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Last evening, (Aug. 13/21) it was with shock and deep sadness that I learned of the passing (July 18/21) of my friend, and www.DisabilityPride.net’s name sake, Dave Hingsburger.
Dave and I first became friends (I’d say early in 1976) as I started grade 9 at West Toronto Secondary High School, and he worked as a support staff in the school for a few of us with physical disabilities. Dave would assist us with the mechanics of switching text books between classes (no laptops back then) taking jackets off/on, washroom breaks, and trips up/down the elevator to get to various classes.
It wasn’t too long before I preferred Dave’s assistance with helping me eat my lunch as opposed to the other staff support person, who was a very nice elderly woman, but didn’t have a whole lot to talk about with a 16 year old.
One time as we were in the elevator and for whatever reason I was yammering on about what “a dedicated student” I was, Dave tried to politely interrupt me, as if he didn’t want me to go face first into that metaphorical brick wall:
“Gerianne, do you know…” he started to ask.
I kept going: “Blah blah blah dedicated student blah blah blah.”
Dave interrupted again, but with a little more umpth: “Gerianne… Do you know what the true definition of dedication is?”
“Of course I do!” I replied: “It’s blah blah blah.”
Dave very calmly comes back with a: “Nnnno… No. The ‘true’ definition of dedication is… stupidity!!!” (lol. Brick wall ran into – full throttle.)
For many years we lost contact, but in recent years we reconnected again thanks to Facebook. (See: Site History – “Reuniting With My Friend, Dave’.) Unbeknownst to me, by this time, Dave had returned to his first career and had become known globally as an advocate and lecturer on behalf of persons with intellectual disabilities.
Coincidentally on the same day that Dave happened to publish an article that he asked me to write for his publication, (my “Knock, Knock, Who’s There? The Do’s and Don’ts of Being Employed in Someone’s Home” article) his blog reached 4 million hits, and trust me, my little literary contribution had nothing to do with his blog reaching that astronomical number. Actually that day, DisabilityPride.net got its 2nd highest number of visitors ever – most from Dave’s blog and Facebook page.
When a few mutual associates discovered I knew Dave as a friend, I got a few comments such as: “You know Dave Hingsburger personally??? You”ve met him??? Like you’re actually personal friends??? Wow! I’m in awe of you Gerianne!”
Sadly though Dave and I had some differing views about the whole “mask wearing – covid” issue, so we really didn’t connect much after that; but Dave (and Joe) will always be snuggled deeply in my heart, whether he knew it, believed it, or not.
Today I sit here, trying to wrap my head around the concept that Dave is no longer in this world in person. It’s a concept that, for me, will take some getting use to. People who are deep in your heart don’t always know they’re there, but nonetheless you feel a deep loss when you realize that their physical presence is no longer in this world. There’ll be no more chats, no more contact, no more “I wonder how he’s doing.”
Godspeed my friend, Dave Hingsburger. Godspeed to you. You’ll be missed by so many. You were and are so loved by so many.
