July 26, 1963 ~ Oct. 29, 1982
David was in our class but passed graduation requirements a year early and started college at UCSD in 1980. He went to Del Mar schools growing up and was extremely bright and well-liked. He loved his Ford Mustang in high school and was a member of the Chess and Rocketry/Astronomy Clubs. David was involved in a deadly car accident.
Donald Schultz, Class of ’84 wrote of his brother in Torrey Pines High School Class of ’80 – In Memory of: “David is sorely missed by his family and friends whose lives he so profoundly touched during his brief 19 years. We find peace knowing he is in a better place.”
Dave was a good friend of mine. I met him in 4th grade at Del Mar Heights (Childs/Mitchell) and got to know him better through mutual friends at Earl Warren and Torrey Pines. You couldn’t meet a better person. He was very smart and he loved life. In fact, his favorite saying was “This is the life!” I remember several trips to the Borrego desert when Karge, the physics teacher, would take the Astromony Club for weekend trips to this amazaing “oasis” in the sand. Dave was always part of that experience.
October 29th, 1982 was the Torrey Pines Homecoming game that year. A group of us alums, including Dave, went to the game and then decided we’d meet up at a restaurant later. Tragedy struck that night. After he died, I reflected back on his decision to graduate early and get started in college as if he was in a hurry. It seems like some people who have short lives have a sense about it and feel that they have to get a lot accomplished because they don’t have much time. We miss you, Dave!
Gosh, it was a bit of a shock after so many years to see Dave’s picture again. He and I were good friends, and I wrote the following elsewhere about an experience that I’ll never forget:
During my high school years, being a geeky kid meant that I was part of the school’s Rocketry and Astronomy Club. I met many like-minded kids there and we had a blast running around out in the desert, blowing things up (of course, this was pre-9/11), building and launching big rockets, and looking at the stars at night. One of the kids I met was Dave Schultz, and he and I became good friends.
The years went by and we both graduated and went our separate ways. Several years later my brother and I were at the local ice-skating rink and as we were leaving, we ran into Dave and his friend. We briefly talked about our plans for the weekend, and that was the end of the discussion. My brother and I got in our car and headed out of the parking lot, when suddenly a Voice in my head – clear as day – said, “You are not going to see him again.” It so shocked me that I sat straight up in the passenger seat and looked back as the two walked toward their car. My brother asked, “What?”, and I said “Nothing” – what could I say?
Early the next morning we got a phone call that Dave had been killed in a car accident, and I’ve thought about that incident ever since. Was I supposed to have done something with the message that I received that night? It didn’t say when or what would happen, so what could I have done? Why was I told this message? Was the message pointed at Dave, or intended for me?”
Bill, I probably met you on one of those desert trips. Mr. Karge was the best teacher that I’ve ever had. What happened that night I’ve carried with me ever since, wondering what it all meant. At such an early age, it was a stern introduction on how unforgiving life can be. Rest in peace, Dave.