I thought it would be nice to have a spot for us to share our memories of Dave, just like we did with Kirk, and we can get them passed along to his family.
Terry
I only ever heard him do Big Bad John.
And he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket - but that didn't stop him. :smile:
I learned how to link pictures in a web page from his site that he had called "HTML for the Cooler Crew". I thought that was pretty cool of him to make a how to page just for us!
I really like how all his posts were inside a html box. Classic!
last night, tc and dave sat having a conversation about nick's dad passing away at 60. he asked how old tc's dad was, going through cancer and all. he said "wow. all kind of contemporaries. i wonder when my time is up." tc takes comfort knowing that he was surrounded by friends, and simply looked over his shoulder at the very bright light and said, "hey amy. wait up....."
The Story of the Woodsman and Santa in Sherwood Forest – Starring Ducks
The Woodsman had raised 4 ducks one year that followed him around his yard in Sherwood Forest and swam in his pond. By the autumn of the year, the Woodsman needed to move those ducks to the bigger lake that didnÂ’t completely freeze over during the winter.
It just so happened that Santa had spent the weekend in the nearby Land of Ahhhs with Inks and Terry. Prior to heading back south, the Woodsman asked for some assistance in getting the ducks moved.
The Woodsman had an old rusty orange pickup truck that he figured would work out just fine if he had someone to help hold the ducks while he drove to the lake.
Santa, always willing to help, said sure, heÂ’d be happy to help.
Inks, Terry, the Woodsman and Santa rounded up the ducks and got them into the cab of the truck. Santa held onto those ducks best he could as the truck made its way to the lake. Inks and Terry followed the truck. As the truck stopped at the lake, first the Woodsman and then Santa opened doors and stepped out. If only there had been a camera.
Santa was filled head to toe with duck blessings!!!
Santa later quipped, “I think I was holding the ducks by the wrong end that day!”
The other thing I recall about that story is that the ducks were supposed to be "fly-aways" but Woodsman Bob (their surrogate father, whose quacks they answered to!) fed them so well, they were too heavy to fly, and the pond was freezing over.
Bob was hoping that they'd lose enough weight over on the slough to be able to fly away before *that* froze too. He would go over every day to check on them, and they would still come in answer to Bob's quacking.
We certainly would have known before next January, but it might have been awhile. There couldn't have been a better time for his sake that he was taken care of so quickly.
Dave Young will be featured in an article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press tomorrow. Hope any quotes used are accurate. I hate talking to newspaper folks. Sometimes your words get so twisted, it feels like you're reading Greek.
The way things happened, at least everyone knows that he went quickly and it appears peacefully, and that everything possible was done. Knowing those things will go a long way in helping everyone who loved him not to fret about his final moments. I know it couldn't have been easy, especially under the circumstances, but I'm sure glad he was having a happy time with friends when he went. Also that he got to finish eating, first! I'm sure he'd agree.
That's exactly how my husband Ted went. He was sitting in the chair talking to us and then his head fell to the side and he was unconscious. The doctor called it a heart stoppage or cardiac arrest, not a heart attack. A heart attack is painful. When the heart stops, blood stops flowing to the brain and you pass out and eventually die if the heart isn't restarted.
Even with my daughter and I performing CPR immediately until the paramedics came, his heart wouldn't restart. There's very little that can be done in that situation we were told, and even if it had started he would have been at very high risk for it happening again and maybe when he was alone or driving and not with the people he loved. There is some comfort in knowing that.
the first time I meet santa dave was at phalan I didnt eavn know nothing about him and said to my nephew look its santa he took time to hunt!! my nephew wanted to leave just before that and it made him want to stay and hunt after he got to meet santa!! :.( and at the predig this year him me2 and clue where the first to come up to me and welcome me they will allways hold a special place in my heart!!!!!!!!! just like the rest of you all!!!!!!!!! thank YOU!!!!! the other great thing was he rembered me that night that maid me fell good!!!
During every Winter Carnival, "Santa" would set up a hot plate on the cold concrete outside the Pioneer Press building in downtown St. Paul, cooking soup, cracking jokes and keeping the cold air festive in the wait for the next Treasure Hunt clue.
