David Musick

David R Musick of Cary, NC died suddenly on September 11, 2022. He was born on October 24th 1959 in Cincinnati Ohio. He leaves behind Joanna, his wife and the other half of himself. Ginny, his twin, and other heartbeat. Steven, his younger brother and friend. His youngest sister Rebecca, twin to his late brother Jesse. His aunts, uncles, cousins in Cincinnati and the Ohio area. He gained family through marriage and leaves behind Marie and Mike Sudol, and through them his special niece Erica her partner Jimmy and her children Mason and Madelyn, nephew Matthew(Sudol) wife Lindsay children Roscoe, Wyatt and Troy, and Pat(Sudol) wife Kristin and daughter Sophie He lived a great life, though it was unfairly short. David was known for kindness, generosity and always offering a helping hand. David was intelligent, talented and always striving to learn in so very many directions, a true renaissance man’s approach to life. He was interested in music and learned to play the keyboard, then the violin and finally the saxophone – all for the sheer joy of expression. He wrote a series of young adult books (the Bambles series), and books which were a tribute to his life and love for Joanna. He didn’t shy away from learning how to finish a basement, build a retaining wall or create a backyard retreat in his home. He was the one to sew clothes, arrange furniture, pick wall paint – he had the artistic view of things. He took Joanna clothes shopping, because he had the eye for style. He couldn’t get enough of theater or music; we have the play bills and CDs to prove it. After Italy and Greece trips, he invaded the kitchen with his own approach to cooking. He had more books to research and write. His approach to life was a beautiful thing to witness! He was an eclectically spiritual man, he called himself a Christian – he prayed, believed in the spirit of Christ’s teachings, yet he was not bound by any human-made doctrine or ‘ism; and would push back to closed minds in religion's name. One of his most thought-provoking books was A Little Reminder (originally published as Jennifer Christ), and it provided some of the answers to David’s questions on his continuous religious journey. He was so physically active! In his younger day’s marathons, triathlons, soccer, tennis, skiing and he earned a wrestling scholarship in high school. The time we lived in Nevada was spent hiking some of the most beautiful and interesting lands to grace the earth. The east coast move altered the landscape, and urban hiking journeys began…New York City, Washington DC held concrete-vistas he so loved. David grew up in Cincinnati, and in spite of what was a challenging childhood, he was lucky to have mentors that saw what was special in him and helped open doors that might have otherwise been closed. He had a voracious appetite for knowledge and intellectual growth. But, from what I’ve learned from the Cincinnati folks whom he maintained lifelong friendship with…he was a really fun guy in high school and college. Deerpark high school and University of Cincinnati were always a part of him. A testament to that was a visit by the Deerpark girls (Sara, Pam, Meghan and Ginny) to Nevada when we lived there (what happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas). This was followed up by a rocking 50th birthday party at his twin Ginny’s home – Cabo anyone? David loved his family. His twin sister Ginny and younger brothers Steven and Jessie owned a part of his heart and soul. We lost Jessie a few years back, that was a sadness he rarely shared and never got over. Though physically distant from Ginny and Steven, I want them both to know how close he felt to them and how much he loved them. And that love was carried to Ginny’s grandchildren Becky and John, and Steven’s daughters. He was so very happy to have a great relationship with Samantha (Steven’s oldest). He took great pride in his service to our country. David joined the US Air Force and served for 10 years, during that time he made one of his great friendships in life with Pahl and Janet. I think there are probably lots of stories of Pahl and David during those Air Force years that haven’t seen the light of day – yet! It was during the last half of his Air Force career that he met, fell in love with and married Joanna. And that love story was woven with the rest of his life. He became a part of her family; a joke was that Mike (Joanna’s dad) liked him better! David shared many holidays, vacations and visits with his new family. Lots of visits with Marie (skiing, Disney, desert), as well as with Mike and all the kids. And Erica (Marie’s daughter), she and David had a very special bond – born of love, fun and that precious sense of family, I don’t know that she knew he was so proud of her and the life she made, it touched my heart. He really loved being part of that whole big Italian tradition, it gave him a sense of what family can really be. Post Air Force, David continued in service to our country as a civilian. First with the EPA here in North Carolina, where he was to make new lifelong friendships, Shelly, Nealson and Jeff. Shelly a colleague and friend we were lucky to see both here and out west, she has always stayed in David’s life. Nealson as an intern, who became a friend and colleague. And Jeff, a running buddy and friend. Knowing David there were many more, these were just a few of the friends I was lucky enough to know. David left the EPA to join FEMA back in 2011, just in time for hurricanes Irene and then Sandy to hit the New Jersey/New York area. As ever, David was right there in the thick of things helping where and how he could. He continued with FEMA in Washington DC, then he accepted a position in a pilot program for FEMA here in North Carolina in 2018. There were lots of achievements – more hurricanes, his work during COVID for food drives, support and ultimately vaccination effort; he volunteered with the Morrisville Cert team for many efforts. But David’s goal was always to be back with and part of the EPA, in April of 2022 that became a reality, and though the time was short he was so happy and energized to be part of the EPA again. As you know, David and Joanna had quite an adventurous life and marriage. And after so many moves all over the country, they had finally settled in the “last” home in Aug 2021 here in Cary, NC. As ever they made it their own. It was to be the beginning of their next phase of life, becoming part of a really wonderful community with a whole new set of friends and new memories…Jim and Sean building a window seat for Joanna. The Bengals Super Bowl party. Sean’s St Patrick Day feast. A picnic at the clubhouse. Hanging at the pool with Peggy&Jim, Daphne&Fred and Steve. Laura and crew sharing wine and playing Sequence. Scott and David rockin’ to Led Zeppelin. David was happy, comfortable and enjoying this new part of life, though short, it gave him a certain contentment. David’s life was wonderful, for him and for those that shared it. This world is better off for his having been born, and as a friend said: "it’s a little less well off with him no longer in it." Rest well and fly high you very special man. A scholarship is going to be setup in his honor.

David Musick

October 24, 1959 - September 11, 2022