Dave Covey
How does one man touch the lives of so many and so many different types of people?! We just lost the guy 2 weeks ago and there's probably many more of his former students who (even in this high-tech world) didn't get the word. For a teacher there is nothing better than to have a student remember them....... let alone say that you were the reason they became an educator.
Time moves slowly (when you don't want it to) and literally disappears when you intend to do something meaningful like visit with Mike these last few years. Suzanne meant so much to him and together they faced his hard health issues as loving life partners do.
Mike & I bounced into each other's lives - always with a smile even though he'd try to hide it and turn the tables. Getting Pierce County Park's Dept. to open Sprinker's indoor tennis courts at 5AM once a week was a huge accomplishment for 2 young teachers to pull off and might have been a hint what laid ahead. One tennis game he said he didn’t feel quite right and he laid down next to the net. Thinking it was another trick, all of us hit balls at his direction. Imagine how we felt when he made it to the hospital and the Doctor said his appendix had burst.
He must have run the first 20 Sound to Narrows Races, did everything any one man could do for Lions from Dist. Governor to organizing new clubs from scratch in Eastern WA. He forced the Lakewood First Lions to make me a member (against their will) and played Santa Clause for my business clients in Seattle - Bellevue - Tacoma. We ran the 1980 Tacoma Marathon in 80 degree heat and during the run, never being one to shy away from multi-tasking, he was trying recruit another runner to join Lions.
When he recognized you ........he had a way of shaking his head, and slowly repeating your name (David, David David) as if he was buying time to go to a giant card file in the sky with real embarrassing stuff on YOU! There were so many sides to him from teaching grade school, to heading up the Lakewood Racquet Club (despite a lousy backhand)……….to saving money when Lakewood put in sewers 20+ years ago by hand digging his own (very deep) drain ditches in glacial till. Why would we not be surprised if Suzanne told us that the savings allowed them to support a needy Lions cause?
Think you got the same picture of Mike that I had? He wasn't just the leader of the band……..if he had to…….. he would be the BAND!
I say good night, my friend! Know there's a bunch of us that will miss you & your smile........ but we also can relax knowing that we won’t have to worry about one of your surprise appearances busting into an important meeting to get even with us! Again!!
I LOVE YA, Man!
Dave Covey
