speaker dave has passed away. May his soul rest in peace.
Below is his message from his wife.
Dear WonderfulAudio and all --This is David's wife Melinda with sad news that David died mid January. He enjoyed the diyAudio forums immensely. In his last days, he asked that I reach out to you all with thanks. Hoping it's appropriate, I included the story below about the guy I love. Best to all --Melinda Rayburn Smith
David L. Smith
March 23, 1955 – January 18, 2024
My beloved David has died. He struggled increasingly with lymphoma and associated
lung complications. He leaves behind a sad but grateful wife, partner, and fellow
adventurer and two crazy spaniels, cherished family, friends and colleagues. We miss
him greatly but take comfort that he is no longer struggling.
David was an engineer. He loved measurements.
We met 50 years ago. The moment I laid eyes on David, he didn’t have a
chance.
We moved 11 times in 44 years of marriage. This included 3 countries, 3
apartments, the first one over a garage, 8 houses and one beach house.
As an engineer, David worked for numerous companies, including JBL in
California, KEF in the UK, Snell and Bose in Massachusetts, McIntosh in New York
and PSB in Canada.
We’ve had five spaniels, two American and three English.
Lucky me, he had one wife.
Work travel took him to China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, EU, UK, Canada and
throughout the US. When I asked David what he enjoyed most about work, his reply
was, “Being surrounded by people who kept me on my toes.”
I have always considered David the consummate Renaissance man. His interests and
talents ranged from drawing to piano playing, photography to political junkie, kayaking,
rowing, bird watching, biking, hiking, ping pong…
And, of course, collecting. David collected cameras, watches, radios, amplifiers, pre
amps, speakers, LPs, magazines, books… He loved to find quality old stuff and repair
it, use and then place it lovingly on a shelf. A day before he died, David mentioned that
he wanted to start collecting old light fixtures. I am not certain if he was kidding.
Probably not.
David was hospitalized for the last two months of his life. We are incredibly grateful to
the staff ranging from the meal order taker (lots of milk), to the highly professional
oncologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, hematologist and hospitalists. Top on our list
is the nurses and therapists who treated his failing body and both of our souls. Thank
you all.
We were asked many times during David’s last months, “What was our secret to our
long and happy marriage?” At first, we just shrugged, but soon realized we did have a
good answer. “Laugh together often and genuinely.”
David, I promise to continue to do so.
With love and gratitude, Melinda
Below is his message from his wife.
Dear WonderfulAudio and all --This is David's wife Melinda with sad news that David died mid January. He enjoyed the diyAudio forums immensely. In his last days, he asked that I reach out to you all with thanks. Hoping it's appropriate, I included the story below about the guy I love. Best to all --Melinda Rayburn Smith
David L. Smith
March 23, 1955 – January 18, 2024
My beloved David has died. He struggled increasingly with lymphoma and associated
lung complications. He leaves behind a sad but grateful wife, partner, and fellow
adventurer and two crazy spaniels, cherished family, friends and colleagues. We miss
him greatly but take comfort that he is no longer struggling.
David was an engineer. He loved measurements.
We met 50 years ago. The moment I laid eyes on David, he didn’t have a
chance.
We moved 11 times in 44 years of marriage. This included 3 countries, 3
apartments, the first one over a garage, 8 houses and one beach house.
As an engineer, David worked for numerous companies, including JBL in
California, KEF in the UK, Snell and Bose in Massachusetts, McIntosh in New York
and PSB in Canada.
We’ve had five spaniels, two American and three English.
Lucky me, he had one wife.
Work travel took him to China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, EU, UK, Canada and
throughout the US. When I asked David what he enjoyed most about work, his reply
was, “Being surrounded by people who kept me on my toes.”
I have always considered David the consummate Renaissance man. His interests and
talents ranged from drawing to piano playing, photography to political junkie, kayaking,
rowing, bird watching, biking, hiking, ping pong…
And, of course, collecting. David collected cameras, watches, radios, amplifiers, pre
amps, speakers, LPs, magazines, books… He loved to find quality old stuff and repair
it, use and then place it lovingly on a shelf. A day before he died, David mentioned that
he wanted to start collecting old light fixtures. I am not certain if he was kidding.
Probably not.
David was hospitalized for the last two months of his life. We are incredibly grateful to
the staff ranging from the meal order taker (lots of milk), to the highly professional
oncologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, hematologist and hospitalists. Top on our list
is the nurses and therapists who treated his failing body and both of our souls. Thank
you all.
We were asked many times during David’s last months, “What was our secret to our
long and happy marriage?” At first, we just shrugged, but soon realized we did have a
good answer. “Laugh together often and genuinely.”
David, I promise to continue to do so.
With love and gratitude, Melinda