David L. Aposhian

Obituary Condolences

I am so sorry to learn of David's departure. I offer my belated condolences. I was thinking of David just today, and decided to view his extraordinarily beautiful houses on the web again, only to discover he is gone. He'll never be forgotten by those who once knew him as a friend.

I knew David about the time he started a moving business, then bought his first house in Cambridge, intending to renovate. He told me, "I'd never picked up a hammer before." But he unquestionably taught himself well.

I recall visiting from Maryland, and seeing that first house both before and during renovation. Even David's first effort at design produced superb results. A junky old disaster became a beautiful, upscale interior.

Not without effort, though. David explained to me, "I reinvented the staircase," as his first attempt to build one failed to match the dimensions of the house, requiring him to tear the thing out and build another. David told me, "You have to love building"; and he sure did.

David also seemed to have an inborn instinct for business. I was quite skeptical when David told me the neighborhood was about to blossom; but he was right. The old, rundown, working class neighborhood a few blocks from Harvard became gentrified; David made good money; and, having taught himself the mechanics of construction, moved on to his next project.

He told me that on his long walks around Cambridge, he'd periodically see a "For Sale" sign on a place that triggered an idea for construction. In those early days, he had to be extraordinarily careful in selecting sites. "If I make a mistake, I'm ruined," David told me.

I don't know whether David ever did the physical work of construction again, but the experience he gained on his first house gave him the judgement that enabled him to organize and supervise the building work of others.

David and I almost did a deal together, as he was looking at a Cambridge property with two houses on it, and was short some financing. David was to get the larger house, and I'd own the smaller one next door. Sadly, the deal fell through, as someone else picked up the property. Nevertheless, David sparked an enthusiam for real estate in me. I'm not a builder by trade - I don't have the necessary hands-on experience - but I trace my ownership of rental property to David's inspiration.

David had a great eye and wonderful design capabilities. Periodically, over the years, I would get on the Internet to look up and admire the buildings he achitected and built. I'd show his buildings to friends as examples of what urban design should be.

I kept meaning to look David up and say, "Hello", these many years later. Or stop over in Boston on of my frequent flights to or from Europe, so that I might visit. Instead, I can only reiterate my condolences. David's buildings stand as testament to his talent and taste.

My deepest sympathies to David's family. I met him when I came to Baltimore for my senior year of high school. When I set out for New England Conservatory, David went to Harvard. We went our separate ways, but I was able to see him a few times in Boston perhaps 15 years ago. He gave me a nighttime tour of some of the homes he had designed (one family got rather nervous at the noises outside!). He was a brilliant and wonderful person, and I am very sorry for your loss.

I knew David on and off for over thirty years, and arranged financing on quite a number of his developments. I deeply admired his passion and creativity, his care about creating spaces in which people could flourish, and his willingness to go deep into the details to to make his vision real.

Over the years I also listened as he talked with great affection about his family, and I send them my deepest sympathy.

Tim O'Donnell

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.