew ) at Pleasantdale school,Vincent's pond, Cameron field and many other venues that were not just limited to West Orange local. I remeber driving around with Alter ( with 15 other guys in the car too ) because he had a car before anyone. I remember the Card Games at his house and did he love t gamble. It was in his blood from his mother & father. Vegas, the track, and anything else you could place a bet on, was his fancy.
I remember when his father built him a Basketball Court in their backyard. It was know as "Bumperkupf stadium ( I will let Hersh explain where that came from ) and there would be round robin BBall games running after school, weekends and anytime there was no school. There would be 20 kids in his backyard waiting to get on the court. I used to sneek into Cabana Club with Wally during summer breaks. The stories are so numerous, I could go on for pages.
In his later years, Wally didnt always do things on the straight and narrow, but he did do one thing right. He fathered a Daughter. When David's marriage failed, David took his then, 3 year old, and found a new place to setup their life. He raised her from a toddler to a woman, and he did it all by himself. I remember him bringing her to my house on weekends so she could play with my girls. Imagine Wally making " play dates" for his daughter. Her name is Melissa and the last time I saw her was at his funeral service. She is living proof that everytrhing is in the genes. She is the image of her father and even her smile and manorisms are him. Today, she is in her early 30's, married and lives somewhere up around Sparta.
David loved life and loved to have fun. While I remember David in all that i spoke about above, I am most proud of him as a father - His legacy lives on in Melissa.
We all miss you and those who were close, won't ever forget you.
I was one of those that would hang out at Dave's and play the round robin Basketball. I also remember the year we set up out own softball and tackle football leagues and played behind Pleastantdale school for one year. Playing tackle football without pads was fun except for Dave, who broke his collarbone during one game. Funny though no complaining, no lawsuits no parental interference, we just kept playing. those were the days. Those were some of my fondest memories of just getting together after school and choosing up teams and just playing pickup, be it at Dave's hosue, Vincent Pond or someone elses. Sorry I never got to see him over the years. It would have been fun to reminisce.
Frank Del Vecchio
DAVE WAS ONE OF THOSE CRAZY GUYS WHO REALLY DIDN'T DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING BUT HAVING FUN. ASK FRANK PONTE !
WENT TO VEGAS FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH HIM AND ONE OF HIS FRIENDS WHEN WE WERE ABOUT 21 YRS OLD -STILL REMEMBER IT
SORRY THAT I LOST TOUCH AS HE WAS A REALLY FUN TO HANG OUT WITH.
Barry Freda
David was truly 1 Of A Kind. I grew up 5 houses away from him and probably know him as well as anyone. We went thru grade school, Hebrew school, Jr High & High School together. Oddly enough, we ended up in the same business after college, so i bought product from him and our relationship continued until his end.
His nickname ( dubbed by me ) was "Wally" and it fit, and it stuck. David was one of the most fun loving guys i ever knew. ALWAYS with a smile on his face, probably because he was up to something, but that was David.
I remember playing Stick Ball, Basketball and tackle football with David ( and the rest of the crew ) at Pleasantdale school,Vincent's pond, Cameron field and many other venues that were not just limited to West Orange local. I remeber driving around with Alter ( with 15 other guys in the car too ) because he had a car before anyone. I remember the Card Games at his house and did he love t gamble. It was in his blood from his mother & father. Vegas, the track, and anything else you could place a bet on, was his fancy.
I remember when his father built him a Basketball Court in their backyard. It was know as "Bumperkupf stadium ( I will let Hersh explain where that came from ) and there would be round robin BBall games running after school, weekends and anytime there was no school. There would be 20 kids in his backyard waiting to get on the court. I used to sneek into Cabana Club with Wally during summer breaks. The stories are so numerous, I could go on for pages.
In his later years, Wally didnt always do things on the straight and narrow, but he did do one thing right. He fathered a Daughter. When David's marriage failed, David took his then, 3 year old, and found a new place to setup their life. He raised her from a toddler to a woman, and he did it all by himself. I remember him bringing her to my house on weekends so she could play with my girls. Imagine Wally making " play dates" for his daughter. Her name is Melissa and the last time I saw her was at his funeral service. She is living proof that everytrhing is in the genes. She is the image of her father and even her smile and manorisms are him. Today, she is in her early 30's, married and lives somewhere up around Sparta.
David loved life and loved to have fun. While I remember David in all that i spoke about above, I am most proud of him as a father - His legacy lives on in Melissa.
We all miss you and those who were close, won't ever forget you.
Freda
Bennett Fleisher
I was one of those that would hang out at Dave's and play the round robin Basketball. I also remember the year we set up out own softball and tackle football leagues and played behind Pleastantdale school for one year. Playing tackle football without pads was fun except for Dave, who broke his collarbone during one game. Funny though no complaining, no lawsuits no parental interference, we just kept playing. those were the days. Those were some of my fondest memories of just getting together after school and choosing up teams and just playing pickup, be it at Dave's hosue, Vincent Pond or someone elses. Sorry I never got to see him over the years. It would have been fun to reminisce.