David EVERETT Obituary (2021) – Buffalo, NY

EVERETT – David J.
Lifelong buffalo, teacher, hospital chaplain. October 11, 1943 – May 10, 2021, age 77, for natural reasons. David Everett was a first generation American born to Irish and Canadian immigrants. When he was growing up, his family didn’t have a car or TV until he was in middle school. What he made of his life extended what he had to start. He was born in Buffalo and died in Buffalo. No matter how many relatives from outside the state teased him about the weather, he always said, non-defensively, “It’s very nice here, I like it.” He would speak of the kindness of the heart of the Buffalo people and say you won’t find a friendlier city. He used the proceeds of a paper route to send his way through Cardinal Dougherty private high school and graduated in 1961. He then graduated from college at Federal Meats. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in education from the University of Buffalo. He also received a Certificate of Counseling from Canisius College. He then joined the US Army during the Vietnam War and served from 1967 to 1969. He attended the Infantry Officer Candidate School. After being injured, he worked in the secret service. Everett then went on to teach at West Seneca West Senior High School, where he would stay for 31 years. He had a classroom in an upper corner of the building and shared an office with Anita Demos, a lifelong friend and mentor. Everett was featured in Who’s Who of Teachers. Each year he brought some of his social science students to Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Public Affairs to exchange their project submissions with other students in the area. Everett’s students always came back with certificate medals. He was so proud of all of his students. Together with several other teachers, he founded a nationwide “Action Learning Internship Program”, which enabled students to make contacts, work in selected areas and gain practical experience. His goofy humor has been valued by staff and students, especially when he dresses up as Abraham Lincoln for Abe’s birthday and tucks his lunch in the stovepipe’s handmade hat. He was occasionally known to use a banana as a bogus phone at Teacher’s lunch. After retiring, he took guitar lessons and joined a folk group that played at Veteran’s Group meetings across western New York. He also took Spanish classes in an educational function. He was “touched,” as he would say, having the privilege of serving as a pastoral volunteer at Buffalo General Hospital for 15 years. When he came to the hospital before he died, a family member asked if he was concerned. He replied, “No, I’m exactly where God wants me to be.” In fact, he had been all along. The very things he didn’t have the opportunity to do as an adult he didn’t do until later. He was known in the neighborhood for his constant green grass and shared his secret when people drove by and asked. It was a cola beer preparation. Everett from Williamsville enjoyed the occasional political battle, a Genesee light, and some raw clams and hot sauce from his hometown of Riverside of Buffalo. He taught his two sons how to run their starter houses and he was a real jack-of-all-trades. He prided himself on being as useful in the garage as he was in the classroom and was self-taught even before the days of the Youtube tutorials. In the latter part of his life, all of his grandchildren brought him tremendous joy, and he and his 50-year-old wife, Virginia, looked after two of them on weekdays until they started school. He taught a then 3-year-old granddaughter how to march to the corner and back with an American flag and sing “God Bless America”. Passers-by were amused. David Everett is preceded in death by his parents Hillyard and Mary Ann; and his brother Thomas. He is survived by a sister, Mary (John) Lowry of Ft. Meyers, Fl. He is also survived by his wife, Virginia. He brought her flowers home every other Friday, payday, for many years. His children include Kristen Everett Eastman of Austin, Texas; Greg (Amy) Everett and Tim (Kim) Everett from Buffalo. He will be terribly missed by his five beloved grandchildren, the lights of his life. Stephanie, Ava, Lucas, Trent and Scarlett Everett. Instead of flowers, please donate to a veteran group of your choice. That would make him happy when he sits back, relaxes, right where God wants him to be. A service will be held on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gregory the Great Church, 200 St. Gregory Ct., Buffalo, NY 14221.

Published by Buffalo News on May 16, 2021.