December 1, 1950 - November 9, 2020
For birthdays, funerals, weddings, whether distant or at home,
Dave would put pen to paper and he would write a poem.
Although we can never match his humour and his wit,
To truly honour Dave, a poem WE have writ.
David William Kenefick, Nanaimo born and bred,
For everyone who knew him, there's much that can be said.
With his ready sense of humour and his super active wit,
Whatever the situation, he always was a hit.
At seven, Dave was the yacht club's youngest member,
Through his teens, as a playboy, he was a strong contender.
In school, Ms. Argyle said, "his behaviour was distracting",
Which may have set him off, on a lifelong career of acting.
At age sixteen, to Arlene and Greg in Puerto Rico, he did go,
And learned many a tricky thing, including good old Espanyol,
Then back to Nanaimo High School, graduating there at last.
Though wishing for a freer life, he needed work, and fast.
He was Alberta's best longshoreman, and sure could net a fish,
As Sheriff of Extension, he could really roll a spliff.
He always wanted to be a doc, but "just didn't have the PATIENCE!".
So a stint with "Davey's Locker" and then off to visit many nations.
If you hadn't met him earlier, when in a bar he bounded,
Before you left, a friend for life you surely would have founded.
England, Asia and South of the border - good friends in all these places.
In Vietnam - with the Chung/Bui family - he loved their happy faces.
With washboard at his fingertips, any band he oft joined in,
Making the party livelier, now surely that's not a sin.
His jiving was unpredictable but, to him who could say "no"?
No matter how shy you were, Dave was always good to go.
Dave was a talented handyman, he would tackle any task,
And if you ever needed help, all you had to do was ask.
If you wanted to just sit with him and have a little chat,
For problems his solution was "I've got pills for that!"
Great memories were made on his beloved Huron II,
When he opened Saltchuckle Charters his business really flew
....For a short while. And then, getting restless he took up house appraising;
His ability to find another new job was always quite amazing.
He sold lottery tickets for a time, he called it 'selling dreams',
Tackled carpentry during Mardi Gras with Art in New Orleans.
Odd jobs in Nanaimo always gave him cash to pay,
For special times, like celebrating his favourite St. Patrick's Day!
He lived at Stone's happily, on the dock and in the park,
He loved to cruise the waters in the light and in the dark.
Being on the water was his soul's delight, and he would often say,
"My favourite place in the whole wide world is on Kanaka Bay."
Dave had a love for animals: sea life, dogs and cats,
There was one kind he didn't like - he really hated rats!
First pets Amiga and Mr. Stubbs; he cared for them with pride,
For the past ten years, his belov'd cat, Kanaka, sat proudly by his side.
On Mudge and other places, he was known as Uncle Dave,
To Meggan, Mike and Nancy, his advice he often gave.
To Dave life was truly great, and family paramount,
Good friends were family too - too many to even count.
Thus, ends this Ode to Dave; we think how he'd like to be remembered,
Is for his laugh, his smile, his love of life, and heart that was so tender.
For his courage and his optimism, his power to accept a blow and take it,
And for his philosophy that was: "Life: it's what you make it!"
Due to COVID restrictions, a Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring or Summer when safe to do so...perhaps a boat regatta on Kanaka Bay. Dave has started a memorial fund at the North Island Wildlife Recover Centre (nirwa.org), he would be honoured if his many friends helped it grow (donations can be made in his memory).