A wonderful person and a true friend |
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September 27, 1936 – May 31, 2009
Houston, Texas, USA
I met David in the late 1960s when he headed up the Research Department at F.I. DuPont, a Wall Street brokerage firm. He contracted with me to double the capacity of the firm’s CDC 160-A research report retrieval computer system. That was my first computer programming contract performed as an independent consultant.
Before long I invested in David’s own company, Grace-Metro Enterprises, Ltd. and we worked together on a number of projects. GME Ltd. ultimately closed, but in the late 1980s David convinced me to help him run a magazine he had acquired, Financier. I built the subscription maintenance system and operated much of it for several years, until the magazine also shut down.
In the years leading up to and during the Financier project David had his own New York investment management firm, Grace Capital.
We drifted apart, and then in 1992 David contacted me from Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, where he had taken a contract position as Financial Advisor to the national government of the FSM. Much to my surprise the FSM used Wang computers,
which had been my specialty for some years, and were looking for a Computer Advisor. I applied, won the position, and went to Pohnpei. While I had intended to stay forever, the FSM abrogated the contract by not providing housing, and after three months I
left to return to the Houston area. Micronesia was a life-changing experience for me, though, and my fascinating time there was brought about by David. We probably visited and dined out together more in Micronesia than at any other time in our lives.
Some years later, when David had returned from Micronesia and was preparing to exit New York City forever, I convinced him to come to the Houston area and stay in our guest room until he figured out where he might like to live and got his own place. He
did, and spent several years living with us, during which time he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
David worked in this area at a community college, teaching Algebra. He loved teaching. He eventually got his own apartment and occasionally visited me on his way to and from work. Our contact dropped off substantially in 2009 as David’s weakened voice
made phone communication virtually impossible, and his increasing physical weakness led him to visit less frequently.
David passed away on May 31, 2009, from complications of Parkinson’s. His good friend and assistant Trevor Miller was with David to the end. I only learned, though, of David’s passing some three weeks after the fact when I inquired of his brother
William in Florida why David had not been responding to emails or phone messages. Then, some time later, I got more information from Trevor. Parkinson’s had taken David in a remarkably short time, about 2-1/2 years from the time of diagnosis. The end was
difficult and ugly.
Although Trevor retrieved numerous snapshots and things like awards and certificates from David’s apartment, neither Trevor nor brother William, to whom Trevor shipped the material, made any scans available to me for this memorial website.
David was a wonderful human being, thoughtful and honest to a fault, and brilliant. He was a world class Bridge player. He will be sorely missed by the many people who valued his friendship.
Originally written: August 24, 2009
Pictures of H. David Grace in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia
Banker David – Stone money bank and men’s house
Dave and Norm ( FSM Development Bank) at Yap Pier Cafe, Colonia, Yap
With Leo Flauaw, FSMDB, outside traditional Yap village
David “On The Beach”, Yap Proper Island
On Tomil Island, Yap State
Yap International Airport. Al Tu’uth, FSM Secretaryy of Finance;
David Grace, Advisor to the Secretary;
John Mangafel, former Yap Governor;
and Norm Clow, Advisor to FSM Development Bank
Men’s house with Leo Flauaw
Yap Pier Cafe with Asterio Takesy, Scty of Resources and Development and Tony Oto, Special Assistant to the President