David Paul Suder

Suder, David Paul David Paul Suder, age 58, passed away on October 7, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Passing in his sleep, his entry into eternal life was unexpected, yet peaceful, marking a much-too-soon end of a life filled with love, respect and remarkable accomplishment. Dave is now reunited with his loving parents, Paul and Mary Alice Suder, who not only fueled Dave's life's journey with love and security, but also guided him toward a path to success by instilling in him the value of hard work and entrepreneurship. It was these core values Dave called upon in 1996 when he and a trusted friend wrote a business plan for a start-up company that was to become Keenan, Hopkins, Suder & Stowell, Inc. now a 1,200-person, multistate corporation where Dave served as President and CEO until his death. Neither Dave nor his father, who taught him the construction business, realized the eventual impact of what began in a garage adjacent to Dave's father's contracting company. Dave only knew what he wanted to accomplish and how he wanted to benefit employees along the way. He forged ahead, albeit blindly at times, to make what seemed impossible a reality, experiencing a range of emotions he once described as "all out panic to heart-pounding excitement, often within the same day." Anyone who had the privilege of working with Dave during his 35-year-career didn't just acknowledge his full-steam-ahead trait, they embraced it and loved him for it. His enthusiasm was addictive, and it helped spur a culture of self-improvement and innovation of which people wanted to be a part. Others inside and outside the construction industry also recognized Dave's value, resulting in his being named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009, as well as receiving numerous invitations throughout his career to share his business insights with national trade media. Although KHS&S was Dave's professional passion, his heart belonged to his six adored children Colby, Stone, Slade, Siena, Silvana and Skyler. Driven to give them the same loving foundation he received, Dave worked diligently to balance home and professional responsibilities, always finding time to coach baseball teams, attend recitals, and create family experiences, whether to cheer on his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers or to fly to exotic locations where he would introduce his children to a large world of other customs and cultures. In addition to his children and their mothers, Dave is survived by his beloved sister, Susan Donovan and her husband, Lee, and by his devoted and loving brother, Michael and his wife, Kathleen. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews including Danielle, (husband Joshua), Darren, James, Tyler, Machell (deceased), Richard (deceased), Michael ('Mikey") and Hope; nine grandnieces and grandnephews, including Alexis, Hunter, Beau, Sebastian, Rebecca (husband Travis), Victoria (husband James), Nichole, Nathaniel and Kaleb; and one great, great niece, Oaklynn. A native Californian, Dave was born in San Francisco in 1961 and graduated in 1979 from Servite High School, where he served as a volunteer and advisor. It was at Servite where he also met life-long friends who mutually cheered, supported and strengthened one another through life's many chapters. Dave's zest for life extended to everything he loved, whether it was hunting with his brother, supporting local sports teams, traveling to numerous Super Bowls, boating along the California coast or skiing in Aspen. He realized life was a finite gift and used every day to grow his collection of life experiences while enriching the lives of people around him. As his company and success grew, Dave became ever more aware of his need to give back to others and pay forward the many blessings in his life. In addition to corporate charities, Dave contributed to many personal ones, including the American Heart Association, Taller San Jose Hope Builders, ACE Los Angeles, and numerous other Catholic organizations, children's charities and educational scholarship programs. Dave served on the Board of Directors of the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, which in 2006 named him a Profiles of Courage Community Angel for his significant time and financial contributions to the organization. In February 2019, Dave was diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumor, successfully removed through surgery, from which he had an outstanding recovery. Neither he nor his loved ones realized it at the time, Dave's diagnosis resulted in his receiving a precious God-given gift. Not only was he granted an opportunity to share with others the importance they played in his life, but he also received an outpouring of love, emotion and support that he described as "completely overwhelming." The powerful experience profoundly touched Dave and contributed to his last six months of life being, as he told friends, one of the most fulfilled and happiest periods of his life. Although no one imagined it would end so quickly, those he left behind will be forever consoled by the extraordinary peace and positivity that shone around Dave during his final days. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." You lived this philosophy while on Earth, dear friend, and now you go ahead of us in a new and separate direction. Godspeed as you clear this path, so that one day we can easily find you and walk along together. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday November 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the Anaheim Center for the Performing Arts at Servite High School, 1952 W. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801.