David W. Sweetapple

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of David W. Sweetapple of Brattleboro, Vermont. Dave died suddenly on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at the age of 58. He was born in Newburg, New York on November 8, 1965. He received his Bachelors degree at Humber College in Toronto, Ontario in 1988, but he spent his full life in the music business and in the Land Rover enthusiasts' world.
Dave was always passionate about music and played in punk rock bands during his youth in St. John's, Newfoundland. He and his childhood friends also had a zine called Wabana Riot and the stories he would tell about it were epic.
In 1991, Dave moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he met his wife, Robin Renzoni, at an Alloy show at the Middle East Cafe. They were married on June 26, 1993. Dave was working in artist management when he bought his first Land Rover, a 1974 Series III. It kindled an infectious interest in him for all things old Land Rover. He moved from artist management into record distribution and was a partner at Surefire Distribution until it folded. They moved from the Boston area to Brattleboro, Vermont in 2001. For over a decade, he was partners in two separate record labels, TeePee Records and Outer Battery Records. Dave helped many bands navigate the industry and made many strong friendships. Dave played bass in the bands Witch, Sweet Apple, Dusty Skull, Vardlokk, and Eerie.
Dave's love for Land Rovers also flourished once he moved to Vermont. He began a company called Vermont Rovers where he would organize off road events for his friends and promote other Land Rover events. Dave was a columnist and contributor to Rovers Magazine and managed their Instagram site. He enjoyed working on his trucks when something broke down, which was inevitable, and talking to the other Land Rover owners about rims, tires, recovery gear, and parts.
Dave is survived by his wife Robin, his parents, Chesley and Florence Sweetapple, his two nephews, and several cousins. He had many incredible and close friendships and was adept at making connections and including people into his world. He has left a void in ours with his death. We are having a celebration of his life at the Stone Church in Brattleboro, Vermont on Sunday, November 10, 2024 beginning at 2:00 pm.