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is the content from the former message board from Herschlove.com: Twice the Life in Half the Time Many people will live twice as long as David but have half the life. (Randall Isaac, 4/9/2003) (no subject) lasting image of Hersch: standing in his room, baggy sweats, no shirt, one leg over his head on stretching bar, pot of rice cooking, and that big grin. '"Care for a bowl of rice, wing?'" Why, yes, Dave, I would. (pete westwick, 4/10/2003) feeling fortunate i simply feel fortunate to have known david. kindness, generosity, determination, and an effervescence for life will be how i remember david. his smile and spirit will live on forever. look after us david...we are all better people with you in our lives. lots of love. sandy (sandy leventhal, 4/10/2003) Wherever You Are David‐‐ Wherever you are, I am sorry that I never had nor now will ever have the opportunity to really know you as an adult, but it was nice knowing you growing up, back in the day. My best to your family and friends. I hope in time they will adjust to missing the enjoyment you must have added to their lives. Enjoy your journeys wherever you are. Your IHP chum, Ken Newman (Ken Newman, 4/10/2003) Words don't describe...a couple more memories The rice cooker and electric wok going full steam at 2:00 am, The best Arobie thrower ever, Kentucky Fried Movie/ Big Jim Slade, Always ready to roll, cutting his own hair in the mirror, your post cards from Asia, only having to study for an hour when the rest of us had to cram for 8 hours...plenty more... The man simply had an unmatched verve for life I will miss you dearly (Terry Holberton, 4/10/2003) Great Smile One of my fondest memories of David is his smile. I went to school with both David and Jill, and was always fond of them both. I did get to spend a good deal of time with David when he and so many of my school friends worked together in the CD Rom business, and what I always remembered was how David's smile made me feel welcome wherever we were, and he made me smile too. I'm sorry that I won't be able to attend the service, but I will be there in spirit, and I send my condolences and love to the Herschman family and all of David's friends. I am proud to call myself one of them. Juliana DiMaggio (Juliana DiMaggio, 4/10/2003) Never give up. Dave, I miss you, man. It's still not entirely real to me, it's like you're just on another long trip out of the country, or something. Remember how people always thought we looked like brothers? I learned so much from you. The opportunities you gave me profoundly changed my life and I can't thank you enough. I appreciate your friendship and encouragement. Your acceptance meant a lot to me. You learned a lot this lifetime, too, Dave. It was obvious to me that time we talked by the beach. You brought a lot of great people into each other's lives and we're all blessed to have known you. Keep an eye on us, Dave, and we'll keep you alive in our hearts till we meet you on the other side. JB (John Bates, 4/10/2003) Awesome son ‐ awesome man We never met David but have followed his activities through Lee and Stan and his wonderful websites. He contributed to life, his parents, his friends in his few years, more than many who reach old age. May he live now in eternal happiness and watch over all with that big smile on his face. (Diane and Hendrik, 4/10/2003) Renaissance Man thrifty dot‐com CEO... Zen tennis player... strict dieting gourmand... classical pianist snowboarder... mathematician frat dork.... Herschy is THE new‐age Renaissance Man (Baird, 4/10/2003) If you don't fall, you're not trying hard enough Dave learned to ski for the first time during spring break in Park City. He had the bunny slope mastered in half a day and was commenting to Vic Jarrels in the lift line that he made it down the slope without falling for the first time. The lift operator helped them on the lift and said, "If you don't fall, your not trying hard enough." He and Vic chewed on this on the way up and got off the lift without a hitch. They pointed their skis down hill and Dave never quite stopped. Vic caught an edge early but Dave just got more speed. I don't think he made one turn. He barrelled over someones skis and through the slow down sign and finally decided to lay it out at the lift line instead of taking out a couple skiers. He says he doesn't remember the next few seconds but when he opened his eyes, he was tangled in the ropes laying at the feet of the lift line operator. The best part is that he got back on the lift and skiied it again. He tells the story much better than I do but it provided a lot of lau (Casey OCallaghan, 4/10/2003) yes, Herb respected your intelligence, will miss your perspective...thank you. (bg, 4/10/2003) A DAVID STORY David was a parent's dream. We never had to worry about his behavior or his ability to take care of himself‐‐whatever situation he was in. Except for one time..He was traveling in foreign exotic places. We hadn't heard from him for weeks and had no idea where he was. Then we received a FAX from Kathmandu. It read, in its entirety: "Dear Mom and Dad, don't worry about the riots". (Lee and Stan Herschman, 4/10/2003) Gratitude David was a noble soul whose beautifully bountiful spirit of life touched all fortunate enough to cross his path. If he was ever afraid he never let us know. He will always and forever be a beacon of hope and inspiration to so many in this world. Thank you David for simply being and showing us the way. (Mark Stephens, 4/10/2003) Hersch Vietnamese food, ping pong, the Lakers, stretching, Michelle, friends and family, baggie sweats, being at peace....just a few of the things that Hersch loved. His spirit was one of a kind. (Doug Tudor, 4/10/2003) what I'll always remember what i'll always remember about david is that he was always so upbeat, easy to smile and laugh and see the glass as half full. i learned a lot from david about attitude and about enjoying life without strings attached, just from being around him. goodbye, pal. (Steve Kane, 4/10/2003) Kind heart David will always be thought of as a solid guy with a big heart. The world is missing out on all the things he can offer. I am glad I met David many years ago and I hope to pass on a few words of his wisdom to others. (Alan Ezeir, 4/10/2003) The Hersch my friend, your spirit will be with us forever (Nick Rothman, 4/10/2003) Definition of genuine The true meaning of genuine is David Herschman. (Brent Cooper, 4/10/2003) Our Ambassador My friend, you showed us a world without borders, blind to race, open to religion and spicy food. For that we are eternally grateful and blessed. We will miss you but will carry on your spirit as our global ambassador. (Todd "Woody" Wilson, 4/10/2003) Thank You A person who loved live, lived it to the fullest, and enriched our lives with his presence. You will be missed by all of us, but your spirit and memory will constantly provide us inspiration, hope, and guidance. (John Byrnes, 4/10/2003) I'll Miss You When Dad and I hooked up again in LA, you and Jill were babies, I remember holding you on my shoulders at the air show, and what fun we had. Then when you showed up in my class at Reed,it was a fantastic story that was hard to believe, that I, your dads kindergarten pal would someday be one of your teachers. Fate has strange ways of touching us all. I know that you will be missed by many because you were one of the good guys. I am privileged to have played a small part in your life. I know you are in good hands. R.I.P. Your '"uncle'" Bernie. (Bernie Cohen, 4/11/2003) Bright Star We are grateful for having known such a compelling and inspirational person as David. Such truly extraordinary beings are rare, but unmistakable. We miss you and will never forget you. (Joe and Winnie Fuqua , 4/11/2003) One‐of‐a‐kind Truly, one rarely, if ever, comes in contact with someone like David...is affected by what he's done, where he's been, and how he's touched our hearts as an exceptional human being. ''Good night sweet prince… (Steve Dorseman, 4/11/2003) Thanks Herschy ‐for always listening ‐for the absolute best advice about everything ‐for helping me with