I am Gringo Dave's cousin here in Pembroke Ontario. I was with Dave the day before he passed and he couldn't speak but I'm sure he could hear. I spent 2 hours or so talking to him about his adventures and how he loved Mexico and his Mexican family. I can't say for sure but I think I saw a twinkle in his eye and a small forced smile on his face when I mentioned Rodeo Days and the tequila punch. As many of you know Dave suffered a winter here before his cancer made a debut in his lungs. It was Covid time and he couldn't travel at all due to restrictions. All he could talk about, while wearing long John's, 2 sweaters, a winter jacket and touque was how he missed his friends in sunny Mexico. The following summer he was diagnosed with lung cancer and all he talked about then was getting better enough to travel to Mexico in November, which he did and I contribute his healing to all of you there as he was desperate to get to Mexico after missing the year before. Once again when diagnosed with brain cancer all he could talk about was you guys. Again he survived an operation most don't which once again I attribute to you. The poor man had trouble after his operation and it was then I knew he wouldn't make it back but I kept filling him with hope talking about getting better to travel once again. One of the last coherent sentences he said to me was "this better not screw up my trip to Mexico" I just want you all to know that even till the end Dave's smile and demeanor made the people who looked after him in the "home" fall in love with him in the short 5 months he was there. I am happy for Dave to have passed on to a better place as his free spirit will once again have a place to Rome. His sisters Pam and Gayle,and my brother Baldy, whom you may have met, and of course me and his many cousins will miss him dearly. I actually looked forward to see him coming around the corner to my back yard at the end of April. He didn't suffer and was well looked after at the end. I'm truly sorry for your loss of a true Canadian friend to you all. Cheers
PAUL GODIN.