Note from Ron Cape

Saturday, February 16, 2008

I knew and loved David from high school through four years at Princeton and although Seattle and San Francisco are not close, we kept in touch through the past 40 years with visits and phone calls.

I'm terribly sorry that today finds me in Boston whereas I would very much like to be in Seattle sharing experiences with Donna and the family and the extended family many of whom have opened their hearts and expressed so meaningfully how much David meant to so many people.

We will all miss him and appreciate the wonderful memories that he left with us.

Ron Cape

From a Shirt Tail Relative - Jeanne Mielcarek

From a "SHIRT TAIL RELATIVE" (Aunt Jeanne, Auntie to Polly Campbell Saunders whose Husband is Richard Saunders, whose Father was David Saunders, and whose Beautiful and Talented Mother, Donna, is a Soul Mate of Mine. My late husband Eugene (Mielcarek) and all the branches on our family tree love and adore all the Saunders - their tree, branches, and even all the little twigs. Life was at its best when all our lives began a fortunate entanglement at the wedding of Polly and Richard)

My heart goes out to all the Saunders family and all those fortunate folks who miss their special friend and and will always hold him in their hearts, recognizing that David's family (both biological and extended) was given a unique spiritual gift so precious and life fulfilling. We are all personally diminished by losing such a good, honorable, productive and sensitive human being who has been shown to have dealt with life in a thoughtful and exemplary way. I do not know the source or the wellspring for his compassionate actions, but I feel sure it was a natural response to a desire to serve his fellow men and women, making this world a better place with more justice and fulfillment for all people. It all ended too abruptly. And I can only imagine his disappointment in not living long enough to see many of his dreams flower and come to fruition.

Perhaps we can internalize our own yearnings awakened by his example and be persuaded to rededicate our own personal journies to help further his lofty goals.

My love to all of David's family, both extended and biologic. May we have learned a lot about living and follow his model.

Jeanne Mielcarek

To My Papa David - From Jane Saunders

For my Papa David.
February 27th 1933 – January 22nd 2008.
You are loved.

A little girl sitting on his lap,
Tickling, and squiggling trying to get out of his trap.
The house was full of the grandchildren’s constant laugh.
I still remember feeling protected sitting on that chair,
Upon my Papa’s lap because he was there.
And as we all grew older you remained the same,
Still the man who’s piano playing would put us all to shame,
Still the man with the silly jokes, that always managed to make me smile.
The man we thought would be here for a while.
Until the day, you started to fade away.
And only your heart was what was left to stay.
I’ve memorized your tone, the way you’d talk,
And how you’d answer the phone.
It was my papa, always so proud.
I remember when Nana said that night, “It’s okay David you can catch that cloud.”
And whatever caused it I cannot forgive
Because it took so much life, you had left to live.
And even though it’s different now,
Your still here with me somehow.
But just because you won’t be there on my wedding day,
Or when I graduate, I’d have to say,
That you’ve taught me enough to grow,
And papa I want you to know,
That you’ll be there with me in my heart,
And I love you so.

Fond Memories of Dave from Don Ostrow

Having been at the UW only since 1999, I have known Dave for less time than most of those attending the celebration of his life. Nonetheless, I developed a closer relationship with him than with any colleagues at my many prior institutions, partly because we shared two major passions, teaching and wildlife. During those 10 years, I worked closely with Dave, annually updating the hepato-biliary chapters in the Gut Course syllabus and leading one of the student seminar groups. The Gut Course was his pet project and the one for which he is justifiably best known. We also collaborated on a Seattle Audubon project when I was Membership Chair for that group. In both areas, Dave was the master and I the acolyte, due to his breadth of knowledge, his zeal for learning and teaching, his creativity, and his insightful questions.

Dave was a joy to know and work with, the model of a true gentleman. He was open to new suggestions, gentle but incisive when criticizing, and always “gilded the philosophic pill” with his warm humor. He radiated an infectious enthusiasm for all he did, and this was a major factor in his effectiveness and popularity as a teacher and colleague. I thought I was a really good teacher until Dave’s superior skills honed and further advanced my own.

We also shared a third interest, choral music. Dave and Donna always attended the concerts given by the Sacred Music Chorale, the choral group of which I am managing director. Annually, I joined with Dave, Chuck Pope, and Cy Rubin, in the “old GI geezers quartet”, to sing the witty, whimsical ditties Dave wrote for our GI Division parties and the final class session of each year’s Gut Course. The students ate them up, even though our harmony left something to be desired.

We all knew the outlook was grim when Dave’s upbeat attitude gave way to justifiable pessimism toward the end of his final illness. Sadly, Dave suffered a long, slow decline, with all systems ultimately failing except for his wonderful sense of humor. In his time of trial, Donna’s love and nursing skills, and the support of his four sons and their families, helped him to depart with his customary grace. There is a lot of love in the Saunders family.

It is difficult to accept the emptiness in the mezzanine office cubicle next to mine. We of the GI Division are fortunate to have Mike, his son and clone, as a living reminder of his beloved dad. We shall all miss Dave, but none more so than Donna, I am sure. May God bless her and the rest of the family.