my business ‐for kicking my ass in tennis ‐and in chess . . . ‐for being able to eat as much as me ‐for creating a business where all our friends could help you. ‐f (U‐Boat, 4/11/2003) Nephew David I was fortunate enough to spend some quality time with my nephew David over the last months. I learned what a remarkable young man he was. There was a peace about him that was palpable. I felt a connection with him that will be with me always and am so grateful for that. (Aunt Jane, 4/11/2003) thank you Thank you, David, for showing me what are the words '"strength'" and '"will'". I will never forget the warmth that exudes from your soul. (sasha plotitsa, 4/11/2003) Yes David was such a sweet and gentle presence, so grounded and '"there'"; how lucky I am to have known him a bit through the Rabbi classes and through Liana and Sasha. I feel inspired by his strong will and his smile and the depth of his being even from the short time I knew him. Yes. (Linda Carter, 4/11/2003) Inspiration You were an inspiration to me ‐ calm and reason in a sea of chaos. Usually the only one focused on what really mattered. To my favorite client and a wonderful friend, I wish you peace. (Samantha Lincoln, 4/11/2003) the world needs more herscheys a strong sense of denial still keeps me from the permanence of Dave's passing. he was a great friend and a unique and true person. I will always remember the camping trips in Mexico and Yosemite where Dave would get peaceful with nature and the look on his face while standing next to his '"long lost twin'" we discovered on Catalina Island after Holbie's bach. party. Dave said last November while looking at a picture of my daughter''s kinky blond curly hair, "there's a little Hersch in everyone". I'm grateful to have shared in just a small part of his big adventure. (tim mckeegan, 4/11/2003) Something special David and I had a special '"bonding'" time at Jill and Chris''s dinner and we discovered that we knew that water and chicken feathers were the only two things that could legally be thrown out of a car, and laughing because we were the only ones who know that. That was a very special moment and so today I will throw a big glass of water out of a moving car. (Lois Kann, 4/11/2003) (no subject) Consuela bowls, rice cookers, funky music, a famous phone list, keys to the kitchen, infectious laugh, and lots more. A truly illuminated life. We will miss you Dave (Scott Lorson, 4/11/2003) In my thoughts Hiking Half‐Dome, trips to Tahoe,playing chess at a cafe. I feel very fortunate to have met and spent time with such a quality person. You are in my thoughts David. Dan (Dan Matso, 4/11/2003) Inspiring I knew David from Reed Jr. High and North Hollywood High. I'd only seen him twice since graduation, but I considered him a friend. His memorial today was extremely moving. It was really good to hear and see how he has touched so many people in so many ways. I found the talk of David's life and his legacy to be a strong inspiration for me to live for now, and to live with passion. Rest well, David. It seems to me you more than earned it. (Kieron Dwyer, 4/12/2003) Memories We are the parents of Adam Unger, Matt and Rachel, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the Hershey's. While I only knew David thru our Son Adam, we are deeply touched by their closeness. David was truly a wonderful of Adam's and can only feel a small part of his pain for the loss of a awesome person. Our love and prayers are with the family and friends, Henry and JoAnne Unger (Henry and JoAnne Unger, 4/12/2003) In the Moment David's ability to focus and concentrate on the moment is a trait of his which I'll remember for a long time. His ability to listen and respond with thoughtful ideas has given me a model to aspire to. Through our conversations on life, business, love, or just the latest sporting news, David has always been THERE, giving everything he has to me, his friend. Even in his difficult times, he always is THERE for friends. In loving memory, Josh (Josh Crandall, 4/12/2003) The Bunny I can still hear his laughter... (Michele Earl, 4/13/2003) what i learned from dave i learned so much from dave... he taught me what to order at an indian restaurant; how to stretch...really stretch. why it's good to meditate from time to time. he turned me on to krishnamurti, carlos castaneda, dan millman and henry miller. he showed me what i maybe could have done had i stuck with piano lessons; the tennis player i maybe could have been had i learned a proper backhand. he reminded me to never feel to sorry for myself: that the times we think we've hit our lowest points are the times we're forced to grow... and it's then that we take our biggest steps. he led by example as far as setting goals and executing them... having dreams and following them. he was proof that even an extremely intelligent person can become even wiser through travelling. he excelled in most everything really: in work, in play, in family. the irony of it all is that he was undoubtedly the most "healthy" human being‐‐ in mind, body and soul‐‐ i've ever known. we can learn so much from you david. and we have. thank you buddy. (brad douglas, 4/13/2003) One of the most wonderful people.... Dave was one of those people you meet, you may not realize at that particular moment, but you realize very soon after meeting him, that he has changed your life. By inspiration, by example and just by being...him Thank you Dave! Vicki (Vicki McIntee, 4/14/2003) (no subject) I will always remember Dave as one of the few people who could have fun anywhere. Peace be with you on your new journey. (Scott Harden, 4/14/2003) Bunny Rhapsody ‐‐ A Whisper of Time Bunny Rhapsody ‐‐ A Whisper of Time I watched him sitting on the playground fence at school, beside him, not an inch of space apart, was a little girl. His curls popped up, white feathers in a twirl, while hers ran down, ringlets in a swirl. They were toddlers then, three years of age, two bunnies perched on the same page where friendship begins stage by stage forever cuddling teddy bears, forever cuddling. I saw their little firm legs swinging from where they sat (supporting them for life at bat) school uniforms of navy pants and checkered pleated skirt, two blazers intertwined with hands and knees at play, so long ago and far away. I heard them skipping up the red brick stairs to our hidden hill house in the trees, peeling laughter, giggles and joy shooting flairs, ah... the fireworks of childhood, innuendos of years (yet to come), days of bunny fun. He grew tall, strong, good and true. He grew smart, capable, successful and... He soared ‐‐ with explorations and dreams! He was a seeker, an adventurer, and more... He knew love, discovered vallor. The further he traveled, the deeper he delved, the more luminous, refined ‐‐ his Light ‐‐ he dared. I knew him as a child, way back then. I knew him down the line, as a man. As he grew, she grew, As she flew, he flew, Living deeply, fully, steadfastly, those two bunny‐friends. The little girl now woman‐grown looks for a sign, a hint, a clue... My bunny rhapsody, a whisper in time, she wonders, sighing, "Bunny, where are you?" Behold! A twinkling light, an angel flying free above, white golden curls, a golden mist of perfect love. To Davey from Rina A Tribute The Davey. Kari Bunny Rhapsody was my privilege to know and nurture, a whisper in time. I love you. (Rina Shelly Orid, 4/15/2003) Infectious Smile Hersch‐‐I'll miss you infectious smile and the fact that you were one of the only men I knew who could appreciate the many random places there are in this world. In fact, you probably visited most of them. I'm sure your spirit is still roaming across Nepal and Java. Spoon (Jay Solomon, 4/15/2003) I Thought that............. the lump in my throat would ease, the tears in my eyes would dry, the pain in my heart would subside with the passing of time. Time is not working that way for me right now, or I just need to get more of it under my belt. I find myself back at herschlove.com reading the wonderful comments and thinking about Herschy and all of the experiences I had with him. How often do you have a dear friend that you played sports with since