Don Allen’s Comments at Dave’s Memorial in Chicago
Please forgive me as I read. I have thought about and planned what I want to say and the only way to accomplish that is if I read.
Let me first introduce myself. My name is Don Allen and I had the privilege of working with Dave at Troy High School for six years. Dave and I worked very close together as we both taught Computer Science. So I am here to talk about Dave the teacher, and Dave from Southern California.
Well, to think they gave a teacher only 3 to 5 minutes to talk about Dave. My students will never believe that I could only talk for less than five minutes, you see as a teacher I have been trained to talk in 57-minute increments. And on top of that, I feel like I have the weight of several thousand people on my shoulders as I fell like I am representing the several thousand students, coworkers and friends that were impacted by Dave’s life. So, while I will try, I apologize in advance for going a little long.
First, let me say I feel short changed. I want to talk about Dave the Person. What a wonderful friend, educator and coworker he was. As you may know, a former student set up a blog where students and friends can post their memories of Dave. To give you an idea of what the students though of him, I will take a few moments to read from those quotes.
First, in 2005 Dave was selected as Educator of the year by the Troy High School PTSA and I will some exerts from the award.
Your classroom is an active place where students feel free to learn and to question. You challenge them to succeed while at the same time nurturing them to learn.
Day after day you assist staff in the creation and development of meaningful courses of study.
Your concern for young people is continually demonstrated in your willingness to give whatever extra time it takes to help students who request assistance.
The Troy High School PTSA
And now from the students:
he made a significant impact on my life.
he and I embarked on a project that would become one of the most rewarding endeavors I’ve taken part.
Dave pushed me and encouraged me.
he led me and a group of students on a software project that had an impact on all our lives
he was blunt and rational, but always had the best interests of his students in mind.
And he never stopped caring.
For many, Mr. Wittry, was a great teacher.
To a great human being who touched many peoples’ lives: we will never forget you.
-David Poll
It’s difficult to describe the impact he’s had on my life. As a teacher, mentor, and friend, he guided me through some of the best times and the hardest times I had at Troy.
He truly encapsulated a balanced and whole person; truly he was an inspiration to us all.
Frank
Mr. Wittry literally gave me my direction
by Eric Lin
Even students who never had Dave as an instructor:
I never had you as a teacher, … I got to meet you; it was a faculty soccer game one random Friday night. … After that I rarely saw you, but when I did you would always say hi to me.
I am so, so, SO glad I had the chance to meet you and your family.
Amber
Mr Wittry changed the way I think about the world. I may not be a computer programmer, but the paradigms of Object Oriented Programming and efficiency I learned from Mr. Wittry affects the way I do so many simple, everyday things.
He was a great teacher,
Sarah Leach
Mr. Wittry inspired me
taught me how to work in the field. The time I spent with him was some of the best in my life.
Ari Wilson
He was very patient, and just explained things effortlessly
He was a wonderful teacher,
You are missed.
Nabila Bolisay
Mr. Wittry - you will be sorely missed.
Mr. Wittry was the best teacher I had at Troy - one of the best I’ve had ever.
I’m at a loss for words and no eulogy could do him justice anyway.
He is largely responsible for my success as a software engineer.
It was the preparation from his courses and in the variety of subjects he pioneered classes for that left me so overwhelmingly prepared for my major courses in college.
Thomas Bouldin
A former fellow student also posted:
He was smart, funny and always quick with a smile.
Posted by Ted Schuh Ted if you are here, thanks for the quote.
A small impression of what Dave meant to his students. To his coworkers Dave was:
Dave was the best co-worker and friend that anyone could imagine.
He was brilliant, yet humble
He had no personal agenda
- Laurie Downum
To fellow teachers he did not even know, he was source of a wealth of information. His web site is visited by many for his how to’s and the sample projects to be used in class.
To his friends, Dave was just great.
He was a source for how to get things done, especially with technology. Dave was driven to help others; he was convinced he could even teach the Luddites to successfully use and appreciate technology.
He was also an unofficial social director. He went out of his way to get people together to interact. He obviously love to bike ride and he was constantly looking to get people to ride together, even if others didn’t have a prayer of keeping up with him, he would stop often and make sure we were all together.
While I could never describe what Dave meant to some many people. And fully agreeing with the student earlier who said no eulogy could do Dave justice. I will simply close by saying: because of Dave
My life is better
His friends’ life is better
Education is a better
Computer Science is a better
And the World is a better place
Thank you Dave for all you did. We all will miss you!