Hudson - Litchfield News July 1, 2011 - 5


David Alan Weaver- continued from front page


“As we got closer, Jay told me that Dave was feeling better and was going to lead the camp by himself. My son was one of the catchers at the camp and once again Dave did a tremendous job. My son still talks about some of the tips Dave gave in each of the past two sessions he attended. Dave had the ability to connect with players and teach in a manner that players remembered. That camp in April was my lasting memory of Dave not only because my son enjoyed it so much, but because I felt like Dave was healthy once again, doing what he loved,” said Power. The future looked bright and Weaver was looking forward to a baseball season that he wouldn’t live to see. Emanuelson agreed that


Weaver’s involvement with children was exceptional and said, “We were fortunate to have Dave work with both Patrick and Greg [Emanuelson] over the past couple years.” Looking back over time, Emanuelson continued, “I saw Dave at Lion’s Field a couple years ago and he was looking at the sign on the concession stand. He said that it was worn out and needed replacement. This was just before the league was hosting the 12U District tournament. Sure enough—within about a week, a brand-new sign was there and Don Berry was putting it up just in time for us to host the tournament.” It’s memories like these that make those who knew him realize that Hudson did, indeed, lose a community treasure.


Debbie McKinley, current


chairman of the Hudson Youth Baseball Sponsorship Committee, recalled that Weaver was always “responsive, courteous, and generous.” Generous is how many people saw his spirit of willingness to help. “Dominic went to school with


Kevin; they were on the same baseball team the first few years we were in town,” said Steve Hellwig. “The second year we lived here, Dave coached Dom’s team to the AAA championship. In the years since I would run into Dave around town (usually a baseball field) and he would say hello and ask about the family, what I remember most is his smile, which always appeared when he talked about baseball or his family.” “Another thing that stood out


was his ability to interact with kids of all ages. He readily admitted that his son, Jason, related better to the high school- age kids, but Dave could always find some bridge to get his point across or skill taught and then he would work with the player to master the skill,” smiled Emanuelson. “What I also find uncanny is that the skills that both he and Jay teach can be translated to all ages.” Dave’s involvement with youth went far beyond baseball. He was a supporter of Boy Scouts, as he worked at a Scout camp as a youth and his family was always at the top of his priority list. “As an outsider, I viewed Dave as an amazing family man. He was like no other. Dave was a tremendous father and husband. His undying and never-ending devotion to his family through the love and support he provided are unmatched. I am and always will be proud to say that I knew Dave Weaver,” smiled Bowen. Despite the optimism that


filled Weaver in late spring, complications arose and once again Weaver fought against the cancer that was ravaging his body. Right after his death, his son, Jason, posted, “I know a lot of you have been waiting for an update. I am so unbelievably saddened to have to let all of you know that around 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 17th 2011 my father passed away from colon cancer. He was our rock, our hero, and my personal Superman. “It took one of the rarest forms of cancer known to man to bring him down and he fought incredibly hard till the very end. None of you will be surprised to know that all the way up until his passing, he was cracking jokes at everyone in the room, putting smiles on all of our faces like he has done so many times for so many people around the world. “To our students and any of the families who my father has had an impact on … my father viewed you all as part of our family. You were all sons and daughters, brothers and sisters to him and his unwavering faith gave him peace and fearlessness until God decided that the catchers in Heaven flat out sucked and they needed some


help from the absolute best.” Besides his wife Patricia and parents Paul and Helen, David is survived by his three sons: Jason of Hudson, Joshua of Manchester, and Kevin of Hudson; his daughter Emily of Hudson; his daughter-in-law Andrea Johnson-Weaver of Manchester; his brother Bruce and his wife Carol of Milford, DE; his sister Paula Levens of Media, PA; and his beloved dog Maggie. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.


“Hudson will truly miss Dave’s spirit of community. His willingness to spend time with today’s young players and coaches was only a small piece of his terrific qualities. The baseball and softball communities were very fortunate to share a passion with Dave. He was knowledgeable, caring, enthusiastic, and had a strong sense of community,” concluded Power. Bowen echoed that sentiment when he said,


“Dave’s passing is not only a tremendous loss to his family and friends, but to our community and


quite honestly to catchers throughout the country as well. It is a rare occasion that one would have the opportunity to meet a person (let alone know a person) like Dave Weaver. He has touched my life and a great many of other lives in a powerful and meaningful way through his faith and commitment to excellence. His strength, desire, motivation, and conviction to be the best he could be at everything he ventured to do was and always will be an inspiration to all that knew him.”


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