you were nine? Went to school with. Traveled with. worked with in successful businesses. He was a friend and a mentor at the same time. It is indeed rare, if ever that you have one person you can share all of those experiences with. In the days before dave's passing I sat with him and told him that I felt/feel as if I will owe him something for the rest of my life. The best thing that I could offer Herschy was a lifetime of unflinching friendship and loyalty, but it was obvious that that was not to be. I was weeping at Dave's side after asking what I could do. Herschy gently reached out and took my hand in his and placed it on his heart. He said,"Rob, I love you like a brother. Just keep going." This is great advice, but I have still have one question that Herscy can't answer. How do I stop looking back?? (Rob Neason, 4/16/2003) A Success I remember when David was voted Most Likely to Suceed our senior year at North Hollywood High. That category was David's, hands down. I always knew that he would be successful in all of his endeavors. The photos and kind words from those who knew him as an adult attest to this success. His passing is a huge loss and I will treasure my fond memories of growing up with him. (Leonie (Heckmann) Mulvihill, 4/16/2003) World Stars I never met David Herschman but I was introduced to his person by Doug Tudor recently. His spirit seems to come through his pictures even for someone that never physically met him. I believe that there are certain people in this world that because of the way they love and travel the world and touch everyone they meet ‐ are World Stars, like in the sky, not like in movies. For those of you that knew him, it seems he was definately one of them. (Sean Moran, 4/17/2003) Thanks to David I owe David for teaching me about foreign cultures and Eastern thought. I owe David for teaching me so much about the way business works and for taking me on a great ride on the Internet wave as a PrizeCentral employee. I owe David for teaching me about Yeats and many other intellectual pursuits. I owe David for teaching me how to try and maintain an even keel through the most frustrating of circumstances. But the biggest gift David has left me is what he showed me through example. And that is how to act properly and justly among all people I come to meet. David never had a pretense about anyone and had not a shred of falseness or pretention. I hope I will have some success in my emulation of David's generous and intrinsically good spirit. It is a very large gift he has left to me‐one that will stay with me I hope for my life. I only wish I could thank him for this now. I wish I had verbalized this to him during my hospital visits, but I did not. So, I hold out hope that there is a God and heaven and that David is there looking down and aware of my humble thanks. David, you did teach us through making your mind like still waterwe gathered around and learned about ourselves. And you have left us with a clearer, and perhaps even a fiercer life because of your quiet lesson. (Melissa Holberton, 4/17/2003) another funny memory so many memorable times‐‐sports, dinner parties, hikes, classes, laughter...lots of laughter. perhaps the hardest i ever laughed at college was the afternoon dave and i put his greek directory to use in a rather sophomoric way: we made some crank calls...calls which i am literally still proud of to this day. the classic was when we got one of the doughton (sp?) twins on the line...then connected him (3‐way calling) to another dude in the SAE house in some other room. neither knew who had called whom. there was confusion...then one of them recognized the other's voice a bit. then there was a lull...and that's when dave (we had been fairly silent to this point) quietly chimed in with "i think i love you, dote." naturally, doughton was startled‐‐not to mention disturbed‐‐by the comment...questioned his fraternity brother, who insisted he did not say it. they still couldn't figure out the 3‐way calling thing. eventually they both hung up and likely stayed away from each other for a few days (maybe weeks). dave and i were laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes. a sad moment to be proud...but damn it, we were! i loved laughing with dave. it seemed to happen whenever we got together. trust me there were deeper, more meaningful times that we shared... but i felt like sharing this one today. brad douglas (brad douglas, 4/17/2003) I find myself at this page at least 5 times a day... I have been coming to HerschLove.com over and over again through out the days. Looking at the new postings, another look at the pictures, whatever...I feel the need to look at Dave. I smile. I say goodbye. I know I'll be back. I guess this is going to take some serious time. One thing I do have is the fact that my email address for my personal stuff is Virtual_vegas@yahoo.com. I did some moonlight selling for David when he was getting VV off the ground. Fun stuff. He really knew what people wanted, and how to get their money. I am sure I'll be back. Holbie (Holbie, 4/18/2003) The Spot It is comforting to be able to visit Dave's website and just see how many people truly appreciated and valued his friendship. Although I did not see him that much after college days, I always thought about him. Since his passing, there has not been one day that has gone by without me remembering something special we did together. As a matter of fact, I would like to share with you that since a few of us from the old neighborhood were unable to make it to Dave's Memorial we planned a special Memorial up the street at "The Spot". The "Spot" is where we would meet to drink a few beers. "The Spot" was located on the corner of Sarah and Gentry". We would park the car across the street and just talk about nothing. Great days!!! Anyhow, Dave and Mike Smith, Danny Bateman, Hugo Martinez, Jesse Hilton, Jeff Lumer, and myself met at "The Spot" last week and talked for hours about how much we loved Hersch and how much we will miss him. He will always be in our thoughts and I want you to know that we all feel so lucky to have grown up with Hersch and your family. Funny thing happened last week at "The Spot", as one of us tossed a beer bottle over the fence, as we used to, a loud clank noise occured. Could that loud clank noise of two beer bottles hitting eachother been one of Hersch's beer bottles from the past? I think so...... He will always be with us in our hearts. (, 4/18/2003) Mini‐Trek Not trying to compete with the extensive travel stories I would like to share an experience I was lucky enough to share with Dave in Lake Tahoe at the extraordinary elevation of 6200 feet. While the rest of our cabin watched SuperBowl XXIVIILXIV it was easy enough to convince Dave to go for a ‚ÄòBackCountry Snowboarding Expedition‚Äù. Acting as our Guide, I led the way out of the garage and up the driveway 75 paces to the secret spot virgin gully we would make our playground. After dropping in and making 10 turns I stopped and got out my camera. Hersch came next, bombing between snow‐laden trees, boosted by a healthy dose of Kodak Courage and my hooting and hollering. You would have thought we were in the untouched Heli snowfields of British Columbia the way we were both screaming. I will never forget how proud he was when he saw the photo. Hersch, shock of white curls, stink‐bug stance, cruising untouched powder. (Baird, 4/18/2003) Thank You Your messages have made us weep and laugh. We thank everyone for helping us try to cope with the enormity of our loss. Love, Lee and Stan (Lee and Stan, 4/19/2003) Hersch is "Ultimate Man" One of my finest moments with Herschman was perhaps one of his proudest, in the smallest of ways. A group of us had gone out that night and taken the party back to our good friend Kimiko's apartment. Kimi and Dave lived in the same building‐ "Piedmont Gardens"‐ and this was one of countless nights where the building was taken over by the sounds of great music and wacky laughter. It too was a Kodak moment for Hersch. The moment where David Herschman was formally given the name "Ultimate Man"...just one of many in his lilfe where he stood like a King. This