DAVID P. FREY

DAVID P. FREY - CABOT, Vt. - "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away"- Maya Angelou David P. Frey, 55, died on July 20, 2014, with his wife and son by his side, following a courageous battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Dave was born in Akron, Ohio, on Sept. 15, 1958. A graduate of Springfield High School in Akron, Ohio, and Norwich University, Dave pursued several business ventures in Rochester, N.Y., San Diego, Calif., and Williston, Vt., before embarking on his legal career. Dave worked with his wife at Steckel Law Office as business manager, paralegal and associate attorney for 10 years. He was licensed to practice law in Vermont after completion of a four year clerkship and passing the bar exam. Dave's passion was advocacy and support for victims of crime, especially children. He founded the Vermont Victim Advocacy Project, through which he provided pro bono legal services to crime victims. Dave served as Counsel to the Vermont Restitution Unit and Executive Director of OUR House of Central Vermont. He was the Executive Director of the Orleans County Child Advocacy Center and an officer and director of the Vermont Children's Alliance until the relentless progression of his disease compelled his retirement. Dave enjoyed riding his motorcycle, songwriting, playing the piano, drums, guitar and bass, photography and digital art, video gaming and watching soccer matches with his son, Jordan, sharing dinner, drinks, and philosophical discussions with good friends, and jam sessions with Eric. Above all, he treasured the time he spent with his two legged and four-legged family. Dave will be remembered for his unquenchable thirst for knowledge, keen intellect, creativity, honesty, sense of humor, determination, quirky individuality, and true compassion for others, qualities that he retained to the very end. He faced his diagnosis with strength, dignity and grace. Dave is survived by his wife, Su Steckel, and son, Jordan Steckel-Frey, of Cabot; his beloved dogs, Champ, Mac and Damon; his mother-in-law, Norma Steckel of Allentown, Pa.; brother- and sister-in-law, Scott Steckel and Susan Steckel of Raleigh, N.C.; brother-in-law, Timothy Steckel, M.D., of New Tripoli, Pa.; sister-in-law, Leigh Steckel of Macungie, Pa.; nephew, Eric Steckel of Raleigh, N.C.; and nephew, Matt Steckel, and niece, Paige Steckel, of Macungie, Pa. His father-in-law, Harry Steckel, predeceased him. The Steckel-Frey family would like to thank the Fletcher Allen Pulmonary and Critical Care Team, Internal Medicine Team, Radiation Oncology Team, Respiratory Therapy Team and the amazing nursing staff on Baird 4 for their exceptional care and compassion. Friends and colleagues may call to pay their respects and share memories of Dave between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on July 31, 2014, at The Topnotch Resort-Summit Room in Stowe, Vt. At Dave's request, a party to celebrate his life will be held at Julio's Cantina in Montpelier on Aug. 9, 2014, from 2 to 4 p.m. On line condolences may be send to www.guareandsons.com. Contributions in Dave's memory may be made to the Vermont Lung Center, Room 226, HSRF, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 149 Beaumont Ave., Burlington, VT 05405, or online at www.uvm.edu/ medicine/vermontlung/, because every breath counts.