David Ernst

Kathryn, I am so sorry to hear that Dave has passed away. It has been a long time since we have connected but I just wanted you to know that I am thinking about you and your family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

I knew Dave through our monthly Pitch game, where over the years he became one of my favorite people in the group. I really loved spending time with him, not because he was a great card player - he was terrible! - but he was just so much fun to be around even if we lost. He was humble and kind in a way that stood out. Dave was a guy I wish I got to know better. You always think you have more time... until you don't. I feel his absence with deep sadness, in a way that I can only imagine...

I was fortunate to know Dave first as a neighbor, then as a close friend and later as a colleague. Dave recruited me many years ago to serve as an expert in a food litigation case he was handling, and that led to many wonderful opportunities and experiences I had the privilege of sharing with him. Although I´m not an attorney, I´ve worked with many, and Dave´s brilliance and skills as a litigator were as impressive as the best of them. While quite accomplished, he had a strong sense of...

Dave and I grew up together as kids on NE 205th Street across from Reynolds High School. Dave lived 2 houses down from me, we attended Fairview Grade School and Reynolds High School together. We were always competing against each other in various sports, from wiffle ball as little kids, basketball. We would throw the football around and played baseball against each other as we got a little older. We lost touch after high school, but it sounds like Dave had an incredibly successful career and...

Dave and I were RAs for Hawley Hall at OSU in 1981. I remember him as fun, kind and caring.

I met Dave when he was a student at Reynolds High School and I was a science teacher. I did not have Dave in class but played trumpet with him a few times in a community band organized by the high school band teacher. Dave was a busy guy and did not keep doing that. My good horn got stolen and I could only afford an old beater. When we had community band concerts coming up, Dave was nice enough to lend me his Bach Stradivarius silver trumpet. Later I became a lawyer at Stoel Rives. When...

Dave and I became friends in high school when we'd meet each other in many of the same classes. He was sure to earn the higher score, which is a trademark of his beautiful life. I remember meeting Kathryn while they were dating and he was timid to say the, "m" word, but Kathryn is surely the delight of his life, alongside their two children. My husband and I more recently had the privilege of spending time together where he would share his admiration of his kids. He was also passionate about...

Dave was so generous with his time and with his knowledge. I work in claims and he was always an enormous help with food born injury claims. There are a lot of defense attorneys who can explain the science, but what set Dave apart was his compassion for others. We had some pretty sad cases we worked on together and Dave always treated people with dignity and respect. The world has lost a very good human. My deepest condolences to his wife, his mother and his children.

I had the privilege of working with Dave when he first started out at Bullivant in the 80s. I was a legal secretary and he was a new associate...or maybe even a law student...can't remember. But what I do remember about Dave was his great sense of humor and often wondered if he would ever get serious enough to be an attorney...but am happy to hear that he never did lose that sense of humor. Our paths never crossed again...but he is one of the few that I do remember from my many years in...