time, he was sitting tall in the center of Kimi's sofa, surrounded by cold beers, b's, good friends, and a nestle crunch ice cream bar in his hand. For that one instant, Herschman said he had everything a man could ever want. He accepted the name "Ultimate Man" with great honor. Then he smiled widely for the camera and put his mark forever on our lives. You'll always be missed, Dave, for the way you embraced the most simplest blessings in life. Here's to you Hersch. (matt fife, 4/20/2003) Dave and his mountain bike It has been two weeks now since Dave died and I just can't believe he is not coming back. It just doesn't make sense. I met Dave when he was 20 years old ‐ he was riding around campus on his mountain bike with a huge smile on his face...looking for people and things to do. I had heard of him before from my best friend, Kari. They had been close close friends since they were three. I invited him to my 21st birthday party where we ended up discussing philosophy by a condom machine in the mens bathroom at the Hard Rock Cafe. The second time we hung out together, he told me that he didn't believe in following the same path that others followed. He wanted something more, something different. He said he wanted to be a monk and spend his life meditating on a mountain top ‐ that perhaps then he would find what he was looking for. It was the last thing I expected to hear from a guy while we were drinking beer on a fraternity bus going to a drunken frat party called The Great Gatsby. I thought the notion of spending one's life meditating was crazy, but I also thought that he was incredibly special. I had just gotten my first real glance into the person who was to become my dearest friend for the next 15 years of my life. I had never met a person like Dave. Never met anyone with such genuine depth, compassion, humor, and love. He always said things happen for a reason. And I guess they do. He changed my life. He taught me about integrity. He taught me about generosity. And, he taught me to ask questions, seek answers, AND most importantly to play along the way. I recently found a letter from Dave ‐ dated July 1993 ‐ whereby he wrote about his relationship with people in his life and what he wanted out of life. He wrote: "I am definitely keeping the my ties with 'this world' through friends and business and family, but I'm beginning to realize that it isn't quite as important as most people would have us believe." At 25, Dave was searching for answers. And, to be honest, I am not sure this wor (Michele Earl, 4/20/2003) Dave and his mountain bike part 2 My message got cut off.... so this is continued from my last message Even at 25, Dave was searching for answers. And, to be honest, I am not sure this world could have ever satisfied his quest for learning and adventure. I hope that wherever you are, Dave, that you finally have all of your answers ‐‐ and all your laughter and all your adventure! Life will never be the same without you. (Michele Earl, 4/20/2003) Arobe man Suzanne, Margaux, Audrey and I will all miss Dave. The kangaroo (Binky‐Roo Murphy) is now part of our family thanks to Dave and Michelle. The Hersch has left an endelable impact on my life. The entire situation still seems unreal. I envision Dave now soaring like the arobe he carried throughout the world‐ He'd share this (frisbee on steroids) with school children and the like. Only problem, Dave was the only one who could through it. Well done Hersch! (John Murphy, 4/21/2003) Dave A few years ago Dave gave me some windchimes for my garden. Each time they ring in the breeze I am reminded of him. That beautiful young man. When Michele and I went to Vietnam last year he lent me his backpack and insisted on giving us a huge bottle of special insect repellent which, he claimed, would not harm the enviroment. I sincerely loved Dave, and am deeply saddened we have lost him. He was a real and true friend. Maureen (Maureen Earl, 4/21/2003) Farewell mi amigo! 1st of all I thank Jason Downey for getting in touch, albeit with the very sad news indeed. As Leonie put it in her message on 4/16, we all knew David would do well, no superb, in life. I only knew him for the 3 years at N.H.H.S., but will always cherish the fun times & great memories. Particularly sharing our limo on prom night, as we listened to the Simple Minds' "Don't You Forget About Me", our '85 class song. Don't worry mi amigo, we will not forget about *YOU*. Sincerely, God Bless the Herschmans & Michelle, and our deepest condolonces to you all. Carlos & family Valencia, CA (Carlos A. Gutierrez, 4/21/2003) Dave‐inity Back when Dave and I were in 5th grade together, one of our class projects was to start virtual businesses where we bought and sold goods and services with a fixed amount of imaginary money. It was up to us to decide the nature of those businesses. Hersch started out drawing these really intricate mazes on graph paper which he tried to flog to our classmates but quickly realized were a waste of time. They weren't selling. I presume it was then, at the age of 9, that Dave concluded the most profound, eternal human drive is hope. So he started a lottery. Soon the whole classroom of kids were lined up at his desk for the chance to win big. His business came out on top in the end and he made a virtual fortune. Many years later, he acheived great success through a simlar, though larger endeavor. And ultimately, in his fight with cancer he showed us just how deep was his own capacity for hope. And ours. We hoped so much that he would live. What a jackpot to have known him. What a catastrophe to have lost him. The streets of Virtual Vegas are silent. The casinos are closed. But somewhere, maybe in Tibet, a baby monk sits scribbling these crazy, intricate mazes... (Oliver Benjamin, 4/29/2003) gratitude I want to thank Hersch for leading by example. His extensive wanderings inspired Stoy and I to take a post‐grad trip around Southeast Asia. Thanks in no small part to Hersch's sage advice it was a true journey, one that changed my worldview in a very real and positive way. I am comforted by the thought that the world is a better place for Hersch having trekked it and I am a better person for having known him. Thank you Hersch. (Dylan "Dondo" Shrader, 4/29/2003) Down goes the champ Several weeks before Hersch passed, I visited him in the hospital. He was heavily drugged to help him deal with the pain of his stomach surgery and his cancer. As he came out of his sleep, Hersch began to speak and regain his understanding of the situation. Within minutes, he was talking about his painful night in the ICU. You're in a battle, I told him. He nodded his head. "I feel like I've been training for this over the last couple of years and winning most of the fights. But this one was the championship fight. Down goes the champ, down goes the champ." Hersch had repeated the famous Ali boxing quote with his typical humor and spirit. In such pain and depths, Hersch still found a way to lighten the room, bring a smile to others' faces and keep that Hersch sense of the moment. He was right....down goes the champ. (Doug Tudor, 4/29/2003) Great Gatsby Dave is the most dynamic person I've ever met. I have so many memories with him, but the one that keeps flooding back to me is when he was the Great Gatsby. I had known Dave for years by then ‚ he had graduated the year before, if not two. So, there I was as a nervous freshman a bit buzzed walking up the steps of ATO in a tight rainbow sequin dress with my date that I barely knew‚ and suddenly there was Dave in white tie and tails with a rose for me. He WAS the Great Gatsby. He was so graceful and welcoming, he instantly made me feel totally at home. Later, when I had lost my date and my shawl, I remember wearing his coat and dancing with him on the roof. I thought I was the coolest freshman, dancing with Gatsby himself!! I think this memory strikes me now because as our friendship evolved, it was the furthest from the way that I knew him in more recent years. It floods back to me because I think it is the perfect example of one of my favorite traits of Dave's. He didn't just seem comfortable in every situation ‐ he would SHINE in