David Shachnow

late Spring 1993

1-29-2009

Dave was in the car with 4 girls. We were driving back from da bronx. He was in the back seat, in the middle, happiness everywhere. This was on the radio. All the girls were doing the hand motions, singing along. I looked in my rear-view mirror...

...there he was...bobbing head to the beat, squinted eyes, huge smile from ear to ear...singing and hand motioning...2 legit, 2 legit to quit, hey hey

The really good ones always burn the fastest

12-15-2008

It's still hard to grasp that David is gone. The last time we spoke was on that fateful September 11 when he had been lucky enough to be a few miles away from the crumbling Twin Towers. Alas, luck wasn't with him on that horrible October night last year. What a loss! Ever since I met David over a decade ago as the eternally curious contrarian who questioned everything in his insatiable thirst to know more and explore the boundaries, I was impresses by his incredible mind and his great heart. The conversations we had were always insightful, intelligent, inimitable. And his sense of humor always blended superbly with his critical thinking and his vast imagination. Even though he was no stranger to adversity, he was able to find joie de vivre and made it a point to live life to the fullest. Now there's little we can do turn the clock back and change the course of events. What we can do is remember him: his thoughts, his laughter, his love for sports, his appreciation of good wine and perfectly cooked Italian pasta, his way with words, his refusal to just accept the status quo, his relentless pursuit of things that made him fulfilled, his refusal to give up no matter what. That his life - albeit cut short by a cruel turn of fate - was not in vain; that he touched all of us who knew him and in his own way, he brought joy, laughter, fun to our lives making us better human beings. Thank you, David.

The Little Prince

I learned on November 10, 2008.
First, it was the shock, the violent negation, the unbearable desire to deny.
And after the outpour of tears came the infinite emptiness. It is not the sense of loss. It is death - yours and that of a part of me.
David came in my life 13 years ago. And like the little prince, with his curly hair and green eyes, he spent time with me. Like the little prince, he came from a planet of his own. And he landed on this Earth of granite, looking for friends.
He most probably had met the fox before he came to Geneva, for he already knew the fox\'s secret: \"you can only see things clearly with your heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.\"
And with David\'s remarkable patience, he tamed me. And when he left, I cried. Because of the color of his eyes and the feel of his soft touch. Because of his extraordinary gentleness and his exuberant generosity.
Because David was the little prince - so pure and frail.
But contrary to the little prince, he was not ready to leave us on that October night of 2007, when that yellow snake that can dispatch you from this life in thirty seconds, took his, without much thought. This should have never happened...

For a year you were still alive, saykrovishte (remember?), in my thought and in my heart.
I was so excited to meet you in New York for Christmas...

But then you came in my dream, as if to warn me.

Some day, I will stop crying - one always does, they say... But I, as anybody who has loved the little prince that you are, will always look for you among the stars.
Because we all know that you are somewhere there, on one of the millions of stars that light our sky at night, next to your rose...

With all my love, B.

Ogden Road

1970s- 1990s

Almost a year later to the day, I have just found out this shocking news. I can*t express my sorrow at this tragedy, but these memories have stirred some of my own, and made me realize I can never forget Dave.

The first time I remember seeing David was at his house (I think it was 24 Ogden Road). We lived down the street, at the bottom of the hill, and my older sister Nicole, and his sister Michele sort of knew each other. We were over there, and he was napping. I think I was 3 or 4 years old, and I peeked in his room and saw him. That*s how my memory plays, anyhow. It might have been later than that. But Dave was the first fellow Fox Meadow-er I met.

I remember him so well in elementary school-- his bedhead would make him look three inches taller, and he was a really fast runner, although I think Casper was faster. He always befriended the new kids (Casper, David, John), so they immediately felt comfortable.

Dave was also one of my last friends in Scarsdale. Him and I walked to school together, or got rides from my sister and her friends everyday in 9th grade, before I switched high schools. I felt like I would always know Dave, and looked forward to the next time I would bump into him.

Maintenant tu es avec le anges pour toujours ....

1997

I am so sorry to hear about David's tragical death. My thoughts go to his family and close friends.
I met David when I was working in Bankers Trust in London (we were part of the same team). I remember him as being smart, funny with a witty sense of humour, full of energy, kind,sensitive, generous... He was such a delightful character. He had a very expressive face with such a great laugh...

The last time I saw him was during a week end with my husband in New York. He took us out to some of the best Jazz Clubs and bars in New York. It was a great night out... I am sorry I never had the opportunity to take him around Paris bars as promessed.

Isabelle Goesel Antem

Saddened old neighbor

1984ish or so

David, my heart breaks for you and your loved ones. My mind is frozen in time as I remember you as a sweet happy-go-lucky elementary schooler nearly 25 years ago. I did not know you well (I was in high school at the time), but my impression of you was that you had a kind soul. They say that if you live long enough, you will experience tragedy. Your death is beyond a mere tragedy, it's incredibly unfair. I am so sorry :****(

Lifelong Friend

1980

I was profoundly saddened to hear of Davids passing. My heart goes out to Davids family.

Reading some of these posts, peoples names and seeing these pictures broke the levy in the deep recesses of my mind and opened up a floodgate of memories long past. David quite simply was one of my oldest friends. The list becomes very short when one thinks of people they have known their entire life. There are many stories I can recall that exemplify why David was such a kind, compassionate, funny and interesting friend to have.

Although not the earliest memory I have of David, The Dukes of Hazard battle cry mentioned previously was one instance that showed Davids dependability as a friend. The alert would be sounded from Caspers back yard and within minutes David would appear for our afternoon session of kick the can.

At the age of 12, I was over at Davids house and he introduced me to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Truth be told that at the time I didnt understand why David thought this movie was so funny. It dawned on me years later that David was ahead of his time and possessed an advanced intellect and comedic presence that comprised such a large part of his humanity. That experience helps me to this day to better understand the dry humor of the Brits here in London.

Trips to the 99-cent matinees at the Scarsdale theatre. Being the first responder when someone (wont mention any names) broke my nose with a baseball. A great partner for stickball, boxball and stoopball. The late nights in Peter Bookmans basement. Uniformly dreading football practices. Fighting over who would pick up trash for the Good Humor man (for the 50 cent credit one would get in return). Treks to the Scardsdale diner for those infamous plate of fries. Dealing with mean Mrs. Levine. Almost passing out from the smell Mr. Sloan's liverworst sandwiches. The list of good memories is endless.

These and many other positive memories have left an indelible mark on me and I will so very much miss him. His kindness and humor has left this impression on many of us and he will live on in our hearts and minds forever.

Speechless

1980's

I am speechless, I just found out about this.
David was my best friend in Fox Meadow.
We were inseparable; we did everything together.
I will contribute again once I can gather my thoughts.
My heart goes out to his family.

Lots of love,

David

Not fair

Earlier

I just found out about this today and it sucks. Dave was a good person and loved the hell out of Franklin. He used to come to my room (it was next to his), Franklin would run in ahead, and just talk about nothing. Franklin forever wanted to play ball, and Dave talk. I miss it now that I think about it. I lost touch with him about a year ago, but Im glad he finally got the peace and quiet upstate doing something he likes.

Karl

Dave's Memorial

12/14/2007

It was great seeing many of you at Dave's memorial last weekend. I just posted my pictures on KodakGallery and you can view/order them here:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=18jzhoyz.1s8j5go7&Uy=l3a7o3&Ux=0