I also shared many classes with David (and John and Susan and others}. Despite the fact that we found ourselves in competition from time to time, he was always a very good friend. The last time I saw him was at the reunion party at his house the year after we graduated.
It's hard to say enough good things about him. He was just that kind of guy.
David came to Border Star school my 6th grade year; I remember learning to play the ukelele with him. The music groups, including the jug band, that David played in were laced with his preference for animated playing! I remember his coming over to our house on 63rd street. Listening to my sis & I singing; he was of course coaxing us to be more into the music emotionally ; ) He did the same thing in his receptiveness when I tried out for the Music Man: as soon as I finished the "My White Knight' song, he was on his feet with, "Bravo! Bravo!". David was good for the soul.
In college, he sent recordings of the men's chamber group he was singing with at that time; and I remember his coming by Macy's, where I had a part time job while in college. That warmth was something tangible. There was also a book he wrote that either he or Molly was generous enough to copy and give out. I still have it, with its illustrations of his art. Beautiful work by an observant being. A lot was expected of David; and he delivered, seemingly effortlessly. I felt more confidant in expressing myself because of him, in his capacity to be a loyal friend.
Most of all, David was fun. I remember once, my mom pushing him over in a tease (she had 8 brothers); he'd been stooping down to pet the family dog. It startled me she would do that, but David's response? He started laughing, seemingly charmed by the liberty. It was such a spontaneous interchange he so often showed, and he was always up for that. Good man.
PS Meredith, good point! I copied the remarks here, and I will send them to Melanie, David's younger sis via FaceBook.
Bill, thanks for the kind reference to the Brown Sisters! : )
David was such a big part of our high school class. He was involved with so many different groups and areas. I remember that he was an incredibly talented artist in art classes with Charlotte O'Malley.
I've just read all these wonderful comments, so I'll try to add and not duplicate. I caught the compliment as my sis did, comparing David's band sounds to "the Brown sisters"... David solicited us to do a folk trio with him accompanying, at Cricket West's fashion promotion on the Plaza one summer. I recall the supervisor's rigidity and humorlessness, launching my sis & me into helpless giggling when she entered on the Chad Mitchell Trio lyric, "Even though you say that ALL THE GOOD TIMES are GONE..." David's look begged straightening up, though he couldn't help smiling too ~ impossible, like Catholic Mass trying to stop a laugh once started. (David could smarty-pants too ~ humming the Marseilles, louder and louder, driving his French teacher to distraction ~ isn't that the story, Nett? :0)
David and I corresponded my junior year in college when I was deeply homesick, "Brother Beanie" supportive, funny, quick to respond. He also spent a good hour parked in my parents' driveway one evening talking me out of majoring in nursing studies (a young plan to follow my mom, not be a doctor like my dad) David insisting persuing liberal arts was my destiny. I listened, and am glad I did. I drew a portrait of him in pencil the following summer, in thanks; he admired it, then prodded me to start studying color. Ha! Of course!
Hungry for Life, he seemed determined to encourage others to live fully too. I think congenital diabetes just intensified his vibrancy. Plainly he inspired all of us here who knew him. I keep that wonderful memorial book too that Bill Cater and others mentioned, with his drawings, poems, & journal entries. What a shooting star of a young man David was. Unforgettable, still so.
Even at age 68, after all of the people I have met in my life, I remember David Bean as the most engaging person I have encountered. With all of his talents, and with all of his charm and charisma, he was humble and open to anyone and everyone he encountered. When I have thought of how young he was when he died, I knew that he must have made quite an impact on everyone he met and there must be more people who remember David fondly than we can ever count. We had a very special class of '66, and if we wanted to offer up an example to represent us, David would be my first choice.
I remember David as an engaging an friendly young man. We enjoyed an amicable competition in art class and he was always quick to congratulate me when appropriate...and I him.
I'm so sorry he's no longer in this world. He was a good person.
Well, said Howard. I couldn't agree more. I contacted David briefly as I was staying in Ithaca for a few days back in the Fall of 1968 and he was as genuine, gracious and generous of his time and help as ever. I left rather suddenly and regretted at the time not saying goodbye and thanking him again and even more when I learned of his death a few years later.
David was a wonderful friend and someone who was headed for great things. We talked often about the future and what life would bring us. I also found truth and understanding talking with his parents. When he passed in 1971 in the Indian Ocean because of the inability of the ship's officials to administer diabetes medicine when a man in the crew suffered from it. It doesn't make since and never has I always wondered. David and I talked about a lot of things. I have always missed him as a friend and someone I found thoughtfulness and love in his story I find it perfect that the people talking about him understand his personality and love for life He will not be forgotten
His disease takes people customarily by age 30, or that is my understanding. I think David knew this. He lived full-out. i consider him my dear friend.
Victor Yehling
I also shared many classes with David (and John and Susan and others}. Despite the fact that we found ourselves in competition from time to time, he was always a very good friend. The last time I saw him was at the reunion party at his house the year after we graduated.
It's hard to say enough good things about him. He was just that kind of guy.
