 |
| On this day at Creeksbend a couple years ago, Stan and Dave were joined by Stan's brother Steve, far left. |
He was the perfect partner for a temperamental, impatient, excitable golfer. His calm demeanor, his patient and positive outlook, kept the day in balance and made every round a relaxed, enjoyable outing. In the 10 years that Stan partnered with Dave, mostly on 2-for-1 Tuesdays at Creeksbend, he can't remember a single negative outburst -- no matter how unfortunate the shot, how frustrating the missed putt. And there were plenty of opportunities.
The persistent pair was now looking forward to yet another season of mediocre golf. Stan always drove the cart so he could talk directly into Dave's good ear. Stan also knew about the nitro tucked in Dave's right front pocket and had been instructed what to do with it if his partner ever went down. Dave had had a heart attack many years ago, but he kept himself in great shape, even standing on his head for long periods, so Stan didn't worry about him much.
The quality of golf maybe wasn't so great, but the conversation was. Always something new, something interesting going on. Plenty to look forward to. Business plans, stuff to fix. The joys of marriage. Advice to trade. Shared history. Grandchildren. Problems to solve. In short, a good, reliable friendship.
Dave was with his wife Jane at their winter home in Mesa when Stan sent the last email. The weather was unusually warm in Minnesota. The golf courses were opening in March this year. "Shall I get us a tee time?" Stan emailed. "Better hold off," came Dave's reply. "I will be back on April 20."
Another email came this afternoon. It was from Jane.
Dave died in Mesa on Saturday, it said. He was 71.
Stan and Kathleen have been friends to the Chases since they moved into their new Chaska home next door in 1982. We raised our families on Sunshine Circle, we "watched" their swimming pool while they vacationed. We lost touch for a while -- then caught up again when they moved to a Shakopee townhouse a while back.
Last January, while we wintered in Phoenix, they treated us to lunch at a club near their Mesa home. It would be the last time we would sit down with Dave. As usual, he was the magnanimous, generous, kindly host, a good man whose memory we will cherish and whose steady, calming influence we shall certainly miss.
 |
| We celebrated our anniversaries together one year: Their 42nd, our 31st. |
The quality of golf maybe wasn't so great, but the conversation was. Always something new, something interesting going on. Plenty to look forward to. Business plans, stuff to fix. The joys of marriage. Advice to trade. Shared history. Grandchildren. Problems to solve. In short, a good, reliable friendship.
Dave was with his wife Jane at their winter home in Mesa when Stan sent the last email. The weather was unusually warm in Minnesota. The golf courses were opening in March this year. "Shall I get us a tee time?" Stan emailed. "Better hold off," came Dave's reply. "I will be back on April 20."
Another email came this afternoon. It was from Jane.
Dave died in Mesa on Saturday, it said. He was 71.
Stan and Kathleen have been friends to the Chases since they moved into their new Chaska home next door in 1982. We raised our families on Sunshine Circle, we "watched" their swimming pool while they vacationed. We lost touch for a while -- then caught up again when they moved to a Shakopee townhouse a while back.
Last January, while we wintered in Phoenix, they treated us to lunch at a club near their Mesa home. It would be the last time we would sit down with Dave. As usual, he was the magnanimous, generous, kindly host, a good man whose memory we will cherish and whose steady, calming influence we shall certainly miss.
 |
| In January, Dave and Jane treated us to lunch at their Mesa clubhouse. |