Dave Young, known as "Santa Dave" for his white beard, bellowing laugh and boundless optimism, died Monday in the company of fellow treasure hunters at Major's bar and restaurant in Inver Grove Heights.
He collapsed unexpectedly into the lap of his good friend Jake Ingebrigtson, who was the first 2007 Treasure Hunt winner.
"We were playing trivia. ... Of course he won every game," Ingebrigtson said.
"He is a fixture of the treasure hunters, and he'll be missed by a lot of people," said Jesse Anibas, who wrote the "Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt History."
Young, 65, could have made a long list of the good people he'd met in St. Paul: He delivered pizzas in the Twin Cities for 26 years on top of doing standup comedy at local venues with the likes of Louie Anderson, friends said.
He had a host of other jobs: school bus driver, short-wave radio operator, occasional WCCO radio personality - and, of course, a Santa-for-hire.
"You couldn't be with him without really believing in Santa Claus, because that's who he was," said Terry Valentine, who, along with Young, was a founding member of the Cooler Crew treasure hunting team.
"There were times things weren't going so well for him, job-wise - but there wasn't anything he wasn't willing to try. You asked how he was doing, and he'd always say 'fabulous,' " Valentine said.
Come treasure-hunting time, Young dressed conspicuously light, in a simple shirt and pants, and his signature hat with earflaps.
"Santa Dave" was apparently never perturbed by the cold, friends said: "He dressed more from fall ... but I never remember him having to warm up," Ingebrigtson said.
For fun, Valentine noted, Young flew small Cessna-class planes and drove around "pretty old jalopies" filled with "stuff" - newspapers, clothes, computer parts (and, during the hunt, shovels and rakes) - "You name it, he could find it in there," Valentine said.
"He was a little bit of a pack rat. Actually a lot," Valentine added. "A lot of people would say, 'Gee, is he living in there?' That was the way he was; he never apologized for it."
His license plates always carried his ham radio call letters: KOIZD. He participated in the Treasure Hunts for the same reason he talked on the radio and attended every day of the Minnesota State Fair: to socialize.
"There wasn't anyplace you could go where you wouldn't run into somebody he knew. He had friends in every port," Valentine said.
Raised in Brewster, in southwestern Minnesota, Young was a 1960 graduate of Brewster High School. He lived in New Brighton for much of his life before moving to Princeton a year or two ago.
He was one of the featured stars of the 2005 documentary film "No Time for Cold Feet."
He is survived by a sister, Martha Young. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
tc's the poet, cm. not i. there's something comforting about knowing that both of them left this world surrounded by people who cared about them, and who they cared about, and knowing that neither of them was alone when they crossed over.
I'm just so glad that I could hold Dave as he passed on. I truly loved that guy. He was a beautiful person. Not a negative bone in his body. As far as Santa goes, he was the real deal in my book!
I got one of those cards from Dave. I know I'll never part with it. I also got one of his Santa Dave cards, I believe it says on it "A Santa For Every Occasion". I'll scan it and post it later.
I know I never got the chance to know him all that well, but I do remember in all the times I'd met and talked with him that he was a very kind and jolly fellow, just as you'd expect a Santa to be. I think out of all the cooler crew, I had the most chance encounters running into him during my daily travels.
The first time I met him was at the 2004 Phalen rehash bash, where I was a bit late and had only run into Clue Master. Dave was still there in his jalopy. I remembered that because a lot of folks left early due to the bitter cold winds that picked up in the afternoon. I'm still not sure why Dave was still there, but it was a pleasure meeting him. That day he gave me some advice on getting my Amateur Radio license plates for my car.
The second time I met Dave was at the 2004 HamFest in downtown St. Paul at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. He was digging through some old electronics at one of the booths, I gathered he enjoyed finding some piece of electronics to use. I walked up and had to introduce myself, but as soon as I mentioned the cooler crew his eyes lit up and he was all smiles. I believe that was the last year they had the HamFest in downtown, and it was where I picked up my first Ham Radio to get on the air with.
