Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Neighbor Dave


Our next door neighbor Dave died last week. He had a fairly aggressive bone cancer that caught up with him quickly. We never realized he was sick until his parents stopped by and told us he had passed on Saturday. He was a good guy that I didn't know all that well but he will be missed. 


DAVID S. TROEGER 

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TROEGER DAVID SCOTT TROEGER David Scott Troeger, 52, of Alexandria, Virginia, died June 6, 2013, after a courageous nearly yearlong battle with osteosarcoma (bone cancer). Originally from Grand Rapids, MI, born March 26, 1961, he also lived in Xenia, OH, and was a 1979 graduate of Urbana High School in Illinois. From there he went on to earn a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana in 1984. As soon as he graduated college he moved east to the tidewater area beginning his professional career as a ship's test engineer at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. In 2001 he moved up to the Washington DC area to take a job with the Naval Sea Systems Command, where he worked his way up to become the Director of Security for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. Dave was an amazing person and believed in living life to the fullest. There wasn't anything that he wouldn't try and succeed. You could tell him about a project that you wanted to do and his response would be, "that's easy", and he would make it happen. He could accomplish anything he put his mind to from major construction projects such as building a garage or enlarging his porch, renovating numerous kitchen and bathrooms, building closets and "macgyvering" anything; to changing out a motor in his car, welding his jeep back together, rewiring an electrical panel, or re-plumbing his house; all while working full time, traveling the countryside and hanging out with friends and family. Just hearing about what Dave had done on an average weekend would make other people tired and he wouldn't have had it any other way. He believed in working hard and playing hard, and would do anything for a friend. Dave made friends with just about everyone he met and he treasured everyone one of those friendships. He was compassionate and caring and selfless when it came to helping out his friends. He helped them fix their cars, trucks, 4x4s, boats, and homes. His ability to fix things got him the nickname through which he became affectionately known as "The Doctor". Perhaps nowhere could his ability to rally people together to have fun show as when twice a year for more than 15 years, "the Doctor" coordinated and led a band of off-roading 4x4 beach enthusiasts known as Team Challenged to hang out on the beautiful beaches in Hatteras and Ocracoke Villages to surf fish, drink beer and eat a feast of gourmet food that everyone brought and cooked out of the back of the trucks. He perfected the art of bacon-topped grilled turkey on the beach, and got to enjoy his beloved 1986 Jeep CJ. David had many passions. He loved music. He was an award winning chili chef. He especially loved the great outdoors. From hiking the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, scuba diving and spearfishing in the waters off of Chesapeake Bay, camping in the Shenandoah mountains, white water canoeing the rapids of Virginia rivers, and boating the waters around Chincoteague, to skiing the mountains of Montana, swinging graphite clubs at "little white dimply balls", and just smoking a cigar while sipping on a beer or two or enjoying a glass of wine while "chillin" on the screened in porch with his wife and their friends. David is survived by his wife, Judi Hartsig Troeger of Alexandria, VA; his parents, John and Carol Troeger of Clayton, NC; siblings, Debbie Shoemaker of Mahomet, IL, Dana Anderson of Morresville, NC, and Anthony Troeger of Greensboro, NC. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Matthew Peters, Jordan and Alec Shoemaker, and Jessica and Kyle Troeger. He also leaves his four felines, Jessie, Alley, Tiger and Cleo. His family would like to thank the doctors and staff of Virginia Hospital Center, Fairfax Inova Hospital, and Capital Caring Hospice. The unfailing compassionate care of the nurses at these facilities and with hospice brought great comfort to David and his family during a very difficult time. The family will hold a memorial gathering at Dave and Judi's home on Friday, June 14, 2013, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with testimonials and funny stories to begin at 6 p.m. Donations in David's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society , the Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Foundation, or the charity of your choice .Donations in David's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society , the Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Foundation, or the charity of your choice .


Published in The Washington Post on June 9, 2013

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