A Letter from Harvey Sigman
Dear Donna, John and the Saunders Family
Maxine and I were so sad when we heard of David's passing. When I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago he sounded frail but I hoped that there would be a turn around for the better. David and I go back to 1953 when we both entered Medical School and we quickly became close friends. I had known Amos long before because he was a revered teacher at Baron Byng High School. David inherited many of his Dad's characteristics - his humor, his sensitivity, his keen mind. I spent many evenings at the Saunders home on Harvard Ave. David introduced me to his favourite musical group, the Kingston Trio. David and Donna spent two years in England at the Royal Free and Maxine and I were there at Hammersmith during their second year. On our arrival, David invited us up to their flat to taste some good French wines since he said that we could get a better price if we shared a case. We had some wonderful wines which then cost about $2.00 each. The memorable part of the evening and I retell this story at least once a year was as follows: Donna served several cheeses, one consisted of a firm cheese covered by a rind made of grape pits. I was a neophyte as a cheese gourmet, my only cheese experience being Kraft processed Velveeta. Faced with this cheese and wanting to appear as one of the English Gentry, I ate the cheese with the rind since I had once read that one is supposed to eat the rind. I soon had a mouth full of grape pits because there was no way I could swallow them. I hid them in my cheek pouch until David remarked "You eat the rind?" I responded "You don't ?". "Never" said he. I rushed to the lou where I evacuated a mouth load.
I always had a close relationship with David's folks, medically and otherwise and was often in contact with David particularly as they were becoming more frail. Amos would send me letters of appreciationa nd greeting that were written in the most beautiful prose, quoting from Emerson and others. I would read his letters to my children at the dinner table. I can recall calling David when the RVH was looking for a replacement for John Beck as Chief of Medicine. I said "David you would be great for this position, why don't you put your name forward". David said " There would be only two reasons why one would want to leave Seattle - one, more money and two, more rank. Neither interests me. I can leave my office and go fishing or hiking". I could understand that well.
He always told me how proud he was of his children and their accomplishments. My sympathies to you Donna, John and all the children and grandchildren. May you draw strength in this difficult time from the knowledge of how fortunate we have all been to have been touched by such a wonderful person.
Harvey
Maxine and I were so sad when we heard of David's passing. When I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago he sounded frail but I hoped that there would be a turn around for the better. David and I go back to 1953 when we both entered Medical School and we quickly became close friends. I had known Amos long before because he was a revered teacher at Baron Byng High School. David inherited many of his Dad's characteristics - his humor, his sensitivity, his keen mind. I spent many evenings at the Saunders home on Harvard Ave. David introduced me to his favourite musical group, the Kingston Trio. David and Donna spent two years in England at the Royal Free and Maxine and I were there at Hammersmith during their second year. On our arrival, David invited us up to their flat to taste some good French wines since he said that we could get a better price if we shared a case. We had some wonderful wines which then cost about $2.00 each. The memorable part of the evening and I retell this story at least once a year was as follows: Donna served several cheeses, one consisted of a firm cheese covered by a rind made of grape pits. I was a neophyte as a cheese gourmet, my only cheese experience being Kraft processed Velveeta. Faced with this cheese and wanting to appear as one of the English Gentry, I ate the cheese with the rind since I had once read that one is supposed to eat the rind. I soon had a mouth full of grape pits because there was no way I could swallow them. I hid them in my cheek pouch until David remarked "You eat the rind?" I responded "You don't ?". "Never" said he. I rushed to the lou where I evacuated a mouth load.
I always had a close relationship with David's folks, medically and otherwise and was often in contact with David particularly as they were becoming more frail. Amos would send me letters of appreciationa nd greeting that were written in the most beautiful prose, quoting from Emerson and others. I would read his letters to my children at the dinner table. I can recall calling David when the RVH was looking for a replacement for John Beck as Chief of Medicine. I said "David you would be great for this position, why don't you put your name forward". David said " There would be only two reasons why one would want to leave Seattle - one, more money and two, more rank. Neither interests me. I can leave my office and go fishing or hiking". I could understand that well.
He always told me how proud he was of his children and their accomplishments. My sympathies to you Donna, John and all the children and grandchildren. May you draw strength in this difficult time from the knowledge of how fortunate we have all been to have been touched by such a wonderful person.
Harvey
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