The last time I saw Dave in the wild was at CompUSA in Roseville. He seemed to be having a lengthy conversation with one of the employees about some computer part. I always thought it was funny I ran into him the most when I was out shopping for the same kind of things he was looking at. I also remember that given his composure, style, and attitude, it was so easy to find him in a crowd of people. You didn't even have to try, it was just "Oh, there's Santa Dave!".
I know I missed out on this last years hunt, but still I know I'll miss seeing Santa Dave out and about during the hunt and the rest of the year.
When Jake found the medallion, Santa Dave called me on his cell phone just as the press conference was going to begin, so I could "be there" and get in on all the excitement. That was so nice of him to think of calling me.
My buddy Rick and I were hunting several years ago, and wandering through the woods. We came across a slumped Dave, sitting on a log leaning on a tree. Rick says, not ever meeting Dave, "Is that guy dead?" I knew Dave was probably just napping, so I played along and said "I don't know, let's go check." We creeped over there silently (as I remember this, I don't know why, if he was dead at the time he wouldn't have heard us). When we were about three feet away, I said 'Dave!' loudly, and he woke up with a deep breath, looked up and said "Well hey fellas, you find it yet?"
I think my buddy just about pooped himself, he was so startled.
the como year when everyone thought it was at harriet island - the only people as i recall one cold night at como were me, mike ( my bud), jake and dave - ot was bitterly cold and almost too stupid to be out that night.
Mike and i were on the top of the hill by the lake ( picnic area ) and jake came strolling by and asked why were were at como when it was so cold - we chatted for a while yada yada - jake left and went back towards the main park - mike and i walked down towards the water fall and there was dave sleeping - leaning on a rock in ther bitter cold with a sandwich still in his hand.....mike was a little freaked and asked the same thing "do you think he's dead or sleeping " we walked over to dave and he awoke and proceeded to tell us the story of the gates and how the reattas used to be held there etc.....
I know its been stated before that he never seemed too dreesed for the warm...but one thing dave always did have was a "warm heart" for anyone and everyone who was willing to talk to him.
I forgot about his stand up - i remember talking to some of the cooler crew peeps a few years back at a pre dig about it and then dave popping into the conversation about his days with scott hansen and others etc.......you can never judge a book by its cover ----RIP dave.
Thinking about those who usually are only here during the hunt...but would probably like to know. I have contacted Greg Sax and we found a way to contact Bee and then he can tell his brother Ittiz Eye. Ian - Hollywood - do you have any contact info? Medallion Stallion? Rush Harley?
Any one have a way to contact Steve Worthman, Downtown Dave, New Daddy? I know there must be about 100 others. Please let those folks know that aren't here if you have contact info.
Emily is in the foreground, to Santa Dave's right. Isn't that Dad on my right? That's the PP guy with the beanie, right?
And, as I was looking at the pic with a magnifying glass (cuz I'm OTD) Santa Dave looks like he's in 3-D. Kinda looks that way even without a magnifying glass, but try it - way cool effect.
so sad to hear the news! will miss downtown dave. he was a classic. he was always warm and friendly at gathering places and out in the parks (i never saw him in the parks all that often) i remember getting down to the pioneer press early and he'd be cooking up some ramen noodles or whatever. he was always willing to share his theories during the hunt and it usually turned into a story about current events or weather. he was super cool and i was glad to have shared a few laughs with him.
I found out that the Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz, whom Santa Dave knew, was The Lolly-Pop Kid. I'm not sure if that's the exact name, or if its an unnamed Munchkin from The Lollipop Guild. Gonna do some further checkin'...
And he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket - but that didn't stop him. :smile:
I really like how all his posts were inside a html box. Classic!
It takes a while to load but...
http://www.geocities.com/DaveYoung.geo/
(I think this thread and Kirks should be in the Coolerheads folder so we can find it easier)
and it worked...
