David LeVeque, 1961-2020

It’s  hard knowing that someone I’ve known since the mid-70’s, and who is a year younger than me, has passed away. Dave and I used to run track together and that’s where I first met him.

We ran for the Del Norte Track Club, run by Dee Sullivan, out of Crescent City as well as our high school track team. We were both sprinters and long jumpers.

In 1979, David set the school record in the 100 meter dash, eclipsing my record in the 100 yard dash from the year previous. They changed from ‘yards’ to ‘meters’ that year, making the race about nine and a third yards longer than it had been.

As I was perusing through Facebook, I learned he had passed away following a heart attack while working out. I sat there re-reading the post made by his brother Daniel, and I started crying.

After taking a couple of days to process his death in my heart and in my mind, I reached out to Dan and asked if I might help him by writing David’s obituary.  He granted me the honor…

David Anthony LeVeque was born on July 15, 1961 in Ridgecrest, California, passing away in Dubai, UAE on June 18, 2020, where he was working and living.  A gifted athlete, David played football, basketball and ran track-and-field all four-years, before graduating from Del Norte High School in 1979.

Following school, David went on to establish himself in the entrepreneurial field, where he earned the nickname, ‘Master of the Deal,’ by those he brought together in business.  He also owned and operated ‘Prince Engineering’ and ‘Prince Transport,’ before selling both and embarking on his life-long dream of world travel.

David is survived by his mom, Lucy Gonsalves; wife, Darla; and children, Christy, Debbie, Katie, Ryan and Stephen.  He also leaves behind sisters, Loretta (Paul) and Lisa (David;) brothers, Eddie (Martina,) Charles (Jennifer,) Jason, James and Daniel (Cynthia,) and 13 grandchildren.

The Go-Fund-Me page, “David Anthony LeVeque Memorial Scholarship Fund,” has been established for deserving students attending Del Norte High School.

David had a natural capacity for leadership and he demonstrated this ability, both on the playing field and off. I am so happy to have called him friend and I will continue to do so until my final breath.