Dave has been a sailor since he was 8 years old. His Dad made him a raft made of three rail ties and his Mother made a square sail from a sheet. Using a paddle to steer, he sailed brave and proud on the waters of the one-acre lake on the family dairy farm in the San Joaquin Valley. Upwind was a bit tricky.
By Mary Swift-Swan
Published: December, 2002
Dave has been a sailor since he was 8 years old. His Dad made him a raft made of three rail ties and his Mother made a square sail from a sheet. Using a paddle to steer, he sailed brave and proud on the waters of the one-acre lake on the family dairy farm in the San Joaquin Valley. Upwind was a bit tricky.
He left the farm during World War II, becoming a B17-Bomber pilot for more than two years. After 38 missions over Germany, his plane was shot down. Commenting on the 15 months he spent in a German prisoner of war camp, Dave said, "Met a number of real nice fellows there." I had to wonder if a fellow named "Hogan" was among them.
After the war, Dave married Barbara, a neighbor’s daughter, and his dear bride of 56 years. During his 26-year career teaching shop at Peter Burnett Middle School in San Jose, Dave and Barbara raised a family. They sailed San Francisco Bay and became proudly known as a family that sailed well together. Dave and Barbara’s sons share their love of the water; Fred is now a fishing boat captain and Greg joined the Golden Gate’s fine group of captains in 1998. A grandson also carries on Dave’s passion for boats; he skippers a 70’ yacht and owns an Express 27’ sailboat.
Dave and Barbara’s back door looks out across the Alameda townhouse waterway and Marina Village where Dave can see his boat. "PAX" is a well-kept Cal 227. They also keep a few radio-controlled lasers for battles among family and friends in afternoon races on the Marina Village townhouse waterways. "Keeps the reflexes up," he says. Perhaps it’s true when they say, "Days spent messing around on boats are not deducted from one’s life." This legend-of-the-Bay is a fine gentleman-of-the-sea who proves it could be true. If you’re on the water during the week, you may see Dave sailing with a friend or single-handedly. If you see "PAX" out on the water this December, wave and yell "Happy Birthday, Dave!"