Janette Brown (Brown)
David came to Border Star school my 6th grade year; I remember learning to play the ukelele with him. The music groups, including the jug band, that David played in were laced with his preference for animated playing! I remember his coming over to our house on 63rd street. Listening to my sis & I singing; he was of course coaxing us to be more into the music emotionally ; ) He did the same thing in his receptiveness when I tried out for the Music Man: as soon as I finished the "My White Knight' song, he was on his feet with, "Bravo! Bravo!". David was good for the soul.
In college, he sent recordings of the men's chamber group he was singing with at that time; and I remember his coming by Macy's, where I had a part time job while in college. That warmth was something tangible. There was also a book he wrote that either he or Molly was generous enough to copy and give out. I still have it, with its illustrations of his art. Beautiful work by an observant being. A lot was expected of David; and he delivered, seemingly effortlessly. I felt more confidant in expressing myself because of him, in his capacity to be a loyal friend.
Most of all, David was fun. I remember once, my mom pushing him over in a tease (she had 8 brothers); he'd been stooping down to pet the family dog. It startled me she would do that, but David's response? He started laughing, seemingly charmed by the liberty. It was such a spontaneous interchange he so often showed, and he was always up for that. Good man.
PS Meredith, good point! I copied the remarks here, and I will send them to Melanie, David's younger sis via FaceBook.
Bill, thanks for the kind reference to the Brown Sisters! : )
Beth Sauer
David was such a big part of our high school class. He was involved with so many different groups and areas. I remember that he was an incredibly talented artist in art classes with Charlotte O'Malley.
Jeanine Brown
I've just read all these wonderful comments, so I'll try to add and not duplicate. I caught the compliment as my sis did, comparing David's band sounds to "the Brown sisters"... David solicited us to do a folk trio with him accompanying, at Cricket West's fashion promotion on the Plaza one summer. I recall the supervisor's rigidity and humorlessness, launching my sis & me into helpless giggling when she entered on the Chad Mitchell Trio lyric, "Even though you say that ALL THE GOOD TIMES are GONE..." David's look begged straightening up, though he couldn't help smiling too ~ impossible, like Catholic Mass trying to stop a laugh once started. (David could smarty-pants too ~ humming the Marseilles, louder and louder, driving his French teacher to distraction ~ isn't that the story, Nett? :0)
David and I corresponded my junior year in college when I was deeply homesick, "Brother Beanie" supportive, funny, quick to respond. He also spent a good hour parked in my parents' driveway one evening talking me out of majoring in nursing studies (a young plan to follow my mom, not be a doctor like my dad) David insisting persuing liberal arts was my destiny. I listened, and am glad I did. I drew a portrait of him in pencil the following summer, in thanks; he admired it, then prodded me to start studying color. Ha! Of course!
Hungry for Life, he seemed determined to encourage others to live fully too. I think congenital diabetes just intensified his vibrancy. Plainly he inspired all of us here who knew him. I keep that wonderful memorial book too that Bill Cater and others mentioned, with his drawings, poems, & journal entries. What a shooting star of a young man David was. Unforgettable, still so.
Howard Saver
Even at age 68, after all of the people I have met in my life, I remember David Bean as the most engaging person I have encountered. With all of his talents, and with all of his charm and charisma, he was humble and open to anyone and everyone he encountered. When I have thought of how young he was when he died, I knew that he must have made quite an impact on everyone he met and there must be more people who remember David fondly than we can ever count. We had a very special class of '66, and if we wanted to offer up an example to represent us, David would be my first choice.
Todd Anderson
I remember David as an engaging an friendly young man. We enjoyed an amicable competition in art class and he was always quick to congratulate me when appropriate...and I him.
I'm so sorry he's no longer in this world. He was a good person.
John Wilkinson
Well, said Howard. I couldn't agree more. I contacted David briefly as I was staying in Ithaca for a few days back in the Fall of 1968 and he was as genuine, gracious and generous of his time and help as ever. I left rather suddenly and regretted at the time not saying goodbye and thanking him again and even more when I learned of his death a few years later.
Terry Satterlee
David was a wonderful friend and someone who was headed for great things. We talked often about the future and what life would bring us. I also found truth and understanding talking with his parents. When he passed in 1971 in the Indian Ocean because of the inability of the ship's officials to administer diabetes medicine when a man in the crew suffered from it. It doesn't make since and never has I always wondered. David and I talked about a lot of things. I have always missed him as a friend and someone I found thoughtfulness and love in his story I find it perfect that the people talking about him understand his personality and love for life He will not be forgotten
Steve Weneck
David was a terrific all around great person who was a pleasure to be around in all
manner of speaking, but it was his quick wit that drew me to him and what I remember most.
I became aware of his sad and untimely - and perhaps avoidable - death while working in
Sen. Stuart Symington's office in D.C. David's father had written the Senator to address his
concerns that, while David was serving in the Navy, the ship was not medically equiped or able
to treat David who, apparently, was diabetic. This information came to my attention from the military
case worker in the office, who knew I was from Kansas City and around David's age. She shared with
me the case of David's sudden and tragic death, as much as she could. Still sad to think about it!
Steve Weneck
Janette Brown (Brown)
His disease takes people customarily by age 30, or that is my understanding. I think David knew this. He lived full-out. i consider him my dear friend.