David Rudolph Duarte

NAME: David Rudolph Duarte AGE: 74 RESIDENT OF: Visalia DATE OF DEATH: 8-19-2015 OCCUPATION: concrete construction PLACE OF DEATH: Visalia Start story here David Rudolph Duarte, Big M, Shaboom, Papa Dave, Uncle David, Grandpa, and “Pop” or Dad by me, left his great hearted body last week, August 19th, 2015. No more will the voice of his near mythic personality boom across a room with a gravitas that swept aside norms of propriety, ruffling the pompous and the genteel by its wake and timbre. As a child and throughout my years, my father would express his joy that could be found in a moment, bellowing “Odin,” a warrior’s invitation to be filled with the spirit of battle, of being, of life. David Duarte was, by most accounts of the wild and barely fettered. He tromped noisily onto any terra he moved into. Some people feared him, if in ignorance, to their loss, if by rights, then to their peril. Many people loved him, to their credit, recognizing genuineness of spirit, and to their benefit, for who does not stand stronger in the knowing that circumstance and time will not wither away David’s open armed welcome, be you blessed friend or family. Family remembrance regales the exploits of David as an adventurous boy and young man, whose great natural and academic curiosity, combined with an impish and sharp intellect, leave a listener to envision a youth that rivaled that of youthful Tom Sawyer and Indiana Jones. Oft repeated where the recollections of David’s to bring down dove with a sling; he would do this while the birds where in flight! David’s abilities as a young man are made keen in the knowledge that David was competent in advanced mathematics, taking Calculus as a Mt. Whitney High School freshman, and whose adept drawing skill was acknowledged by Walt Disney Studios, who offered to employ him based on intricate sketch pieces he submitted as a Whitney junior. Circumstance and fidelity to family led David to farm the family property through his early twenties rather that adhere to the call of academic pursuit. His career choices led him to the field of general construction with an emphasis in laying and finishing concrete. The many photos of his constructs from foundation, to addition, and in reconstruction leave a visual tale of a multitude of homes and businesses he was contracted to build upon. David’s love of the natural led him to take to gardening and canning, shunning the supermarket when the fruits of his labors left his table filled with the verdant and colorful bounty of all he could till, grow, and pick. Few of his visitors left without a gift of what could be harvested from the love and efforts of his gardening. The love of music was expressed at volume throughout David’s youth and maturity. The spectrum in musical taste in the tunes of Bob Dylan, Tom Jones, Dave Brubeck, Carlos Santana, Marshall Tucker, Neil Young, Marvin Gaye, Van Morrison, Ohio Players, Doobie Brothers, George Benson, Elvin Bishop, Taj Mahal, and a continuous list of other greats filled the air of the various apartments and houses he called home. The various record albums, forty-fives, cassette tapes, and cd’s of his collection are a veritable archeological walk through the variety of the American culture of music of the past 80 plus years. David Duarte was a father and grandfather, a widower twice over, a son, a cousin, an uncle and a brother. He is survived by his two sisters, Rachel Mia Irene Bowman and her husband Uncle Wayne and Mary Masie Christensen and her husband Uncle Curt. He is further survived by his sisters in law Mary Duarte and Sally Celia Duarte. He is further survived by his nephews and nieces, Maria Hamby and her husband Mike, Tylenna and Tiona Bowman, Tanya Bowman and her daughter Hope, Joel Bowman, Dylan Duarte and his wife Gabby and their children, Tommy, Danielle, and Dylan Duarte, Claudia Cara Chairez and her husband Marty, and Ruben Muscle Man Duarte He is further survived by his son, Chris Duarte, daughter-in-law, Cynthia Duarte, his grandsons and daughter, Mauro the Hammer and his wife Megan, Christopher, Dominic, Aidan, and his grandchildren, Mauro, Kaydance, Keliss, and Kamry. David is further survived by all of us, family and friends, he pulled into the chapters of his life, who shake their heads and smile, alongside the hole that he left, a big hole, one that I will leave open. I won’t even attempt to try. Pop was a mover. A big one. When he rolled in on you, or you rolled up on him, he had music, he was music, amped and invigorating, whether you were ready or not. To those who know, listen. At the wake of dawn, at the setting sun, at the intensity of a moment, at the instance of the soul-smile, listen and you will hear David's voice from deep inside. . . Ooodin!!! VISITATION WILL BEGIN (none) SERVICES: a graveside service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, August 31, 2015 at the Visalia District Cemetery Pavilion. A memorial tribute may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com

David Rudolph Duarte

February 28, 1941 - August 19, 2015