Submitted by his parents

June 5‚ 1955–the day he was born–August 25th‚ 2004–the date he died. How do you write about a son that was so special to his son‚ brother‚ parents and friends‚ and not sound like you’re bragging?

After graduation David was not interested in college. His ideal job was to get hired by St. Joe Lead Company‚ now Horsehead Industries. Day after day he would go to the employment office to see if anyone was being hired. We always said the company hired him in 1973 just to get him out of the personnel office. He worked there for several years until they closed the plant for a short time. He got another job‚ and then one day he got a call asking if he wanted to go back to St. Joe. He did! In a minute! He was still employed there at the time of his death.

At 18 years of age he joined Raccoon Township Volunteer Fire Department‚ following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father. David was very dedicated to our fire department. No matter what time of day or night‚ when the siren blew‚ David‚ his father‚ and brother were out of the house and on their way to help in whatever way needed. He worked most events the fire department held–fish fries‚ wedding receptions‚ the annual firemen’s fair‚ etc.

His personal enjoyment was hunting and fishing. It included local fields and lakes‚ to fishing in Chesapeake Bay‚ and hunting antelope in Wyoming. That was one of his biggest thrills‚ getting an antelope. A hunting trip to Alaska was another special memory.

As a father he was always there to do things with his son. When Mathew was much younger they enjoyed raising rabbits together. As Mathew’s interest grew regarding tractor pulling‚ David was there to support him‚ give some help financially‚ and mechanically.

He was a member of Ducks Unlimited‚ their main goal is to raise funds to save the wetlands. Again‚ he was there helping. This past September they honored him at their annual banquet.

What makes me feel certain he was a well-liked man was the number of people we did not know that told us how he was always there to help‚ people he worked with every day‚ helping his friends farming‚ or helping his brother build his home.

Beside his 21-year-old son Mathew‚ David leaves behind his brother Drew and sister-in-law Debra‚ and niece Kristin‚ and parents Robert & Beverly Vinisky.