David Alan Goldberg

David passed away peacefully on March 28th, 2026.

If you ever met Dave Goldberg, "Hooch", "Dirty Dave", "Bougie", "Uncle Boogie", you have a story about him. That's just how it was.

David was born on November 24th, 1940, to Jack and Elaine Goldberg, and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. From an early age, he showed the personality that would define him, tough, resourceful, and full of life. He began in sales as a young boy, selling flowers and cherries he picked in neighborhood yards to local families, an early glimpse of the hustle, charm, and instinct for connection that would stay with him his entire life.
He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps, where he developed the discipline, and resilience that became core to who he was. During his time overseas in the Philippines, he developed a lasting appreciation for a wide variety of fruits and cultures.
After his military service, he spent much of his career in the produce business. He began working with his father at the Youngstown Produce Company where he learned the trade and built relationships that would last a lifetime. He later started his own company, J & D Quality Produce, which he ran alongside his brother-in-law, Jay Gelbaum. He became known for his deep knowledge and love of produce - especially fruit. He almost always came home with a pallet of something incredible: the best, most perfectly ripe fruit or vegetables. He had a way of making food feel like connection. He gave fruit to people constantly, showed up with pockets full of cherries, and built friendships with restaurant owners all over town, people who knew him, trusted him, and were always happy to see him walk through the door.
In 1998, he started his own window business and invited his son Kevin to join him. Together, they built the business the way he believed things should be done, with trust, integrity, and a handshake in true gentleman fashion. He owned and operated the business from 1998 to 2008, when he decided it was time, at least in his words, "to retire." In reality, he simply shifted roles with Kevin so he could spend more time on the road, doing what he loved most: connecting with people. For the next 12 years, he continued working with customers, enjoying the conversations as much as the work itself. Anyone who had Dave in their home knows that at some point, they may have forgotten he was there to sell them windows. He loved talking about gardening and cars, and if there was a dog nearby, it likely received a treat from his pocket.
He was never just selling something, he was building relationships, leaving impressions, and making people feel like they had known him forever. To know him was to have a story about him. He was one of the craziest, funniest, most unforgettable characters most people ever met. Whether you knew him briefly or for a lifetime, you remembered him. He had a presence, tough, bold, and a little bit legendary. In Youngstown, his name carried weight. He had a reputation, and no one dared mess with him.

He was a true character, quick-witted, sharp, and always able to talk his way into or out of just about anything. Around town, he was also known for his dancing, and it wasn't out of the ordinary for a place to clear a floor and ask him to dance for them. Known to some as "Bougie," a nickname that captured both his larger-than-life personality and his gift for storytelling, he had a way of making every interaction memorable. In the produce world, he was known as "Dirty Dave," a name that stuck and became part of his reputation, one more layer of a man who was impossible to define in just one way. Nothing intimidated him, nothing rattled him, and no situation ever seemed too big for him to handle.

He lived life in his own way, loud, stylish, and full of personality. He took pride in his appearance, especially his sharp, fancy shoes. You could always hear him coming down the road, R & B blasting out the sunroof, Pall Mall in hand, warm coffee in an old styrofoam cup, shiny gold necklace sparkling in the sun, and engines rumbling. When he arrived home he was usually excited to share some sort of sweet treat or candy that he'd picked up during his travels.

He was also an incredible cook. People would randomly show up at the house around dinnertime just to see what he had made that night. His fettuccine was unforgettable, and his legendary blackened potatoes remain a mystery no one has ever been able to recreate, no matter how many times they've tried. Like everything he did, he made it special.

He loved dogs and always had one waiting for him at home and they usually were greeted with lots of affection and a treat of their own, most often doughnuts. He loved fishing too and through summer trips to Canada passed that love on to his children. And boy there are some good stories!

He shared much of his life with his beloved wife, Wendy Goldberg, affectionately known as "Sweetie", a name he lovingly called her. Together, they built a life and raised four children all of whom followed in their fathers footsteps and are entrepreneurs: Amy Goldberg (Kim Koenig), stepchildren Grant and Brooke; Heidi Goldberg (Justin Graham), child Madison Graham; Kevin Goldberg (Rena Goldberg); and Troy Goldberg (Jaimie Madeline), child Max. From a previous marriage, he also had two sons: Cory Friedman (Mindy Friedman), children Drew and Ben; and Greg Friedman (Hannah), children Tyler and Rachel. He is also survived by his brothers, Richard Goldberg and Renwick Goldberg, countless cousins, as well as many nieces and nephews and his grandson, Taylor Youtsas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Elaine Goldberg; his sister, Ava "Shelly" Gelbaum; and his beloved wife, Wendy "Sweetie" Goldberg. After her passing, he was never quite the same, a reflection of the deep love they shared. He leaves behind not just a family, but countless stories, laughter, and moments that will be told and retold for years to come.

There will never be another like him.

Funeral service will be at 11:00am, Friday, April 3rd in Shriver Allison Courtley Weller King Funeral Home, 292 Madison Avenue, Youngstown, OH. 44504.

In memory of David, contributions may be made to The Healthy Hearts and Paw Project, 909 Martin Luther King Blvd SW, Warren, OH 44485

Professional arrangements are being handled by Shriver-Allison-Courtley-Weller-King Funeral Home

Friends and family may view this obituary and share memories and condolences at www.shriverallisoncourtleyfuneralhome.com