every situation. He could come to our house and talk business with my Dad, do yoga in the park with me, play Frisbee with anyone, rage with the hardest partiers I know, or he could sit on a mountain top as still as water. His peace and the light he shed made him such a wonderful friend. Whatever mood I was in ‚ be it contemplating the meaning of life or figuring out how to get promoted ‚ Dave was always a fantastic person to talk to. Dave is one of those people who would be just as proud of a friend for kicking ass at their job as he would be for quitting to live in their van. We all need friends like Dave. It's been hard to live in Belgium these days and be so far away from friends. But I am inspired by the fact that we're moving to Ireland in six weeks to a small town in Yeats country on a lake that Dave and Michelle hiked around. It brings me such peace to think of Dave there and remember the way he lit up when I told him that's where my new boyfriend (now husb (Carla (van Loben Sels) Feely, 4/29/2003) Great Gatsby continued continued.... It brings me such peace to think of Dave there and remember the way he lit up when I told him that's where my new boyfriend (now husband) was from. I will think of Dave every time we go down to Lough Key and I will hope that I can learn from Dave's inspiration of being still like water. A friend of Dave's is a friend of mine, please come visit (carlafeely@yahoo.com). My love to Michelle, Dave's family and Dave's friends, Carla (Carla (van Loben Sels) Feely, 4/29/2003) to Lee and Stan This message is hard to write... I never knew your son, only the two of you, and I have'nt even seen you for some years. George gave me this web address so that I could send the card that I had bought and a donation and in the process of looking for the info that I needed I seemed to discover a life. A life of someone who lived life to it's fullest. Through the photos I caught a glimpse of someone who I would have liked to have known... to have heard his stories and shared a little laughter with. You must be so very proud of him. I lost my brother on January 30th of this year in an accidental plane crash and I am also feeling a great loss of someone who gave so much to the world and left the world way too soon. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. I know that losing a child is the hardest thing in this life to go through... I am watching my parents go through a terrible pain that I can do nothing about. I tell them to celebrate something about his life each and every day even in the midst of their great sorrow, that is until they meet up with him again in Heaven and then they can embrace. I know my brother is in a better place now, perhaps taken so young because he had given the world so much in such a short time. After visiting this site, I'm sure this is true of your son, David, also. Please accept our condolences and prayers and try to heal a little each day. It will be so difficult, but David will be watching you and embracing you with his great spirit. Love, The Lotspike Family (George, Cindy, Adam, & Amanda) (Cindy Lotspike, 4/30/2003) It's nice to remember... I will remember his quick humor, his good heart, his serene spirit and his wicked forehand ;) I choose to remember and smile. Goodbye and rest in serene peace. (Rick Gutierrez, 5/2/2003) I miss my friend... Although we each had a phone, we still pulled a string with tin cans on the end so we could try to talk. We'd make silly plans to meet at the hedge that seperated our houses at 8am, so we could annoy our parents with a game of Marco Polo, or play tennisball in the street with Mike, Coop and Bate. It's true we could have walked the extra 10 feet and knocked on the door, But that wasn't the point: as kids we had carved out our little world complete with our own set of rules. Hersches contributions showed genuine intelligence, while mine were usually something more like the movie "Stand By Me", where you could get "2 for flintching." Although we so different as kids, he was an incredible friend. We were together nearly everyday from age 6 until we graduated high school, And I still today find myself laughing at the things that amuzed us as children. I'm so grateful for those days, they couldn't have been happier and I'll be forever indebted to him for the friendship that is so much a part of who I am today. I'll love him forever. (Dave Smith, 5/3/2003) An Ah‐ha moment I simply had to check out Herschlove.com after hearing about this amazing guy from Beth Tudor. I wanted to know this guy, and felt a palpable loss that our paths did not cross in this lifetime...My ah‐ha moment came when I saw that Doug Tudor, Terry Holberton and Brad Douglas were all tight friends of Hersch's...Three of my all‐time, very favorite younger men...I so wish I could've known your friend...hung with him, laughed with him, learned from him...but since I did not have the ultimate honor of knowing David, I'm counting on you guys to keep his memory alive and to share his way with friends and strangers alike. Continue to pass along the stories, breathe through those uncomfortable stretches, and live like David did. I'll meet you under the umbrella at the BC this summer for more Hersch lore...I'll buy the first round of Mai Tais, and of course, there'll be an extra one for Hersch. (Whitney Padden Arnautou, 5/8/2003) gregory isaacs show as dave and i were becoming fast friends in sf, i brought him with me to this concert of one of my favorite reggae artists. there i introduced him to my sb crew, wax, matso, etc and we stormed off, by limo no less, disco bicuits rolling (dave's first) to the show. mid show i'm just locked in, front row feeling the fire of gregory and started checking out the scene behind me with matso. with a great double take, we see in the corner,dave, with his leg way up over his head, doing these crazy stretching routines, and i mean crazy. still to this day i'm not sure if it was some grateful dead dance or a tibetan yoga routine, but he was REALLY into it whatever it was, and we just stopped amidst the crowd and just checked him out for awhile. of course my friends were like "what's up with you buddy over there?"i was like"fuck if i know, we just met, he's holbie's buddy actually!" well, it seems everyone has had a funny herschy moment like this and i wanted to share mine. i miss him a ton too. keep stretching herschy. love, adam (u‐boat, 5/8/2003) sometimes the world is too small David, Sometimes the world is too small for the brightest lights. We all let ourselves enter the zone of "me‐ness" and forget the big picture. David's life reminds us that there is a bigger picture than ourselves. That everyday is a gift and should be lived to its fullest. I miss you my friend, but I know that wanting you here is a selfish act. Your pain is gone but your soul lives on in all of us. (Jim Hollis, 5/20/2003) Sound Advice...generosity unlimited When the departure date for his first Himalayan adventure was at hand, David asked me (a neighbor across the street) if there was anything I wanted him to bring me. Tibetan bells or "tinges" had been on my wish list for a long time so I asked for some... saying I'd love to buy them from him when he returned. Well... he came back with the tinges alright... AND a batik banner AND authentic Bhutanese costume for me and would accept no payment but a bodywork session. David, Thank you. Your generosity of spirit is contageous. When I use the Tibetan bells (often!) you come to mind. May the bells of peace ring on and on ‐ bathing each and every person in harmony. Thanks, "Teach." Melinda (Melinda Maxwell‐ Smith, 5/23/2003) Good Journey David, I only met you once, in June of 2002 at a resort in Hawaii. I was struck how easily our conversation flowed like that of old friends, seeming to continue right where it had last left off. And now I learn of all these accomplishments, adventures and lives you've touched. I would give anything to sit with you and Michelle again gazing at the surf, talking about life, as the sun set. Thank you for the time we shared. Good journey, my friend. (Joff Morgan, 5/25/2003) Thank You Hersch, I wanted to say thank you for taking a chance on