Tribute from the Wilsons, Burge family, Emma, Hannah Mark & Michelle

 DEAR DAVID CULLINARY GENIUS, RACONTEUR AND FRIEND

Some years ago Ross and David were fun friends we valued for their wit, wisdom and culinary expertise. One day they appeared at a gathering where I was discussing volunteer work with refugees. I was touched by their support but over tea and biscuits David told me of weakness in his hands. I suddenly felt sick.

A few weeks later we visited Ross and David: the worst had just been confirmed. How, I wondered, could any couple cope with this hideous diagnosis? How could David adapt to loss on so many levels and Ross remain strong?

David insisted they didn’t need food and they were amazingly self-sufficient. The only solution seemed to be flowers. A rhythm of posies began, usually on the way to the hairdresser to get more red put in my hair. David said the red was ridiculous!

As the years unfolded I was witness to an extraordinary journey. Horrendous and engulfing though MND is, David and Ross’s love for each other has shone through every challenging and demeaning process. David’s courage has been extraordinary and Ross’s caring stupendous.

My heart aches for Ross but I feel so much admiration for both David and Ross. They have taught me so much about love, living and what really matters in life.

So much love to you both Janet and Douglas.

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Our thoughts and memories of David Bloom. David came yearly to our home in Warrandyte to tune our Lipp piano, which had been a gift to our family from our close friend and former music teacher. So this piano was special to us and we were delighted when David was recommended by local music teacher and oldfriend, (the now late) Ann Arnold.I loved David’s expectation of quiet for his work, his undivided attention to the tuning process, but then his willingness for a chat after the job was finished. We talked of travel,gardens, pets, renovations, the bush and food – things in which we had a common interest. It was a mark of a strong man, who felt great responsibility to his clients, that David advised us of his diagnosis of MND and ensured we had an excellent piano tuner in Ben Briggs to take over the care of our piano.We have been privileged to be readers of David and Ross’s blog over the last years, and have enjoyed keeping this contact. Through the blog we have gained more understanding of what they were both facing and spirit in which the illness and its ramifications were being dealt with. What admiration we have felt for David and Ross. Considerable tears have been shed reading the blog, particularly David’s beautiful tribute to Ross written for the MND newsletter. Ross, although we have not met and have only spoken briefly on the phone, please know we are full of admiration for you and now feel such sorrow at the loss of your dear David. Our warm wishes and deep sympathy,

Doreen and Graham Burge

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David,

Thank you for your wit and humour. Thank you for your love of food and music (two of my favourites as well). Thanks for the hot tips during my time in Masterchef - the 'caramel and the crunch’ got me a long way! Thanks for the emails written in french, and the joy of life that they contained within them. You will be missed, so missed. I would do anything to go to a fancy restaurant with you and to enjoy your critique! You are free now - go get all the things to eat! 

Much love, Emma xoxo

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Dear David,

Your friendship from the time we first met in the 1990's has surprised and honoured me. Your kindness, together with your forthrightness left no doubt about your sincerity.

The spontaneous invitation to join you and Ross on holiday in Gariwerd as a 60h birthday gift, the day spent together in Norwich in 2013 when you came to the UK and my stay with you and Ross in Olinda in 2015 are among precious memories of a dear, kind and brilliant friend. Thank you David.

With much love,

Hannah 

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David had many qualities that endeared him to people, among them his cheeky irreverent sense of humour, his hospitality and ability in the kitchen, his openness and honesty. The quality that always stood out for me was David's energy - I always felt he was really living life. The illness robbed him of much of that in his last years, although some of that energy still shone through in his blogs. I want to remember David at his best, full of life.

Mark

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I have been thinking of you since I arrived in New York on a business trip in the early hours of Friday morning here. Your message was the first I saw when I turned my phone on after the flight.

Although we knew how much he suffered with this horrible disease, I was relieved to read that David passed away in his sleep. 

I'v been thinking about my friendship that spanned more than 30 years and wish to say the following as my written tribute:

David was my wonderful, dearest friend for more than 30 years. We met when he came to Sydney to study piano tuning at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He came to the Rushcutter's Bay Bowling Centre and joined the Sydney Maccabi bowling group that met on Sunday evenings. We named our team "David's Dolly's". This is where our incredible friendship began.

David, there aren't enough words to describe how much I will miss you as I reflect on so many memories. Amazing trips, meals, marathon telephone conversations between Melbourne, Olinda and Vancouver...so many special times. There was no other friend with whom I had such a unique both. We knew one another better than we knew ourselves.

I will cherish our friendship forever.

Michelle

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