I'd met David Haspel at Highland Junior High when it had just opened in the fall of 1957. In terms of personality & interest he was singular in many respects.
I also remember that he was the first person in my age cohort to express an interest in, and a knowledge of, national politics. For reasons about memory which I may never understand, to this day I remember that he was a supporter of Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson as the Democratic nominee in the 1960 presidential election. I wonder how dramatically the course of history might have changed had Scoop Jackson been chosen to run instead of JFK.
David was a Groveland Park Elementary School kid that many of us got to know at a very early age. I didn't know he'd passed away until I read his brother Mike's recent obituary. To say David was a unique individual would be an understatement. I got to know his family quite well; older brothers Charles and Michael.
One of my fondest memories of David (I never, ever heard him called Dave, only David) was after I'd returned from my Army service in Vietnam in late 1969. I bumped into his brother, Mike, whom to be honest, I didn't recognize until he introduced himself. I asked about David. He said David's college military deferment had run out and David had decided to leave the country and wait out the Vietnam war in Europe and Israel. He'd flown to England, purchased a classic Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle, ferried it across the English channel and had ridden it to Gibralter, where he ultimately was able to travel with the motorcycle to Israel, where he was currently traveling around the country. I asked Mike how David was supporting himself during this period. Mike shrugged, laughed, and said, "You know my brother. He's finding a way."
As I thought about David's adventure, I must admit to having been a bit envious. I hoped that at a future time I'd hear first hand about his adventure, but that opportunity never came. Perhaps my memory is slipping, but I don't recall ever seeing David again. May all of us who knew him remember this very bright, personable man.
I am saddened to read about David's passing. He expanded my eduation beyond the classroom. He often discussed 20th century history and and brought current events to my attention. He gave me to read 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich' by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Who would have thought how relevant this would be today? ( i thought of David recently with all that is going on in the world.) David certainly recognized that we must learn about and remember the past as we try to move forward. Thank you, David.
Roger Forsberg
I'd met David Haspel at Highland Junior High when it had just opened in the fall of 1957. In terms of personality & interest he was singular in many respects.
I also remember that he was the first person in my age cohort to express an interest in, and a knowledge of, national politics. For reasons about memory which I may never understand, to this day I remember that he was a supporter of Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson as the Democratic nominee in the 1960 presidential election. I wonder how dramatically the course of history might have changed had Scoop Jackson been chosen to run instead of JFK.
Stephen Rosenthal
David was a Groveland Park Elementary School kid that many of us got to know at a very early age. I didn't know he'd passed away until I read his brother Mike's recent obituary. To say David was a unique individual would be an understatement. I got to know his family quite well; older brothers Charles and Michael.
One of my fondest memories of David (I never, ever heard him called Dave, only David) was after I'd returned from my Army service in Vietnam in late 1969. I bumped into his brother, Mike, whom to be honest, I didn't recognize until he introduced himself. I asked about David. He said David's college military deferment had run out and David had decided to leave the country and wait out the Vietnam war in Europe and Israel. He'd flown to England, purchased a classic Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle, ferried it across the English channel and had ridden it to Gibralter, where he ultimately was able to travel with the motorcycle to Israel, where he was currently traveling around the country. I asked Mike how David was supporting himself during this period. Mike shrugged, laughed, and said, "You know my brother. He's finding a way."
As I thought about David's adventure, I must admit to having been a bit envious. I hoped that at a future time I'd hear first hand about his adventure, but that opportunity never came. Perhaps my memory is slipping, but I don't recall ever seeing David again. May all of us who knew him remember this very bright, personable man.
Marion Thurnauer
I am saddened to read about David's passing. He expanded my eduation beyond the classroom. He often discussed 20th century history and and brought current events to my attention. He gave me to read 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich' by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Who would have thought how relevant this would be today? ( i thought of David recently with all that is going on in the world.) David certainly recognized that we must learn about and remember the past as we try to move forward. Thank you, David.