Dave Westfall
Every evening when Miriam and I enjoy a
glass of wine together, we raise a toast to someone who has left us smiling
that day, or has inspired us, or has achieved success in fields of endeavour
important to us, or has improved our community, or in one way or another has
made a difference to our day.
It
occurred to me a few evenings ago that we toast Dave Westfall more often than
anyone else.
Let me
tell you about Dave.
Dave
has dealt with cerebral palsy all his life. As he remarked to me just
yesterday, “You deal with what you are given” – and so he has. I only got to
know Dave last year, and it is my loss for not having known him earlier – for
few finer men exist. I can truthfully say that I have never encountered Dave in
a down moment; he is always supremely cheerful and full of vigour.
Dave
has led a productive life, until fairly recently working full time in the
family insurance business in Kitchener. Along the way he has directed a youth
camp, travelled in the Far East, designed the beautiful house (and extensive
gardens) at SpruceHaven which he shares with sister Sandy, and her husband
Jamie, and has contributed in countless ways to the betterment of all who know
him, and has been generous philanthropically.
He considers himself privileged to have
served as President of the Insurance Brokers of Waterloo Region and as
Congregational Chairman for Kitchener’s Historic St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He
is a recipient of the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA’s Meritorious Service Award and
Canada’s Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Where
Dave and I most closely align is as advocates for the environment. He is
committed to the preservation and restoration of habitat for wild creatures –
fellow travellers on this precious planet that serves as home for all of us. It
has been my good fortune that Dave values my lifelong interest in and knowledge
of birds and their world, and has entrusted to me the enhancement of their
habitat and the initiation of scientific surveys such as bird banding, which
even in this day of technological wizardry still contributes volumes of
important data to biologists trying to reverse the catastrophic declines in
avian populations. The best is yet to come!
As Dave
gets older his mobility and flexibility decline somewhat, as it does indeed for
all of us, but his sheer enjoyment when I tell him about species I have
discovered on his property, is no less ebullient and sincere than if he could
get out and observe them for himself. I cherish my licence to wander
SpruceHaven at will, but I cherish no less the pure joy in seeing Dave’s
enthusiastic reaction to the news I have for him about recent sightings, or
suggestions that I have for new projects. I am not so sure that giving good
news to Dave is not the best thing of all.
In
life, if you are lucky, you meet people who make a difference, people who leave
their mark on you, people who attach themselves to your psyche, people who
tattoo their imprint on your brain. For me, Dave Westfall is such a person. I can
state unabashedly that I am filled with admiration and respect (dare I say
love?) for this truly decent human being, a person who in the nine months or so
that I have known him, has contributed so much to me.
I
salute you Dave. Thanks for the privilege