me and giving me an opportunity of a lifetime. You were a mentor and a friend and I truly appreciate what you have done for me and all of the many people you have touched throughout your life. You have also introduced me to people that will be forever my friends. You always be in my mind and my heart. Lloyder (Lloyder, 5/29/2003) You were with me the whole way Hersch, I just went through a long process of deciding on a job transition or not. You have no idea how many times I asked my self what you would advise me on. I am confident you were a factor in helping me decide what to do. I took it, and am looking forward to the challenge. Thanks for being there in spirit! Holbie (Holbie, 6/3/2003) Greek Phone Directory As I fumble on the keys to write something special, I know you would just give your huge smile and say something like, "Relax Scraper!" I got to know Dave from his ATO Days. Tall Poul and I took over his Greek Phone Directory from him when he graduated. I learned a lot about entrepreneurship from Dave ‐ particularly how to be frugal but fair and reasonable. I also remember when I was a scrawny pledge he would sneak me into his room and cook up a mean meal on his wok. Dave, I admire your sense of adventure, versatility, and warmth. I wish I could have traveled with you. I love you and miss you Hersch! Scrape (Mike Derezin, 6/17/2003) Still hurts I find myself back at this website ‐ still in disbelief, still saddened beyond words. I hope that wherever you are, Dave, that they have tennis, lots of good food samples and weird ass music! I miss you! (Michele , 7/15/2003) It has taken a little time to sink in ... David to me was one of those special people you meet in life only if you are really lucky. He had that special way about him and he had done so much in such a short time. If you wanted really good advice on something you asked david. I got to spend some time with him when I lived in San Francisco and I remember the fun we had hitting tennis balls on the roof of SFTC shooting the breeze & talking about life. david was always fun to be around generous with his time and more importatly his knowledge. David was the greatest and he will be saddly missed. I am sorry that I only got to spend such a small amount of time with him but I know he is there watching over us smiling and giving us his full support. Thanks David for the great memories, the fun times and the supportive emails. Take Care... Your Irish Buddy Mel.. (Mel Purcell, 7/17/2003) You continue to inspire us! I'm still finding it so hard to accept the loss of David... My family and I just returned from a long cycling trip around the Alps, and I thought of Hersh constantly. When I travel, I think of him... when I do yoga, I think of Dave... when I quaff an especially tasty meal, Dave is with me... I miss him terribly! But he is also still inspiring me to challenge myself, live fully and seize each day's opportunities. David's photo is on my desk right above this keyboard as I type, with a bit of the Mary Oliver poem that I shared at his memorial. "Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Thank you my dear friend for your life, your love, and your continuing inspiration to us all! (Paul Amstutz, 8/4/2003) Always near... David, my boy, you are always near. I talk to you: I even hear your answers and you are such a bulwark of love and strength. Miss you, nephew. xo (Uncle Arthur, 8/10/2003) Delirious in the Desert Watching you run around the Mojave desert out of your mind on a weird weekend with Hik & Randy & Alex and all the others. Miss you terribly. (Justin Lloyd, 8/25/2003) You touched us and her..... When you were in the hospital, ravaged and weak, you put your hand on Christina's pregnant stomach, closed your eyes and smiled. Little Emory, now seven weeks old, misses her Uncle Hersch. So do we. (Doug Tudor, 9/4/2003) Still a big hollow... ... know you're up there watching over all of us, and that you are laughing at the things that we can't yet figure out, and the stupid things we do to one another. Got you as a screen saver on Jane's computer which is set up in the middle of the house so that we see it all the time. Several images: one of you doing your flying yoga pose looking as if you will take off any second; and the other the picture I took of you at the piano when I came out to help you visit Stanford Hospital. What did those guys know? So... stay in touch as we discussed. Send me messages. I love you. (Uncle Arthur, 11/16/2003) Tears Just yesterday I learned of Dave's passing and feel shock and sadness, especially reading these posts. Dave and I met through Doug Tudor back in 93 in LA when they were roommates and I was visiting Doug. Dave was the first person I ever saw stand on his head and talk about yoga. I remember thinking it was cool but kind of weird too (I come from a conservative family). Dave also generously offered to help me with my new laptop and we had conversations about the potential of the internet, particularly as it applied to travel. It didn't surprise me that he was so successful. And, his sense of adventure was so infectious‐ after LA I went to Australia and New Zealand and Fiji and thought about Dave and the power of us all being connected but at the time I couldn't quite wrap my brain around some of the things he was getting at. They were profound and so so beautiful. I soon began to practice Yoga and even got certified to teach‐ now, standing on my head is one of my favorite things in the world!‐ that and playing tennis, which I had the pleasure to do with Dave several times. In fact, that last time I saw him was on the tennis court and he was amazing‐ though sick, he was energetic and lit up just talking about the game, that and eastern thought, which, thanks to him, I embrace in my daily life. The ease which you traversed different worlds and the warmth you excuded was remarkable and truly special. Dave, you were, like one of your friends wrote , a true renaissance, new age man and you and michelle and doug and brad are in my heart. Your soul is so beautiful and you will be missed. (Kelley Busby, 12/10/2003) A new year is upon us, but something is missing Here comes 2004 and I hope it will be a better year than 2003. It just does not feel the same without you! You come up in conversation all the time, Haley even brings you up here and there. As tough as it is, your memory is still very clear. We miss you, but we also know you are there. (Holbie, 12/30/2003) VV = what a ride! I worked for David as the sysadmin for vv and prizecentral. When I started we had one site running on a sad old server with Windows NT in a room of linux, positioned on a wobbly table at the back of an ISP. Sometimes the server would restart for no apparent reason, no one knew the SQL sa password, but the games were fun and the fan base grew. Over time we had three macdaddy servers and VV was getting a million hits a day. It was a great ride. I talked to David by phone and emailed him often .. I loved our conversations, he was funny, very supportive. And he was smart. Who knew you could make money if you registered a bunch of domain names like blackjack and slots. One of my jobs was to verify that a winner's email waws put into a prize drawing when they won a hand of blackjack. The only problem was I couldn't win a hand to save my life so I'd have to call up David to play for me. One night I was freaking out because a power supply was failing (redundancy!) and gobs of money had just been spent on advertising, and there was David on the phone, instead of firing me, instead of reminding how much money he was losing, said to me "You know Deb, there's this thing, Yoga, I think it could help.". I only met David in person once, when I flew up to S.F. to beg for another macdaddy and meet the vv coworkers over lunch, but he left a lasting impression. Years passed and I used to google David's name every now and then and see what he was up to. There's always the "Superdistribution, Really" and "Wanna Bets" that come up first. Then the Yoga, then the North Hollywood Alumni page that still lists David's email as hersch@virtualvegas.com. I wish that address still worked. David, IM me sometime .. I'd like