Obituary - Dbneeley

[mobob]

I write tonight of my friend David, known here as dbneeley.

David died yesterday; he was buried today in Donetsk, Ukraine. As related to me by a third party, he died as a result of complications due to diabetes and several surgeries last month. He leaves behind his wife and stepson in Ukraine, and a son and grandchild(ren) in the USA.

I met David on this forum last year, just a short while before my first trip to Ukraine. Through a flurry of emails and Skype, he provided a wealth of advice, information and suggestions that served to enable and enhance my first trip to meet my future wife and family.

In the short time I knew David, he became a lifelong friend and comrade. We chatted on Skype countless times, but never enough. The time zones and work schedules were difficult to coordinate. I check my email during the day at work – stolen moments on my iPhone – and was always delighted when there was a short note or several chapters from him waiting. Some days the emails were constant throughout the day, exchanging thoughts and ideas. It was a little difficult to get any work done talking back and forth.

We were only able to meet face to face once, upon my first trip's arrival at Donetsk airport. I can't describe how reassuring it was to hear 'Hello, welcome to Ukraine' in English with a bit of Texas drawl after such a long trip into unknown territory.

David was many things to many people. I will remember him as a man who cared about others, always willing to help, to give and share all he could. Above that, I shall remember him as a man who dearly loved his wife, family and adopted country.

I couldn't be there to give a proper farewell to a fellow veteran. He deserved and earned an honor guard, salute and flag. So tonight, my salute to you, David, I raise a glass of Ukrainian samogon. Poka, my friend, poka.

[Eduard]

very sad to hear this... Dave sounded like a really good guy in his posts. I also received an email today from my Estonian friend's wife telling me that he was killed in a car crash in Panama a couple of days ago. They moved there a year ago because he felt like this country was going to hell lead by this government we have in the office now. We were friends and neighbours for about 14 years and spent a lot of time together just hanging out at each others house (we lived 2 minutes away from each other) helping each other when one of us needed help. One of his sons who served in the Marines for 3 years calls me his second dad and when I called him today as soon as I found out, he told me "I still have you, my second dad, right?". I had tears in my eyes. My friend "Ray" Raivo in Estonian was one of the smartest and wisest people I've known and I will miss him a lot.
Mobob, here is to both, your friend David and my friend Raivo 

[erudite]

dbneely wrote a posting on the other forum the day before he entered the hospital, stating he was going in for prostate surgery to remove his prostate.  He said his wife (who is a Medical Doctor) had lined up the best specialists in the region to handle his situation.  It seemed like a fairly routine situation from what he wrote and he did not sound worried about it at all.   He sounded like he expected to return to normal life quickly.

Although he and I did not always "click" on this forum, I still felt he had a lot of knowledge and freely shared it with others with its best intentions.  He was opinionated as we all are at times.  But he still made a contribution for everyone to share.

I extend my sympathies to his family in Texas and Ukraine even though I did not know any of them personally.

[WestCoast]

Sorry to hear about David's passing. My condolences to his family. 

[Wild Orchid]

Very sad news.

I was one of many who experienced David's generosity and willingness to help personally.

RIP

[Manny]

I had a few long conversations with David on Skype in recent months. We didn't always see eye to eye, but that's part of life I guess.

RIP.

[Herrie]

I'm very sorry to hear about David's passing as well.

I had the pleasure of meeting him last year during a lay-over he had at Schiphol airport. We had breakfast together and shared a couple of hours talking. He seemed like a really nice guy with lots of experience and knowledge about various aspects in life.

My condolences go out to his family in both Ukraine and US.

[msmoby]

I'm just read of David's passing and also wish to pass on my condolences to his Wife and family. It was always clear how much he loved and respected his wife and THAT shone through like a beacon.

He was an intelligent poster, with a wealth of experience that will be sadly missed.

He went out of his way to help guys he felt were genuinely seeking a stable relationship...

One of his most strongly held beliefs was that Ukraine wasn't "over-fished" 

David and I didn't always agree - but he was a gent of principle and I will REALLY miss his kindness.

[Paul]

My condolences to his family. What sad news. David was one of the good ones.

