David Schwartz

Dear Family of David,I am sorry that I don't know you better than I do. I was. David's 8th grade English teacher at Herricks, and heard of his death on that morning.I remember David well–his "Afro," his grey and maroon shirt, where he sat in the classroom (by the window, toward, but not at the back), and his sense of humor. He was a very likable boy, despite his inappropriate, but good sense of humor.Though I am certain he would not have cared had he known, but I thought of him very often during these past forty-odd years. It was difficult, if not impossible, not to like him a lot. (Please remember that this was a school in which chewing gum marked a student an outlaw.) I could tell you anecdotes about David, but I am concerned that at this time, they would seem not the usual.I share much of your sadness, today, and I am certain that this will hurt for a long time, as it should. I assure you that I will remember David (not Dave or Davey) as long as I live, and will remember him with the fondness that he deserved.Please accept my words as a tribute to your son, your brother, and my former student who was so full of life.Sincerely, and sadly Tom Kellet