to hear from you. (debee, 1/7/2004) our new son courtney and i just had a baby boy: wylie douglas. he was conceived we think the weekend of dave's memorial service...and was born tuesday night, january 6th‐‐dave's birthday. he will know of you dave. i'm sure he'll feel your influence. love, brad (brad douglas, 1/8/2004) wholegrain goodness Just had a wonderful, satisfying breakfast at McDonalds and it reminded me of the time Dave took me to an austere, minimalist new age restaurant that served boiled sea vegetables and nothing else and I was so unsatisfied afterwards that I had to go to Carl's Jr and get a guacamole burger. He always made fun of me about my eating habits. And then there was the time when I stayed at his house during his honeymoon and I left a bunch of liverwust and junk in the fridge, next to his organic whaddyacallits and kale and wholegrain goodness and I never heard the end of that from him and Michelle. Once when we were in fifth grade we went on a field trip to the beach and for some strange reason I decided to bring a dead fish back. Dave had the misfortune of sitting next to me and I apologized, promising him some candy if he just kept quiet and didn't publicly embarass me for choosing such a bizarre souvenir. Well, as I seem to remember I bought him a snickers and he was allergic to peanuts. Or hated snickers. I don't remember. Anyway, I ate the snickers. The point is (and I do have one), even when you totally differed with Dave on something (in this case cuisine and/or the inexplicable beauty of a dead fish) it still brought you together. I loved when he made fun of me, because he was the only person I know who could do that and make it feel like a kind of affection. Plus, you could make fun of him and he didn't mind either. I think that's because Dave was an avatar of the Hindu god of letting it all slide. He could even "let it all slide" uphill. At Dave's memorial I kind of screwed up one of the points I wanted to make, which was that as we grow older he will remain eternally young in our minds. We were born four hours apart, and a week ago I became older than him in integers for the first time. Many people say Dave was an "old soul." So I guess if you put it that way, none of us are really older than Dave. (Oliver Benjamin, 1/15/2004) Sorry for the downtime Sorry for the site being down.nI made the mistake of upgrading to a new server to make things easier, and of course that didn't happen. I seem to remember making this mistake several times at Virtual Vegas. Dave would laugh. Or maybe not. (Randall Isaac, 2/15/2004) Thinking of you Hersch: I find myself visiting you here often ‐ simply reading or re‐reading the messages from your friends and looking at the pictures of you. As the year has passed, I wish your wife and your family the best in coping. From beginning our friendhsip during our ATO pledge class on, you have always been an inspiration to me. John (John Byrnes, 3/23/2004) You live on...... Hersch‐ 365 days ago you were in a hospital bed, and you were losing your fight. Yet for those of us lucky enough to know you, you have been and will be in our hearts and minds forever. We love you and miss you. (Doug Tudor, 4/2/2004) Always thinking of you... ... the picture that adorns the home page here is prominently displayed in our kitchen, and we look at you smiling at us every day... and think about you... and miss you something fierce... we talk about you a lot; and today, a year after you said goodbye, is particularly painful... but your sense of humor is stuck way up in our memories, and as someone once said, 'it's nice to have someone tattooed on your heart.' As we discussed in the hospital, we are still expecting you to contact us; but, come to think of it, perhaps you are doing that every day. God bless you, guy... you have changed our lives so much for the better... love , art + jane... / (art + jane, 4/3/2004) hey cos Hey, cousin. The future's not what it used to be, but maybe technology's such that you can read this message ‐‐ I'm surrounded by things of yours, these bells, this string of beads, this batik, these drums, and I do get the feeling you've stuck around to watch me, and I feel a little safer because of it. I miss you a whole lot, and trust that you're somewhere good, without pain, and more enlightened than us folks down here. Smile down on us every once in a while, if you get the chance? Love love love, cousin Emily (Emily, 4/4/2004) Close to home Hersch, A few of us got together at Fort Mason on the anniversary of your passing and we had a great time with our families honoring your life. Of course there was a woman doing martial arts next to us. We shared stories, had some laughs, and we were thankful that you were with us in spirit. Melissa, Haley, Electra, and I miss and love you! The Holbie's (The Holbie's, 4/5/2004) Still here I still feel your presence, Dave! And it will always make my heart smile! (Michele Earl, 8/25/2004) Thinkin' 'boutcha all the time... Hi there Nephew... my world is a colder place without you... but your smile seems to help...and the memories, of course... xo/ (Uncle Arthur, 8/27/2004) your old stomping grounds Hey Dave, I'm here in Indonesia thinking about you. Just went to a batik market and saw some of those awful rainbow designs with the dancing characters you loved so much. I still remember what Tiyas, your batik supplier said about you when I took his course back in 1993. "Yes. David. Big man. Very strong." Well, it's no big thing when a Javanese calls you big and strong, but that assessment would prove to be more accurate than he might have imagined. There's a saying here in Java: ngampir ngombe, which means life is just a brief stop to drink a glass of tea. I hope you enjoyed yours, big strong old buddy. Selamat Jalan, Dave. (Olly, 8/30/2004) 40‐herschlove i haven't hit a ball since the tournament in your honor last year. i'm getting older and my back is always sore, but the main reason for my lapse in court time is that you're not around to sneak me up the back elevator of your club on random tuesday afternoons. i can't promise a better showing on the court for this year's tourney, but i assure you that i will eat as many cookies as possible... just like you would. i'll always be grateful for the times we had. (Nick, 9/1/2004) (no subject) I was going through some old business cards and found Hersch's...I remember Hersch very well and knew he was a special guy the instant I met him.. I will never forget when we were doing a business deal and my employee accidently sent an em to Hersch that was meant for me.. IT said, "I think he is desperate"... I was really embarrassed and when I spoke to Hersch said I got an em meant for you...and no I am not desperate but I would like to do some business. I always enjoyed speaking with him and just knew he had a special 'light' coming from him. I remember talking about it well before he got sick. I think of Hersch often. Mark (Mark, 10/11/2004) Catching Up Dave: I was thinking of you and your big smile. You always provide a source of inspiration. Happy holidays. (John Byrnes, 12/27/2004) Happy Birthday Hersch Happy Birthday Hersch. Just thinking about you. Coop (Cooper, 1/6/2005) random act of surfing... and I came to this site. Peace, Dave, wherever your current journey has taken you. (Kollin, 1/21/2005) Missing you today ...just in the mood to take a walk down to the Golden Gate Bridge with you today... I miss you, Miche (Michele, 1/23/2005) Herb Herb, That home page picture kills me every time I visit. I've seen that look a million times and it was always linked to a great story and some "enlightened" trip. You will always be missed on Paisley's ranch. Sorry I threw your wok off the balcony, but my clothes were smelling like hoisin. Doosky (Doosky, 1/25/2005) Inspiration David, you and I never met. I know about you from someone who deeply loves you. I have cancer, and your story of determination and strength has inspired me. I think of you often, and I send you my thanks and a blessing. (Susan Burns, 4/3/2005) Always in our thoughts David, It's been two years. We think of you every day. Love, Mom and Dad (Lee Herschman, 4/3/2005) Thinking about