David Banghart Obituary

David Banghart
July 23, 1944-December 12, 2011
Resident of Santa Cruz
David was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on July 23rd, 1944. His father, Willard, was a Methodist Preacher and David was raised all over the Central Valley of California. His mother, Margaret Cochrane, raised the family.
David graduated from Modesto Junior college in 1965 and in 1967 received his BA in Theater Arts with emphasis in Technical Theater from San Francisco State. It was in the SFSC theater department he met his future wife, Catherine Crews. Upon graduation, the two married and moved to Santa Barbara, working at UCSB building scenery. In 1971 the couple moved to Sonoma where David was in charge of musical instruments at Sonoma State College.
In 1971, after Catherine received her teaching credential at Sonoma State, they spent nine month traveling the Americas and Europe. Upon returning to the USA, the couple settled into Santa Cruz. David began a fifteen year career in construction. He worked with Get It Up Construction to transform the Santa Cruz train station into the Depot Restaurant. He supervised the remodel of Gault School, and the rebuilding the Board of Supervisors Chambers in San Jose. Of note, David linked his passion for building and his degree in technical theater in 1973 to build a recording studio with no parallel surfaces for Hollywood's Mastering Labs, designed for direct-to-disk cut records. The studio was tuned by Stevie Wonder.
David had the enormous pleasure of assisting renowned Blacksmith E.A.Chase in several large architectural projects. It was a meaningful time of friendship and mutual support.
Indicative of David's true community service orientation that ran throughout life, he joined the Bonny Doon Volunteer Fire Fighters in 1983. In 1985, at a Fireteam Volunteers meeting, he was selected to take computer training at Apple Computer headquarters as part of a grant project exploring the potential use of home computer technology to form a rural county emergency response network. This multi month training would mark a turning point for David's career and was the catalyst for a life shift from construction to computers.
David had a strong passion for efforts aimed at creating peace with justice in the world and displayed his intense civic responsibility in many ways from fire fighting to working for twelve years with HandsNet, an early organization using internet capabilities to connect institutions with excess food to the poor world-wide, particularly in the USA and South Africa. In addition, David travelled with former Mayor, dear friend and co-conspirator, Bert Muhly to Nicaragua in 1987, helping construct houses and schools for families displaced by then President's Reagan's Contra War against the Sandinista government and the Nicaraguan people.
In 1989 David took a leave of absence from HandsNet to build their solar powered, off grid home and haven in the Bonny Doon hills. In many ways, his home reflected his life-long philosophy to leave a light footprint. He eventually moved from HandsNet to taking care of computers in the Environmental Sciences department at UC Santa Cruz, blending of his passion for the planet, fascination with technology, and a space in which David could fertilize future generations of environmental activists by sharing his stories, wisdom and perspective with the UC Santa Cruz students.
There are many touched by his unwillingness to accept inequity, his powerful integrity, his approach to life as art, and the joy and balance of the path he travelled in pursuit of justice.
For a taste of David, there's a youtube video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppMiSelUFMY
featuring his amazing Cat Whisperer self, one of many talents he took to in his retirement!
He was the youngest of three siblings and is survived by Joy Appleton and Don Banghart. David is also survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Catherine Banghart.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Dec. 29, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for David Banghart

14 Entries

Miriam Bragg

December 23, 2020

His father would have been very pleased with the way he lived his life. He looked like his father. I knew David when we were all younger and his father was pastor at our country church. He, his sister and brother played together many Sunday afternoons after dinner at my parents home The Andersons. Paul and Alvera, near Mt. Union, Iowa.. They are very fond memories. We were friends with his Uncle and Aunt many years later, Don and Donna Jean Cochrane. here in Hendersonville.

Nick Eldredge

January 22, 2012

Ah, David.
As broad and deep . . . as gentle and generous as your footprint on this planet has been, it's difficult to think of life here, at this moment, without the resonance of your fervent physical presence.

Along with a multitude of others, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have walked the Earth at the same time as you. And for our paths to have been woven together on so many sweet occasions.
I thank the fates.
And I thank you.

You may have pushed free of our fascinating physical bonds and risen to a new dimension, but as long as the heart and memory of any of those whose lives you've touched is still pumping and keeping faith, there will be a special place for you right here.
And that'll be a long, long time.
So keep in touch.

Ronald Duffy

January 8, 2012

I knew David way-back-when in Modesto and San Francisco. I didn't keep track of him over the years myself, but I did that through a mutal friend.

Even though that has been years ago (about 48 years) he looked and sounded just like he did then, seeing his picture and You Tube video. Brought back many good memories of San Francico State.

January 7, 2012

Haven't seen my cousin David since 1962 when my family moved from CA.

Thank you for forwarding his obit on to me. When my parents were traveling and got to see David and Catherine they always gave me an update and it was appreciated.

And this is very much appreciated.

