David

He was one of the first people to comment on my very first post when i began blogging.  It was an encouraging and personal comment: he revealed just a bit about himself and his humanity in order to reassure me in my start.  It was classic David.

Over the years he continued to comment occasionally.  We emailed and eventually chatted every once in awhile.  He was, in my very limited and virtual experience of him, a consummate gentleman. He was polite, with a tinge of formal, but more than anything else he was about sharing ideas.  There was never an, "I think this is the way....,"  or, "You should think/do/believe this....."  He offered his views, accepted mine, and opened the way organically for conversation and consideration.

It had been quite a long time since i had last chatted with him, and his comments and his own posts to his blog had become much further between.  That seems to be the natural order of these things.  I did know that he had developed a special friendship with one blogger in particular.  It was so very evident how much they cared for each other, and how much his style, his mentoring, his friendship meant to her and was good for her.

David passed away a few weeks ago.  Hearing of his death, my first thoughts were for her loss, the anguish she surely must be experiencing.  But also, I thought of the unique and important voice this community has lost.