J. Donald (Don) Ostrow
Affiliate Professor of Medicine
UW GI/Hepatology Division

A Tribute from Mamie Bolender, fellow bird lover and steward

A tribute to Dr. David Saunders,

It is with deep sadness that we say "good-by" to a good and gentle friend—a dedicated servant of mankind, who made this world a much better place.

On the other hand, it is a joy to celebrate the life of such a person who was dedicated to family, to the natural world, and to an outstanding career. He set sterling examples of how to live life well.

As a member of the Lake Forest Park Birders' Group, David took upon himself the task of notifying each of us of the monthly outings. His message usually read "Jan, (our leader and master birder from the Audubon Society) will meet her "flock" at Great Harvest Bakery at 9 AM..." on the given Sunday morning. He would carry his wonderful birding scope to each outing and set it so each of us could view the colorful merganser or Cooper's hawk or any bird which would remain in one place long enough for each to see, and we'd enjoy the clear view.

David's dedication to conservation was genuine and was evident in his faithful participation in LFP Stewardship Foundation work parties at stream restorations and at Grace Cole Nature Park. His good humor never wavered even on those occasions which he referred to as "bait and switch" operations, which were publicized as planting parties, but turned out to be cutting and digging blackberries...again!! Sometimes a grandson would accompany him to these work parties and on other occasions three generations of Saunders might appear. His legacy lives in his family.

David staunchly supported the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation's. At each year's fund raiser, the Saunders family occupied an entire table and clearly enjoyed a wonderful evening of companionship and generous bidding. Thank you, Saunders family, for your steadfast support.

Soft-spoken and understated as he was, we knew little of his celebrated career as faculty member and chair of the gastroenterology at the UW Medical School. He did advocate adamantly, though, that all should have regular colonoscopies. He'd be pleased if all who read this took that advice to heart.

It has been a great privilege and inspiration to have shared a small part of David's life. The Lake Forest Park Birders and the Board of Directors of the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation join me in paying tribute to a good, a gracious and a generous man.

Mamie Bolender, fellow bird lover and steward.
LFP Birders and LFP Stewardship Foundation

Memories from Derek Netelenbos

For someone who would not entertain solicitations for charity over the phone, Dr. Saunders was one of the most generous people I ever had the pleasure to know. As others have written, it is very difficult to articulate the magic that was created at the Saunders’ home as we were growing up and I consider myself very privileged to have been part of it all.

As a father of four now, I can truly appreciate how gracious and patient Dr. and Mrs. Saunders were with all of the chaos created at their home, especially during times that would normally be reserved for immediate family – meals, family outings, weekends and the like.

I have so many great memories of my childhood with the Saunders Family but the ones that come immediately to mind that specifically include Dr. Saunders are…

- My first hike to the Mount Rainier region with Boz, his Dad and the mystery girls from England; who were they? I recall Jay had a crush on one or maybe both of them. I hope to return with my kids.

- My first, and hopefully only, upper GI. I hope never to return by myself or with my kids.

- Dr. Saunders loading the dishwasher after dinner. I’m not sure if this occurred every night, but it made enough of an impact on me that I assumed it did…and rightfully so because Mrs. Saunders’ gourmet meals were worth that and more.

- Dr. Saunders tending to an ingrown toe nail I had as a kid by shimming some tissue under the nail with the care and diligence as if he were giving me that damn upper GI.

- His bicycle commute. Yes he rode a bike to the UW and was ahead of his time in doing so, but the bike he rode was also ahead of its time…the predecessor to the modern-day mountain bike; a modified ten/twelve speed with straight handles bars.

- Safety. If the AAA ever needed a spokesperson, Dr. Saunders was the person for the job. Five-point harnesses, 36” rearview mirrors and backup warning signals all in a standard passenger vehicle.

- The fact that he didn’t even raise his voice when Boz “accidently” stabbed Mike in the hand with a pencil. And yes, the lead broke off in Mike’s hand and I had the pleasure of witnessing an impromptu surgery. If he had a temper I would have expected to see it that day.

- His nickname for Brian – B-Bones and the way he would always say it; short “B” and a long extended “Booooones”. Also the fact that he frequently said it randomly or when Boz was upset about something as to almost taunt Brian or at least let him know that whining about a bad Subbuteo call was not worth throwing a fit over.

- His ability to block out the banter and yelling of a dozen boys behind his illuminated reading glass sitting in his comfy chair adjacent to the fire. Maybe he was taking it all in.

I am glad I was able to see Dr. Saunders one last time at Boz’s 40th this past December. Even in his declining health he was quick with several jokes and was keenly interested in receiving an update on my family and me.

Thanks you so much Dr. and Mrs. Saunders for sharing your sons with the “Wayward Boys” and making your home such a welcome place for boys to be boys.

Derek Netelenbos

David Saunders: Doctor, poet, musician and lover of nature (Seattle Times)

Here is a link to Dad's obituary in today's Seattle Times. Many thanks to Seattle Times staff reporter, Sanjay Bhatt, for his sincere and genuine work.

"David Saunders: Doctor, poet, musician and lover of nature"