Saturday, September 25, 2021
As a cousin living 2000 miles away in Minneapolis I have not had the pleasure of enjoying Dave's companionship as much as I would have liked. These past couple weeks looking at old photo albums the happiness of seeing Dave and Steve visiting our grandparents in St. Paul returns along with memories of wonderful humor and smiles. I cannot speak of Dave's likes and dislikes, his favorite or least favorite activities when away from St. Paul visits or upon leaving his office at the end of the day, because, sadly, I just do not know what they may have been. What I do know is how gracious and enthusiastic Dave and Steve were to my wife Sue and I when we visited Aunt Lois and Uncle Don in the 1980s – and were treated with a glorious sailboat cruise in the Bay. I wish everyone could see the photograph I have of Dave raising the sails, arms stretched up, shirt tails flapping, totally focused eyes behind those sunglasses. Dave's cancer arrived so suddenly and his passing too soon. For those who seek rhyme or reason to such of life's mysteries may they also embrace the blessings of sharing the experience of knowing a friend and a cousin as special and unique as Dave Bareilles. RIP. - Dennis Christensen and Susan Goette, Minneapolis, MN
