David J. Morrison passed away peacefully at his home in Saratoga, California on December 16, 2010 after a valiant three year battle with prostate cancer. Dave loved Saratoga and lived there for 45 years.
Dave was an avid outdoorsman and fisherman. As a young boy growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Bremerton Wash., he spent his youth exploring Puget Sound, hiking and sailing throughout the San Juan Islands. He loved fishing in Alaska and Canada, and year after year returned home with a bountiful catch to share with his family and friends. Having an adventurous spirit, he always had a hiking trip planned: New Zealand, Europe, and throughout the United States. He hiked across England on the Coast to Coast Trail five times. Fascinated by the explorations of Captain James Cook and Lewis and Clark, he also retraced their steps in his travels.
A classmate once said, “David Morrison played the sweetest trumpet I’ve ever heard.” Dave loved music and played in the jazz band, marching band and symphony in high school and college and won state honors in competition. He was an eclectic collector, especially of classic cars, vintage tennis racquets and fishing paraphernalia.
He served his country in the U.S. Army Security Agency for several years as a Morse code interceptor. He also served during the Cuban Missile crisis.
Dave had a passion for real estate. He started his 60-year career in the field with the purchase of his first investment property at 18. He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Finance and Real Estate. After earning his MAI and SRA designations, he ran a successful San Jose-based appraisal company. He was known for his knowledge, professionalism and integrity, and also for being generous with his time mentoring other appraisers and in service to the profession.
He was owner of Cascade Harbor Inn along with his wife Terri and had a personal connection to Rosario beginning with this experience in the early 1950s. When Dave was 17, he and a friend beached his little boat right there at Rosario and slept on the beach. They were awakened by some orcas blowing and rolling. Later, a caretaker of the property showed them all around the property. He never forgot the magic of that experience.
Above all, Dave was a dedicated, loving husband, father, grandfather–Poppy, and uncle. He was a strong and gentle man who gave more than he took and always put his family first. He will live forever in the hearts of his wife Terri; his children Guy Shinkle, Jill Avery-Zuleeg, Leslie Biasi and Lisa Morrison-Puckett; his grandchildren Taylor, Josh, Tanner, Autumn, Samantha, Wesley, and Lillian; and his niece and nephew, Jenna and Charley. He was deeply loved and will be terribly missed.
A memorial service will be held Jan. 19, 2011, at 2 p.m. in the Santa Cruz Redwoods. For details see www.ourpoppy.com.
Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to:
Hospice of the Valley, 4850 Union Ave. San Jose, CA 95124.
Submitted by David Morrison’s family.
