Just noticed no one wrote a tribute to David, so I will. I met him on the wrestling team freshman year, we became friends and I often went to his house where we shot pool. His mom actually made and served artichokes of all things, Davis loved them and I was 1st introduced to them. His beloved Bulldog Tyrone would sleep, snore, and pass gas while we shot pool.
1 day Mrs. Spira called my mom. Turned out they were old friends from the Milwaukee School Admin ops during the 30’s. (along with Ed Weber’s mom). Mrs. Spira said she was delighted that David had such a well behaved and polite friend. My mom said that would be some other Dean. The Dean she knew dragged his knuckles on the ground and acted like...well, Tyrone.
Anyway we went our own ways and reconnected at the 50th reunion. We planned a fishing trip together that year. Davis stopped responding to my emails. Then I saw the notice. I tracked down his Mom, still alive in her 90’s in San Diego. I sent her pics from the reunion and anecdotes about David. She was very grateful and I still hear occasionally from David’s sister.
David was Airborne in Vietnam. He was exposed to Agent Orange. He died of a rare, very aggressive form of esophageal cancer sometimes associated with that chemical. Tragic. He was a great guy, good friend, and the real deal .
1 more thing...his nickname was Spirogyra. From Biology class.
I talked to Dave Spira at the 50th reunion more than I ever talked to him in 4 years of high school! What a nice guy!! Personable, inquisitive, great chatter. I loved reading what Dean Miller had to say, and would love to hear more from people who knew him over the years. Would not have pictured him airborne in 'Nam. Impressive. It's really nice when classmates share their memories of others as teenagers. Thanks for sharing, everyone.
Happy Holidays everyone.I too had a nice chant with Dave Spira at the 50th. I happened to bring up
his Spiragyra nickname. He reactedas if he could not even remember it.
I probably would not have even known his first name was Dave but I will always remember one of the all time great nicknames. Biology was one of hose few classes where I can still picture myself gazing out the wall to wall windows wishing I were out on the athletic fields rather than paying attention to class. I want to thank Dean Miller for his comments and wonder why, with all the extra practice, He was not a better pool player? -Bill Nigl
Hey Bill, I am so glad you are stiil alive and well, so many have left us. Merry Christmas and please stay healthy!
Now as to my pool playing. It is true I didn't learn from playing pool at Dave's house. I only learned to imitate Tryone Bulldog. In fact I was so bad at pool that I could only beat you. I was a bit more interested in Biology class and was fascinated learned that terms used to describe human reproduction had more than 4 letters and were not intended to trigger laughter and gross pantomimes.
I have told Dave's sister the Spirogyra nickname and she has spread it to all her family as history. The Spira name ended, I believe with Dave. His mom divorced Dave's biological father and changed her name when Dave was quite young. Dave refused to give up his birth name. I learned that from my own mom. Dave did not talk about it; it was to him very painful.
Dean Miller
12/22/2020
Just noticed no one wrote a tribute to David, so I will. I met him on the wrestling team freshman year, we became friends and I often went to his house where we shot pool. His mom actually made and served artichokes of all things, Davis loved them and I was 1st introduced to them. His beloved Bulldog Tyrone would sleep, snore, and pass gas while we shot pool.
1 day Mrs. Spira called my mom. Turned out they were old friends from the Milwaukee School Admin ops during the 30’s. (along with Ed Weber’s mom). Mrs. Spira said she was delighted that David had such a well behaved and polite friend. My mom said that would be some other Dean. The Dean she knew dragged his knuckles on the ground and acted like...well, Tyrone.
Anyway we went our own ways and reconnected at the 50th reunion. We planned a fishing trip together that year. Davis stopped responding to my emails. Then I saw the notice. I tracked down his Mom, still alive in her 90’s in San Diego. I sent her pics from the reunion and anecdotes about David. She was very grateful and I still hear occasionally from David’s sister.
David was Airborne in Vietnam. He was exposed to Agent Orange. He died of a rare, very aggressive form of esophageal cancer sometimes associated with that chemical. Tragic. He was a great guy, good friend, and the real deal .
1 more thing...his nickname was Spirogyra. From Biology class.
Pam Dunlop (Becker)
I talked to Dave Spira at the 50th reunion more than I ever talked to him in 4 years of high school! What a nice guy!! Personable, inquisitive, great chatter. I loved reading what Dean Miller had to say, and would love to hear more from people who knew him over the years. Would not have pictured him airborne in 'Nam. Impressive. It's really nice when classmates share their memories of others as teenagers. Thanks for sharing, everyone.
William Nigl
Happy Holidays everyone.I too had a nice chant with Dave Spira at the 50th. I happened to bring up
his Spiragyra nickname. He reactedas if he could not even remember it.
I probably would not have even known his first name was Dave but I will always remember one of the all time great nicknames. Biology was one of hose few classes where I can still picture myself gazing out the wall to wall windows wishing I were out on the athletic fields rather than paying attention to class. I want to thank Dean Miller for his comments and wonder why, with all the extra practice, He was not a better pool player? -Bill Nigl
Dean Miller
Hey Bill, I am so glad you are stiil alive and well, so many have left us. Merry Christmas and please stay healthy!
Now as to my pool playing. It is true I didn't learn from playing pool at Dave's house. I only learned to imitate Tryone Bulldog. In fact I was so bad at pool that I could only beat you. I was a bit more interested in Biology class and was fascinated learned that terms used to describe human reproduction had more than 4 letters and were not intended to trigger laughter and gross pantomimes.
I have told Dave's sister the Spirogyra nickname and she has spread it to all her family as history. The Spira name ended, I believe with Dave. His mom divorced Dave's biological father and changed her name when Dave was quite young. Dave refused to give up his birth name. I learned that from my own mom. Dave did not talk about it; it was to him very painful.