Miriam Bragg

January 7, 2012

I Knew David when he was a child. His Father was our Pastor. His Mother, Margaret and my mother Alvera Anderson were life long friends. I have fond memories of spending hours playing on Sunday afternoons with David and his siblings. His life reflects the person I remember as a child. It was an honor to have known him. Miriam Anderson Bragg; Hendersonville, TN

January 4, 2012

Sending you loving thoughts from Colorado. Lisa Dierauf

Paul Sosbee

January 2, 2012

DeeBee was a tremendous, caring, loving human being. If we just had a couple more of him the world may just be OK. I was honored to have known him, and I will always remember him.

-Paul Sosbee

John Peck

January 1, 2012

David,
What has been said at your memorial and written on Legacy.com confirm what we all knew. You are one of the kindest, loving, gentle, caring, inspirational friend, husband, uncle, neighbor, colleague, to come into our life's.
I should not have been surprised by some of the new accomplishments and caring involvements that were bench marks small and large shared by those at the memorial and written in Legacy. You have always been so modest about who you are, and what you have accomplished. I always felt honored and a little scared when you and Catherine asked me to do something at the house, knowing you could have done it as well or better?
Your support of me living on the hill started out a little slowly, but when I told you my daughter was best friends with the daughter of Peter Lumsdaine from The Recourse Center for Nonviolence at Waldorf School, I could tell it was the beginning of a new friendship. And oh what a friendship it has been. I would not be living here on the hill if not for you and Catherine giving me permission to use the existing driveway instead of building a new one deeded with the property that I could not afford to build, along with other issues best left alone. Still being a newbee on the hill 12 years, you and Catherine have been the best neighbors anyone could ask for.
I am now thankful I was able to come to the after Thanksgiving leftover's Friday at the house. You were so peaceful and Buddha like sitting back by the woodstove taking it all in and with your usual ambience that made everyone feel so welcome and comfortable. I knew you had a lung situation but was surprised when you were in the hospital and I came to talk with you about my concerns in replacing the on demand water heater in your bathroom. At that time you were waiting for the test results back from Stanford, in the Christmas card I wrote to you and Catherine a day later, I said hurry home to the paradise you created together here on the hill. It is still hard to believe you are gone. I will now write the last thing I said to you when I was leaving the hospital room that night “I Love you David”!

Alan Richards

January 1, 2012

I didn't meet David until 1999, when I joined the Environmental studies Dept. at UCSC. David was such a wonderful man! If I had a problem, he would solve it, if I faced an obstacle, he would remove it, and Whenever I saw him, I felt better afterwards. His indomitable spirit, his energy, his humanity, and his humor were always an inspiration. He made the world a better place while he was here. I am very grateful to have known him.

December 30, 2011

David, I was so fortunate to have met you in high school. You arrived as a junior, my senior year. Even then, you were a mountain of a young man, with generous laughter and a soft, kind voice. But that voice came booming through in song the day you sang, Ol Man River, A cappella, in a packed gym, during our pep rally. When you finished , everyone was on their feet, cheering and stomping the bleachers. Then there were more great songs from that Voice at Modesto Junior College. I knew for sure you'd be going to Broadway!
But you did better things with your life; marrying your college sweetheart, who remained the love of your life. You both did so much, for so many, because it was the right thing to do, in the name of justice, peace and love. I cant believe you are gone

Catherine, my heart aches for you.
I love you, my friend.
Suzanne Rawlins

Susan Weber

December 30, 2011

I am so fortunate to have known you for so many years. I am bereft with the loss of you, of your loving support, advice, humor, respect, generosity. I believe, without doubt, that you are still with us but oh, how I miss your physical presence.

katrina bray

December 30, 2011

we are so lucky to have known you, visited you, and loved you. your passion & knowledge showed us a glimpse of your expansive world. thank you for riding the big dipper on the boardwalk over and over with me when i was a little girl! peace & love forever from katrina, robert, carly, christy and all our family and friends.

Randy Forgaard

December 30, 2011

Uncle David: You were, and are, a gentle giant among men. You inspired me deeply with your commitment to peace, justice, living in harmony with nature, artistry, love of animals, and tireless efforts to help the less fortunate. Your smile was always welcoming, your manner persuasive, your laugh infectious. Your emails would light up my day, and were signed "Hunc 'o Unc" and "Dee Bee." I miss you greatly. I can feel your presence now, with a warm hand on my shoulder, as I write this.

Aunt Catherine: You have my deepest condolences for the loss of your dearest friend, your life partner, your muse, and your rock. You remind us all of the wonder and mystery and excitement of life, and a loving candor that both individuals and the world profoundly need for understanding and peace. I can't know the depths of emptiness of the loss of your loving David in your life, but I feel I have an inkling, and my heart and those of my little family go out to you with all of our love and support. We are so very sorry. Uncle David was one in a million, and I know David's light will shine inside you like a candle that cannot be snuffed. You are strongly in our thoughts.

Grey Hayes

December 29, 2011

I miss you so much and feel so lucky to have so many very fine memories. Your fire for Justice, deep ecological understanding, and humor, tenderness, and observational power motivate me. I wish we had more time...Grey

Showing 1 - 14 of 14 results