My name is John Thomas. My wife, Joey, and our three children Ashley, Sean and Shayna once lived in the house at the bottom of the hill below the helicopter pad in Boulder Creek. Dave was our friend and neighbor.

Our family lived in the house 1027 Doeg road for almost 3 years and when we first moved in there was nothing on the top of the hill except open space. The place on the hilltop quickly became a very special place for our family to walk and to play or to just be silent with nature. We loved the beautiful vista over the Santa Cruz mountains looking out toward the sea. We were aware that the property was for sale but it was not a practical consideration for us at the time. I, personally, have spent many hours there over the years pondering the universe and my small place in it.

I still remember the day when we heard the bulldozer and the truck up on the hill. We were deeply disappointed thinking that our sacred space was gone forever. Then, one day shortly thereafter, during a hike along the trail, I met Dave clearing brush around the edge of the hilltop. We seemed to hit it off pretty well and ended up speaking for over an hour about all kinds of subjects including engineering, flying, business, and farming (Dave was proud of his prize tomatoes). Dave, in his warm and friendly manner, encouraged me and my family to continue to enjoy the hilltop and further extended an invitation to take me and my family for a helicopter ride sometime. I distinctly remember being stricken by his kindness upon just having met. By the end of our conversation, I realized that not only did we still have the opportunity to enjoy the splendor of the hilltop, we had gained a new friend.

Over the next year or so we enjoyed the company and friendship of both Dave and Corey and experienced the exhilaration of helicopter rides around the Santa Cruz mountains. Speaking for myself, the experience of looking down from above on the beautiful redwood forest and floating with the clouds around the Santa Cruz mountains was a virtual spiritual experience. I have Dave to thank for that experience which I will always cherish. It introduced me to a new dimension of the environment I lived in and gave me an entirely new perception of my life below.

One of the things I admired about Dave is how passionate and incredibly diligent he was as a pilot. I always felt safe with him and I trusted him with my children in the helicopter. From our living room window we had a good view out over the valley and we could usually see and hear him coming or going from a distance. Many times when he landed, I felt like a young child myself and I would run outside with my children to wave at him as he passed overhead.

At our going away party before moving to southern California in preparation for move to Europe, Dave and Corey went all out. We had campers on the hilltop and Dave prepared a feast of a cookout. Dave also brought out his telescope and set it up on the hill for all to enjoy. We had a full weekend of celebration and fun with old friends and new. At the end of it all, after everyone had left, Dave took all the kids and Joey for a helicopter rides. It was an experience that I am sure they will always remember at the close in the chapter of our life in Boulder Creek.

When I spoke with Dave last, he told me about how he had been laid off of his job a while back. He was very up-beat though and enthusiastically described how he had taken the plunge and decided to make his hobby his source of income. I remember talking with him about how lucky he was to combine his love of flying with a means of earning a living. He clearly was at a pinnacle of his life doing what he loved to do.

I will remember Dave as a kind and gentle person.

On behalf Joey, John, Ashley, Sean and Shayna, our deepest sympathies go out to the friends and family of Dave and especially to Corey. We are so sorry for your loss. Please know that you have friends who care for you and are here to share your grief together with ours.

In love and light...

The Thomas Family