David Lah Obituary
Dave received his PHD from the University of Wisconsin.
Dave retired after 39 years working as an economist for the Department of Labor in Washington DC where he made many life-long friends.
Dave enjoyed fishing, baseball, hiking and talking about politics. He had a good sense of humor and a great love for his family and especially enjoyed spending time with Kim and Mike. Dave will be missed.
Dave's family will be forever grateful for the loving care provided by Allegheny General Hospital's 9th floor Hospice Nurses and Staff.
Private arrangements entrusted to Pittsburgh Cremation and Funeral Care, Robinson Township. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation of Western Pennsylvania.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
6 Entries
Nicholas Cheper
November 24, 2024
I want to send my condolences to you and your family on the death of your brother, Dave Lah. He was one of the nicest gentlemen I have ever met. I had the pleasure to meet Dave at Notre Dame. Some of us were his roommates. Dave cared about all of us and took an interest in our activities, both at college and afterwards. I recall our last phone conversation where he asked about my wife and family. I know he worked hard on his doctorate and had an amazing career. He was a credit to himself and his family and friends and will truly be missed.
Dr. Nick Cheper
November 24, 2024
Friend
John Paul Tolson
November 21, 2024
Dave was one of my best-ever friends. We met in college during the late 1960s where he seemed to know everyone. We became much closer and really hit it off in our late 20s and 30s while we were living and working in Washington, DC. We had all sorts of fun and great experiences hiking, canoeing, playing league softball in West Potomac Park (he was known for his clutch hitting), trout fishing in his beloved Pennsylvania, and meeting for deep dish pizza at Armand´s on Wisconsin Avenue every couple months. We even traveled to Europe on a two-week trip where the romantic in him bemoaned losing the address of a cute Irish lass who we met on a train or ferry. Dave had a great sense of humor, loved his immediate and extended family, and felt tremendous empathy for the poor and less fortunate. He aimed to help those individuals through his work at the U.S. Department of Labor. And he was always ready to sacrifice his own comfort and interests to help friends and colleagues who might need a hand or be in a bind. And he did so quietly with no fanfare. Although life´s circumstances caused us to drift apart during the past 20 years, we always found joy and laughter in the occasional phone call. So it was with much shock and sorrow that I learned of Dave´s passing. He never let on about his health. He would want his friends to carry on and be happy. Rest in peace, my dear friend. Thank you for your wonderful friendship over the years. You are deeply, deeply missed.
Richard Morris
June 12, 2024
As my colleague and friend the stories are moving, insightful and endless. David's impact on my life was and continues to be profound. I will be forever grateful for his friendship. In many ways he was the Brother I never had.
I miss my friend.
Richard Morris
David Fredericka
June 4, 2024
Dave was an exceptional human being and humanitarian. I have many fond memories of our time together at Notre Dame. He was part of my wedding and he met my two children. He was my best friend although we were miles apart my wife Cathy, and I send our sympathy to all of the family members.
David N. Fredericka M.D.
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Carol flint
May 28, 2024
David worked very hard to finish his doctorate. He persevered. He stayed in neighborhoods of Chicago, that demanded vigilance. He figured out how to be safe. He studied how the ordinary worker or laborer used his paycheck. Most of the economic models were created by upper class white academics. The review committee said he had to speak the native language of the mostly male teams that he worked with. He was versatile in his navigation. Part of his thesis was like cultural anthropology. So he rewrote part of his thesis to prove his observations. He actually worked in hard labor jobs. It was brave, I visited him in Chicago. We actually walked through a gang encounter. He instructed me how to handle eye contact and body posture. When we were safe, he said I had been very close. I knew him in Madison. He could swing a bat so the ball flew. Amazing sound. And he he an amazing sense of humor. He was well read, he introduced me to a number of authors. I just read one of his letters from 1976, sorting old papers. You must miss him deeply. Kind to the depths of his soul.
Mike Lah
May 24, 2024
David was the smartest person I know. So very unassuming and great sense of humor. I very much looked up to him as a cousin when I was growing up. And with our fishing trips when we were young. In later years it was to discuss politics. Here is a David gem from young. Setup: we are in car with our dad's diving. We go past a motel that has a sign Free TV (meaning no charge for TV). Dave says why don't we stay there 1 night and take the free TV?
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