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The
"Littlest Sailor"
By Howie Levy
I
was sadly
moved by the news of the passing in June 2006 of our friend and
classmate, David Adest. Although David looked different (and he was
different), he was nonetheless a very special person. Tragically, however, his life was filled with illness and financial hardship.
But his
devoted and beloved wife, Joan, was always at his side for 37
years.
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Dave was one of
only a few people
I know who considered virtually everyone among us to be his friend, and he
was likely more proud than anyone just to be one of us
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the OHS class of 1960. I would
bet that in his entire life, he never felt more a part of, or comfortable
with, any group of people than our class. And naturally, he loved
our class
reunions and surely counted them among his life's few joyful highlights.
Listed under his yearbook photo at left are just a few of the many ways
Dave participated gleefully with his dear friends and classmates in our school activities. Among
only a few other
classmates, he also donned the
Popeye costume from time-to-time to cheer our
Sailors to victory. Dubbed by many as the "littlest Sailor,"
he was voted
most enthusiastic in our senior class poll, and he carried that
honor proudly throughout his life. The collection of photos I have
assembled below is testimony to that.
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When I think about Dave Adest and what I know about
how he felt about
all of us, I think of how proud we all should be to be part of such a
great class. I think of how kids are often mean to other kids who are
different, and I think of how when we were kids, all of us always treated David with kindness, understanding, compassion and respect
(even as recently as our
45-year reunion in 2005). And
we will surely remember and miss our little friend, the "littlest Sailor," at
our 50-year reunion.
 The 1960 Sailors
Association Inc. has arranged to honor Davids memory in perpetuity
on behalf of our class with an engraved brick, placed in the ground by the
now defunct
Oceanside Education
Foundation
on
"Memory
Lane"
at its Schoolhouse Green location on
Foxhurst Road in
our little town.
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The
"Sailor Shop" crew
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On a tour
of our alma mater, 2000 |
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At the Red Store, 2000 |
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Doin' the
Stroll with a classmate, 2000 |
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With old friends at the
beach, 2000, proudly
wearing his Class of 1960 40-year reunion t-shirt |
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My last time with David,
always a proud Sailor, 2005 |
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With his devoted and beloved wife,
Joan, 2005 |
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Please read the following list of typical reactions of some of our
classmates and a couple of others to the news of the passing of our friend,
David: |
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I remember David although ... I never had the chance to
get to know him. I wish now that I had. But I do remember
how our class treated him and I, like you, am proud of that.
― Phoebe Lustig |
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What you plan for David's memory and honor is awesome.
― B.J. Diamant |
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Thanks for passing on the
information about David. He certainly will be missed at
all of our reunions. He took his election as most
enthusiastic very seriously.
― Betty Griffin |
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Thanks for
expressing our sympathy to Joan Adest. We all are feeling
the pain of losing yet another one of us. Life is so short,
we need to live each day to the fullest.
― Bobbie Alfin |
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I'm
sure I'm not the only one who had a tear or two reading that
beautiful tribute.
― Nancy Keegan |
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I was
very saddened by the news of Davids passing.
― Lenny Freshman |
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Sad
to have lost David.
― Jay Katz |
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May
God bless David's wife during this time
― Jeany Bomberg |
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I'm
so sorry to hear about David. ―
Myles Tashman |
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Thank you so much for letting us know about David. He was a
very special person.
he was always happy and enthusiastic
in spite of his disabilities!
Thanks for sending
condolences on behalf of us all to Joan.
I also want to
thank you for taking care of the plaque to be placed on
"Memory Lane" in his memory. I think David would have loved
this!
― Ginny Beedenbender |
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I was moved by
your note about the passing of David. I remember him so well
from school days. I did not see him again after those
wonderful days, but his personality came back to me in a
moment. Sending strength to his family. ―
Barbara Blum |
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How sad, but what a wonderful tribute in honor of him.
How nice, too, that there will be a brick in his honor. Special people often teach us about living.
― Carole Hassett
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We just saw him,
and he seemed so happy and well. What happened? He was such
a sad person his whole life, yet was a happy soul. I was so
happy to see him married and living as good a life as he
could. I'm really so sorry.
― Sue Schlesinger |
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Thank you for informing me of David's death and for taking
on the responsibility to send condolences on our behalf to
Joan and for the memorial.
― Linda Feuerstein |
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Here's one from an
anonymous member of the class of '59: |
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Passed him many times
in the halls, shared a lunch table in the cafeteria
every so often and always saw a smile on his face.
David was
different as his outgoing personality would make
me laugh, smile and sometimes cry (on the inside, of
course, because in those days guys had to be guys). My
sympathy to his family and the class of 1960.
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And another
representing the class of '61: |
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As we
go through life, there are people we encounter that make
an impact on our lives forever. I did
not know David very well, but I can close my eyes and
see him as he was at OHS always positive with a smile on
his face, a friend to everyone. The world we live in
today judges people on how they look, and if you look
different, you are just not accepted. I am truly sad
for our grandchildren that the world they are growing up
in is so shallow. I believe the world today lacks
the innocence of our youthful days in Oceanside. Your
tribute was very moving. Please send my condolences to
David's wife. |
Come back to this special memorial page now and then
when you are thinking of David or to see if anything
has been added.
And if you would like to add anything about
David,
please write me.
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Classmates
and other visitors are invited to submit material for a special
memorial page like this for any
other departed classmate. Just
e-mail it to me. |
Howie
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