After reading the news about you on the SHJ webpage, I thought I would be a big hero and say hello and send my wishes. But as I opened the email, I couldn�t think of the right thing to say. I mean, in this situation, what could I say to change anything? I could use all the standard lines...�you�re in my heart�, �I�m thinking of you�, �hey man, get better!�...and those are great, but it doesn�t do anything in the long run. I guess this has opened my eyes and made me realize that there is nothing I could possibly do in such a serious situation, but I really wish I could. Dave, I may not know you well, but I want you to know that you are an amazing person and I have always held you fondly in my heart. You were so sweet to me at all shows, and you always made certain that you said hello and really talked to me. You went out of your way to converse with me, this random girl that was about 10 years younger than you, and that really proved the sincerity of your character. This world needs nice guys like you, and that is why I am writing this letter. No one knows what the future holds for us, but I am praying that you and I will be able to cross paths somewhere. What I would give to be assured that I will see you at a show, be able to laugh about cookies and me grinding with Coolie Ranx, and ask for the hundredth time when SHJ will have a reunion show. I really hope I have that chance...please get better. My thoughts are with you.
The Infamous SHJ Cookie Girl,
Darleen Hostetler
I remember it like it was yesterday when I first heard Dave�s music in Spring Heeled Jack, when I first saw their video for Jolene about 3 years ago on TV. It was from that moment on, I wanted to start a band, and that I did. I too am now in a ska band, we�re about to go on our first tour, and I�m incredibly influenced by all of David�s music. There�s not a week, not a day that doesn�t go by where I don�t listen to Spring Heeled Jack�s �Songs From Suburbia� and think about what it might be like to make it to where Dave made it with his bands. When I found out the awful gut-wrenching news about 10 minutes ago, it hit me like a ton of bricks, and I had to just sit back and realize what had happened. I�m very saddened by what has happened and from one scenester to another�s family, I�m incredibly sorry. You might be thinking, how could a 17 year old kid from southern New Jersey be so affected by one person, well...when a persons art turns your life on to a whole new style of music, it can mean alot. Take good care.
peace, love and unity...
-Robert Wilcox
as of a part of spring heeled jack your music moved me, it touched my life in so many ways. all can do is thank you dave, for all that you have unknowingly brought to my life. you will be missed and my thoughts go out to your family and friends.
good bye dave
rest in peace
love,
sean fitzgerald
dave was one of the nicest kindest people i have ever had the pleasure of meeting. not to mention funniest. he has been such a staple and constant in my life for the last 8 years....and i hope that i see him again one day
my best wishes to you all
kyle frenette
I just heard the news, and I wanted to write something to Dave�s friends and family. Spring Heeled Jack was the first ska band I ever saw, I was about to become a freshman at Manchester High School in Connecticut. My friend had turned me onto ska music earlier that summer, and just before the first day of school that year I went to see Spring Heeled Jack play a free show at UConn with The Queers. It was amazing. I could sorta say it changed my life, since it set me on a path which led from ska, to punk, to reggae, rocksteady, you name it. This music is such a large part of who I am today, that I often wonder what would have happened to me if I�d never been exposed to it. Anyways, at that show, I bought SHJ�s first tape, and I probably played it to the point of destruction for the coming year or so. It was amazing. I saw SHJ many more times over the years, and The Pilfers as well. I live in Boston now, and I was really looking forward to seeing Dave in action with Avoid One Thing. I guess what I�m trying to say is that I was really saddened to hear this news, and I�m very grateful to Dave for the music he left. It means more to me than I could evey say.
Sincerely,
Ken Partridge
As a long time Spring Heeled Jack fan and a new Avoid One Thing fan, i was shocked when i heard about Dave. He was a great musician and will be greatly missed by everyone that ever saw him or heard his music. Dave will always live on through the music he has given all of us, and will never be forgotten.
Jeff O'Coin
Our thoughts go out to Dave�s friends and families.
Peace,
Jeremy, Gib, Pat, and Sean
MY CAPTAIN
Godbless.
With strength,
Lorern Semmens
This terrible news is shocking to myself and to many others which whom are waiting for the release of the new album. I find it very hard to believe that such tragedies exist today, I hope the very best and send my deepest sympathies to Dave�s family as well as the entire band who will surely suffer from this loss.
- David Ruocco