:wink:
Oh My God Jason! :frown: :frown: :frown:
I miss them both sooo fricken much!! :frown: :frown:
The Story of the Woodsman and Santa in Sherwood Forest – Starring Ducks
The Woodsman had raised 4 ducks one year that followed him around his yard in Sherwood Forest and swam in his pond. By the autumn of the year, the Woodsman needed to move those ducks to the bigger lake that didnÂ’t completely freeze over during the winter.
It just so happened that Santa had spent the weekend in the nearby Land of Ahhhs with Inks and Terry. Prior to heading back south, the Woodsman asked for some assistance in getting the ducks moved.
The Woodsman had an old rusty orange pickup truck that he figured would work out just fine if he had someone to help hold the ducks while he drove to the lake.
Santa, always willing to help, said sure, heÂ’d be happy to help.
Inks, Terry, the Woodsman and Santa rounded up the ducks and got them into the cab of the truck. Santa held onto those ducks best he could as the truck made its way to the lake. Inks and Terry followed the truck. As the truck stopped at the lake, first the Woodsman and then Santa opened doors and stepped out. If only there had been a camera.
Santa was filled head to toe with duck blessings!!!
Santa later quipped, “I think I was holding the ducks by the wrong end that day!”
Left to right - Terry, Inks, Allison, DDY and the Woodsman. Eags was taking the picture. (Outside a little restaurant in Moose Lake, MN)
And enjoy a nice fire at the end of the day.
Bob was hoping that they'd lose enough weight over on the slough to be able to fly away before *that* froze too. He would go over every day to check on them, and they would still come in answer to Bob's quacking.
I've been wondering what would have happened if Dave had died at home? Would anyone here have known about it?
Great story TV!!
Thanks for sharing. You have a wonderful way with words.
I have learned so much over the last 24 hours, what an incredible man!!!
Even with my daughter and I performing CPR immediately until the paramedics came, his heart wouldn't restart. There's very little that can be done in that situation we were told, and even if it had started he would have been at very high risk for it happening again and maybe when he was alone or driving and not with the people he loved. There is some comfort in knowing that.
So in that regard, Dave and Ted were fortunate.
During every Winter Carnival, "Santa" would set up a hot plate on the cold concrete outside the Pioneer Press building in downtown St. Paul, cooking soup, cracking jokes and keeping the cold air festive in the wait for the next Treasure Hunt clue.
Dave Young, known as "Santa Dave" for his white beard, bellowing laugh and boundless optimism, died Monday in the company of fellow treasure hunters at Major's bar and restaurant in Inver Grove Heights.
He collapsed unexpectedly into the lap of his good friend Jake Ingebrigtson, who was the first 2007 Treasure Hunt winner.
"We were playing trivia. ... Of course he won every game," Ingebrigtson said.
"He is a fixture of the treasure hunters, and he'll be missed by a lot of people," said Jesse Anibas, who wrote the "Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt History."
Young, 65, could have made a long list of the good people he'd met in St. Paul: He delivered pizzas in the Twin Cities for 26 years on top of doing standup comedy at local venues with the likes of Louie Anderson, friends said.
He had a host of other jobs: school bus driver, short-wave radio operator, occasional WCCO radio personality - and, of course, a Santa-for-hire.
"You couldn't be with him without really believing in Santa Claus, because that's who he was," said Terry Valentine, who, along with Young, was a founding member of the Cooler Crew treasure hunting team.
"There were times things weren't going so well for him, job-wise - but there wasn't anything he wasn't willing to try. You asked how he was doing, and he'd always say 'fabulous,' " Valentine said.
Come treasure-hunting time, Young dressed conspicuously light, in a simple shirt and pants, and his signature hat with earflaps.
"Santa Dave" was apparently never perturbed by the cold, friends said: "He dressed more from fall ... but I never remember him having to warm up," Ingebrigtson said.
For fun, Valentine noted, Young flew small Cessna-class planes and drove around "pretty old jalopies" filled with "stuff" - newspapers, clothes, computer parts (and, during the hunt, shovels and rakes) - "You name it, he could find it in there," Valentine said.
"He was a little bit of a pack rat. Actually a lot," Valentine added. "A lot of people would say, 'Gee, is he living in there?' That was the way he was; he never apologized for it."