[tonton]

I too, would like to pass my condolences to his family. RIP, even though we never crossed paths, I read his input and thought he was a good guy.

[dwfunk]

So sorry to hear this.  David Neeley was the stabilizer for many of my situations.  We never got a chance to meet in person and he will be sorely missed.

RIP David.

And our condolences to his family, both in Ukraine and in Texas.




-david

[fireeater]

 Condolences to his family for their time of grief.   

David always spoke his mind, whether you agreed or not with him. That is all anyone can do, and stay true to themselves, and what they believe in.

[shakespear]

I was sorry to learn of David's passing.

We often did not see eye-to-eye on a few points, but I will have to say that he really went out of his way to help guys who were serious in this quest. 

Olga and my condolences extend to him and his surviving family in Ukraine and Texas. 

[mendeleyev]

Mrs Mendeleyeva and I are truly sad to hear this news. May his family find comfort during this time of sorrow and may God grant him memory eternal.

[Brasscasing]

My condolences to David's family and friends for their loss.

David and I never did see eye to eye on much of anything. However, there is one message that he wrote, a tribute to his wife's 50th Birthday, that I think caught the true nature of the man and how I'll remember him in his passing:

http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php/topic,12867.msg184586.html#msg184586

Brass

[Muzh_1]

My condolences to David's family and friends for their loss.

David and I never did see eye to eye on much of anything. However, there is one message that he wrote, a tribute to his wife's 50th Birthday, that I think caught the true nature of the man and how I'll remember him in his passing:

http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php/topic,12867.msg184586.html#msg184586

Brass

True that.

I'm saddened to hear the news.
 
Even though we butted heads quite often we did it in a very civilized way,sort of an intellectual challenge. I did skype with him a couple of times and laughed a lot about incidents (non-political) that had happened to us. I've known David since the early days of St. John's and he helped me a lot.
 
I'll miss you David.

[JeanClaude]

David was one of the guys with his heart in the right place.,, I am sure he is in a good place  right now looking down at us while having a cold one.

David,.., RIP mate!

[Chris]

However, there is one message that he wrote, a tribute to his wife's 50th Birthday, that I think caught the true nature of the man and how I'll remember him in his passing:

http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php/topic,12867.msg184586.html#msg184586

Brass

Very nice words about his wife by David, its clear what he thought of her, I hope she is OK, as well as one can be in this sort of situation anyway.

RIP David.

[mobob]

I talked to Ira, his wife, briefly last Saturday. I wasn't able to reach her again, but did talk to her son a few hours after he passed. As would be expected, they are upset and saddened. When things die down here, I will print the comments and mail to them.

[Larry]

David was always quick to help new guys in this search.  Most guys who find wives in the former Soviet Union seem to just fade into the woodwork once their search is finished and they are married, but David was always generous with his time and advice.

And he also served as an example that one can find a great wife there.  It was moving to read David's tribute to his wife on her 50th birthday.  It was obvious from reading that post, as well as many other of his posts, that he had great love for her. My condolences to her and her son.

[sparky114]

RIP David

You were a good guy and will be missed greatly in this world.

[Donhollio]

 I knew David from here and via the email. As he often stated he posted on these forums as a way to give back, and to help others venturing down the foreign bride path. He told me of his health problems, and I wondered silently why he would stay in Ukraine, when I'm sure we'd agree a Texas medical system would have better care.  But that would of taken his wife away from something she loved dearly.  I'll miss him.

[MND]

Sad to hear RIP David

[TomT]

We know that today's status quo will not continue forever, yet we live our lives as if we believe that it will and we are surprised when reality raises its ugly head. I suppose that our delusions are necessary; without them, we would be too depressed to wash, to work, to find a mate or to live. Even though we wind up in the same place either way, the journey is a whole lot more pleasant if we live as though we will live forever.

[myheart2ukraine]

david never once did you write (there was no need 2 as we both have what we wanted) a reply 2 me or i 2 you but on reading some of your posts it plain for all 2 see you where very, very much a good guy here on this site
RIP mate & may the angels by your side be ukrainian angels
MH2U