David Philip Ankrom

David Philip Ankrom departed this life on Sunday, June 16, 2024, after a long battle with depression. He is survived by his children MyaKoda and Xavier, the greatest love and light of his life. He is also survived by his sister Rebecca Brown, brother Joseph Ankrom (son Rob Dowsley, wife Kelly, daughter Hailee, son Brian), and brother Matthew Ankrom (daughter Karina, son Karl), and his brother in spirit, Geoff Vincent.
David was born on June 28, 1970 to Robert and Susan (King-Ankrom) Lessien at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak Michigan. He was the third of their four children.
He showed a very early aptitude for figuring out all things mechanical and electronic. His high-spirited nature and unbridled curiosity led him to wire the phone to the stereo and to bootleg cable when his mother was not around to know. He and his brother Matthew would also dress in "army mans" clothes, all kitted up with plastic guns slung around them, and go off exploring in the local Rochester Park. For that they appeared as the lead article in the Rochester Eccentric.
He spent many years as a young man travelling around as part of the Grateful Dead diaspora, going to shows and camping out. He worked as a tow truck driver for Bob Adams Towing, being the one to tow the Red Wings Limo after their tragic accident, and pulling a vehicle fully out of a nursing home room and another time out of the house that is at the intersection of Greenfield and 14Mile. You know – the one with the very large boulder in front of it.
Eventually he transitioned into an IT infrastructure role, and grew that into a full project manager role, setting up call centers for large organizations such as Alcoa. He enjoyed the work as it blended his brilliant mind and his fascination with gadgetry and his caring way with the people who depended on that technology. He loved working with his hands, and he could make anything work whether it was automotive, construction, or electronics. He remodeled several houses or large parts of them, could fix any vehicle, and took pride in his Scottish ability to make do with very little expense. No job was ever too big – he would tackle it and he would persist until it was done.
He was fascinated with science, most notably physics. His grasp of the subject matter was comprehensive and entirely self-taught. But he could explain it in such simple terms that it made the topic accessible and engaging. He also loved art and music and dabbled in photography. He adored Mozart, and recalled frequently his first albums received as a gift when he was seven. He frequented the DSO but was not constrained to any one genre. He could hear the beauty in all.
His generosity, sensitivity, and caring came through even when at age five, he rescued and brought home baby blue jays that had been knocked out of their nest. Later in life he had leftovers from a birthday party, so he packed up several plates and delivered them to homeless people along Eight Mile. He was proud of the countless pints of blood he donated. He registered with Gift of Life to donate organs and tissues. And if anyone was in trouble, he would be there – no hesitation and no questions asked.
In the end, his life became too difficult. He missed his children, denied access by their mother. As other troubles mounted, they were ultimately too much for this brave, brilliant, and sensitive man. He would say to anyone reading this – reach out for help and healing. Don't wait.
We are grateful that his suffering has ended, and we wish him God speed and a peaceful rest. Thank you, David, for your presence. You are truly our beloved father, friend, and brother.
We will get by; we will survive.