you... hey, David, this has been an empty two years w/o you... damn! I have your picture hanging in the kitchen and in my office... and I think about you all the time and so wish we could chat as we used to... much love... (Uncle Arthur + Aunt Jane, 4/4/2005) (no subject) hey David, forgot to tell you... Your folks and I set up a memorial site for you at the World Community Grid ( http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/ ) and people are beginning to join us in doing good... something that you always made time for... people donate their 'screen saver' time under 'David's Team' We want to keep you very much with us, and hope this helps. Love, Uncle Arthur (Uncle Arthur + Aunt Jane, 4/4/2005) Sorry for the outage Sorry Dave, your site has been down due to bad DSL timing. Dave this is shades of our first Virtual Vegas server, a single PC perched precariously against a wall in some colo in San Diego. It's the old days again. I can't believe it's been two years. (Randall, 4/12/2005) Remember when... Hey Hersch, Remember that time when you were in the hospital and I put chapstick on your lips? Your lips looked so dry and cracked ‐ I just had to help. It would have been comical if the nurse caught me doing that. I'm sure I would've been escorted out of the unit. I'll look for your guidance in my tennis match this weekend... Lord knows I need a boost of confidence ‐‐ I'll just pretend you are on the opposite side of the net!! LOL. Baird (Baird, 6/28/2005) The Hersch Continues Great to see everybody come out for a little tennis, food and cookies. Definitely a classic Hersch day to remember. Dave would be stoked. (Nick, 9/19/2005) 6‐Jan‐68 Happy Birthday David. We love you and miss you. (Mom and Dad, 1/6/2006) Sweetie Hunch You are my sweetie hunch, oh my sweetie hunch, you are my sweetie hunch. There has been so much love sense you were taken away and so many friends have "stepped up" to use your words, but there is no love like yours. You walked in our kitchen and filled up the room with the golden light that emanated from your skin and you would say "Hi Sweetie Hunch" and that was everything (Michelle Birch, 3/14/2006) ... is missing you plenty... So many things to do; need your touch and advice; taking yoga... see you every time... can't do the poses but laugh when I think of how easy it was for you... xo/// (Uncle Arthur, 3/18/2006) Hi there David, Nu? It's three long years. We are missing you lots. It's so nice how alive you are in our minds. love, j+a (Art + Jane, 4/3/2006) Still with me after 3 years.... Namaste Devendre! It's been 3 years since you left us, but you are still so present in all of our lives! You are still sitting on my desk, every day at work... You are right there on my cabinets, hovering over the kitchen counter, inspiring me every time I sizzle up a spicy Asian dish... (I get my spices from a crusty store in Merced now. It's just like walking into a shop in HongKong or Bangkok. They have an entire aisle devoted to just rice noodles, and perhaps 72 different brands of chili sauce... It's so cheap... You would have gone WILD in there with me!) You are in many of the stories that I tell to my 3 little girls... At bedtime they often ask me for a "little boy" story, which means any story from before they were born. Many of my favorites to share are from our adventures together in the Himalaya. They've heard your name so regularly, that anytime I mention someone else named Dave or David, they usually ask "you mean Dave Herschman??" You are still so alive to them from the stories, that I think they somehow believe they'll get to meet you someday... You are a shining star up in the crisp night sky above our home in Yosemite... When you left us David, I explained to my girls that part of you became a star, and that you are still up there watching over us. They know a few of the constellations... the big dipper, orion, etc. And we also have special stars for a few grandparents. Even on a brilliant zillion‐star night, they can always pick out"the Dave Herschman Star." Like I said Dave, you are a shining star in all of our lives... You are still alive in my daughter's eyes... I am so thankful for your presence in our lives! Love, Pablo (Paul Amstutz, 4/3/2006) Missing You Still I went to visit you on Saturday...I even did some stretches by the tree! It is hard to believe it has been 3 years. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you. I love you, Miche (Michele Earl, 4/5/2006) Hersch I sure do miss you Hersch. I think about you every day, and I hear your voice when I picture you. Love you big fella. (Lawrence Miller, 6/21/2006) You are still alive I'll never forget when I came back from Eurpoe during the NMP days and you saw my expense report. You were pissed, I was pissed at you for being pissed : ) Tonight there was a window and I felt you, I feel great knowing you talked to me. Hopefully I will listen. This world misses you Dave. (Rope, 9/26/2006) The morning of your Birthday Jan 6th, 2007 Today,I kneel down on the wet grass when I notice your presence ... once again. Flowers that carry evocative smiles, dogs laughing simply because they are alive...and then a small red bird quietly sitting next to me ‐strangely making me want to eat thai food. It had to be you... Thanks for never leaving. My husband even misses you ‐‐and he never met you... I love you forever, Michele PS Dont be mad but I am giving your parents a copy of our India tape :) (Michele Earl Waldman :), 1/9/2007) Bellly happy Davindre, I hope your belly is full and happy! Try a little, try a lot...try it with your finger! Learn Hindi! Baba! (Ouma, 1/9/2007) Shining Dave ‐ your face and your energy are so clear in my mind; it's as if I'm looking at you, radiating zest, joy and life, my friend... ‐S (Shawn, 1/9/2007) Sum Poon Hey Hersch..."Want Sum Poon?" Everybody mentions your love for Thai food. Now that I thing about it, it all started at Sum Poon in Studio City. You loved that Thai Stick and those Thai egg rolls. Happy Belated Birthday Hersch. Miss you. Coop (brent, 1/10/2007) Sad to find out you are gone, you were great!! I am saddened to find out that david has left us. He was not only good to me, but good to everyone he came in contact with. Blessings david, I already miss you bo (Bo Kallish‐Hill, 1/12/2007) We think of you every day with lots of love (Mom and Dad, 4/3/2007) Where is my favorite bunny? Hi dear Davey, My mom and I took Kaya and Jaiden to visit your bench in Golden Gate park. We brought all our stuffed animal bunnies, even some that you and I played with when we were 3 years old. We lined them up sitting on the whole length of the bench and the bunnies were very happy to feel close to you. Ah Dave, miss you so much. Love Kari (Kari, 4/3/2007) Like yesterday... ... we were chatting and laughing and playing... and, in many ways ‐‐ still are. xo/// (art + jane, 4/3/2007) Radiant Dave ‐ we're thinking happy thoughts of you, buddy ‐ this day and every day... Love, Shawn (Shawn, 4/3/2007) I can't believe it's been 4 years I wish my boys could hang out with their Uncle Dave. (Jill, 4/3/2007) Frisbee Love My fondest memory of Dave (and there are many) will always be playing frisbee together. We played for many hours over the years and it was always a wonderful thing to do. I think of him every time I pick up a frisbee...what a special person he was and how much he meant to so many. I know he is throwing a perfect toss somewhere, somehow as I type this. Love you brother. (Nick Earl, 4/3/2007) Try and little, try a lot, try it with your finger! Baba says you should learn Hindi! (Baba Om Karananda, 4/3/2007) Missing you! Hi Bunny, I had thai food for breakfast today, in your honor. I'll bring the left‐overs to you later today when I come see your bench! I miss you terribly still. I love you, Miche (Michele Earl Waldman, 4/3/2007) The Mighty Hersch Beautiful here in San Francisco today... opening day at Pac Bell park... and great memories of you, Tudor, Neason, Conman and I wearing our Dodger blue and cheering our boys to victory. Good times, my friend, good times! (Nick, 4/3/2007) My Love You will never truly leave us, Dave! Love, Moish (Maureen Earl, 4/5/2007) |
