David Thomas Slater

1944 - 2018

Beloved husband, father, brother and friend, David Thomas Slater, passed away Sept. 16, 2018, after a long and courageous fight to live with a heart transplant done in 1997. He outlived all expectations because of his strong character and will, combined with the skilled medical care he received throughout his life. He was the miracle man.
Born May 24, 1944, in Nebraska City, Missouri, his parents moved with him when he was 6 to Anchorage, then on to CAA field stations in Nenana and Cordova before settling in Fairbanks when Dave was 14. Dave regaled us all with many stories of his childhood adventures in these wonderful places that helped to shape him. After graduating from Lathrop High School in 1962, he attended UAF while pursuing many hobbies. He was a multitalented man who was a master bass guitar player in a number of Fairbanks bands. The last band he was a part of was named "Paradox" because as a rock 'n' roll band it was unusual to have the city mayor, the city attorney and the advertising director of the News Miner as members. He was known as a skilled mechanic who could work on and fix almost anything. He also loved and owned many boats, both to run the rivers of the Interior and fish the waters of Valdez and Kachemak Bay.
Dave married Carol Cuffel, an Anchorage-
born girl, and they began a 50-year union sharing many adventures while raising their two sons, Darren and Matt. Dave was, above all, a loving and devoted husband and father. During 35 of those years he worked at the Daily News-
Miner,
first selling and creating display ads, then moving up to become the advertising director. Dave's staff not only respected his abilities, but also considered his fairness, integrity and professionalism to be exemplary.
He is survived by his loving wife, Carol; his brothers-in-law, Greg Hendrie and family, Don Cuffel and family, and David Cuffel and family; his sister-in-law, Dee Okane, and family; his Aunt Darlene Banasik and Uncle Harry Yungschlager; nephews, Chris Carroll and family, and Kevin Carroll and family; as well as his 93-year-old stepfather-in-law and ex-governor of Alaska, Keith Miller. Dave was preceded in death by sons, Darren and Matthew Slater; sisters, Gail Hendrie and Sara Carroll; his parents, Don and Helen Slater; and mother- and father-in-law, Jean Miller and Bill Cuffel.
Dave was an extraordinarily kind and gifted man who we all will miss dearly. The past few months of his life were difficult for health reasons, so we send him onto a place of peace, comfort and happiness. Our world is a lesser place without him.
A celebration of Dave's life will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, upstairs at the Elks Lodge, 1003 Pioneer Road. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Dave's name to The Greater Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation. Condolences may be sent to 1143 Bainbridge Blvd., Fairbanks, AK 99701.