His license plates always carried his ham radio call letters: KOIZD. He participated in the Treasure Hunts for the same reason he talked on the radio and attended every day of the Minnesota State Fair: to socialize.
"There wasn't anyplace you could go where you wouldn't run into somebody he knew. He had friends in every port," Valentine said.
Raised in Brewster, in southwestern Minnesota, Young was a 1960 graduate of Brewster High School. He lived in New Brighton for much of his life before moving to Princeton a year or two ago.
He was one of the featured stars of the 2005 documentary film "No Time for Cold Feet."
He is survived by a sister, Martha Young. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Tad Vezner can be reached at tvezner@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5461.
Very nice
An honorable obit for an honorable man.
I am extremely proud to call him my friend.
Rest in Peace my dear freind DDY
And you're right ares, there is comfort in knowing they were among loved ones when they died. We could be so lucky.
I know I never got the chance to know him all that well, but I do remember in all the times I'd met and talked with him that he was a very kind and jolly fellow, just as you'd expect a Santa to be. I think out of all the cooler crew, I had the most chance encounters running into him during my daily travels.
The first time I met him was at the 2004 Phalen rehash bash, where I was a bit late and had only run into Clue Master. Dave was still there in his jalopy. I remembered that because a lot of folks left early due to the bitter cold winds that picked up in the afternoon. I'm still not sure why Dave was still there, but it was a pleasure meeting him. That day he gave me some advice on getting my Amateur Radio license plates for my car.
The second time I met Dave was at the 2004 HamFest in downtown St. Paul at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. He was digging through some old electronics at one of the booths, I gathered he enjoyed finding some piece of electronics to use. I walked up and had to introduce myself, but as soon as I mentioned the cooler crew his eyes lit up and he was all smiles. I believe that was the last year they had the HamFest in downtown, and it was where I picked up my first Ham Radio to get on the air with.
The last time I saw Dave in the wild was at CompUSA in Roseville. He seemed to be having a lengthy conversation with one of the employees about some computer part. I always thought it was funny I ran into him the most when I was out shopping for the same kind of things he was looking at. I also remember that given his composure, style, and attitude, it was so easy to find him in a crowd of people. You didn't even have to try, it was just "Oh, there's Santa Dave!".
I know I missed out on this last years hunt, but still I know I'll miss seeing Santa Dave out and about during the hunt and the rest of the year.
I think my buddy just about pooped himself, he was so startled.
the como year when everyone thought it was at harriet island - the only people as i recall one cold night at como were me, mike ( my bud), jake and dave - ot was bitterly cold and almost too stupid to be out that night.
Mike and i were on the top of the hill by the lake ( picnic area ) and jake came strolling by and asked why were were at como when it was so cold - we chatted for a while yada yada - jake left and went back towards the main park - mike and i walked down towards the water fall and there was dave sleeping - leaning on a rock in ther bitter cold with a sandwich still in his hand.....mike was a little freaked and asked the same thing "do you think he's dead or sleeping " we walked over to dave and he awoke and proceeded to tell us the story of the gates and how the reattas used to be held there etc.....
I know its been stated before that he never seemed too dreesed for the warm...but one thing dave always did have was a "warm heart" for anyone and everyone who was willing to talk to him.
I forgot about his stand up - i remember talking to some of the cooler crew peeps a few years back at a pre dig about it and then dave popping into the conversation about his days with scott hansen and others etc.......you can never judge a book by its cover ----RIP dave.
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It's a crappy picture (maybe someone can "work" on it?) but it's the day I met Dave. See where everyone is? See where Dave is? :smile:
Such memories.
Any one have a way to contact Steve Worthman, Downtown Dave, New Daddy? I know there must be about 100 others. Please let those folks know that aren't here if you have contact info.
I have an email address for marleyking. Am contacting them both now.
And, as I was looking at the pic with a magnifying glass (cuz I'm OTD) Santa Dave looks like he's in 3-D. Kinda looks that way even without a magnifying glass, but try it - way cool effect.