TILLOTSON, David Alan, Sr.

David Alan Tillotson, Sr. of Ninilchik, Alaska and of Glendale Arizona passed away Sunday May 4th. Born in 1938, he moved from Michigan to Arizona in 1965, where he worked as a guidance counselor at Alhambra High School and at Metro Tech in Phoenix. Summer adventures with family in Alaska expanded into building Caribou Creek Cabins on the Kenai Peninsula. Dave never met a stranger, always made a friend. Dave always saw each of us with a fuller life than we saw for ourselves. He felt compassion towards all those he met and lived each day to its fullest. So many friends have reconnected with Dave this last month and have meant so very much to him. Many have said, "He was a real mentor to me. He touched me at a time in my life when I was at a crossroads. He made a difference in how I see myself and how I can contribute to humanity and to the Earth." Father, grandfather, friend, photographer, sculptor, environmentalist, humanist, adventurer, builder, educator, hiker, fisherman, lumberjack (of beetle-killed trees), bleeding-heart liberal and dreamer, he wanted each of us to experience more in this life and to share adventures with good friends. Dave touched so many lives and will be missed greatly. "Keep walking across the sky, Dad." "Thank you, Grandpa, for EVERYTHING. Dave is survived by his three children; Carol Street, David Tillotson Jr., Kevin Tillotson, grandchildren Dallas, Delana, Dillon and Devon Street, as well as three siblings, Mark and Anne Tillotson and Mary Hale as well as numerous other family and friends. A memorial service will be held this Wednesday at Saguaro Ranch Park, Ramada number 7, at 11:00 am to be followed by a separate brunch and meeting of friends. Saguaro Ranch Park is South of Peoria on 59th Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to a charity he supported. Heifer International provides farm animals to families in need. Contact: www.heifer.org Published in the Arizona Republic on 5/6/2003.