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David Chachere Obituary
Born in New Orleans on May 27, 1956, he was the first born to John and Joycelyn Chachere. A lifelong lover of history, philosophy and books, he amassed a vast library and conducted tours of Manhattan, sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of NYC history, culture and politics. Taking after his father John, David honed his ability to connect with people through his contagious warmth and charm. His interest and love of New York was matched by his passion and connection to his birthplace, New Orleans. David's detailed knowledge and enthusiasm in researching and sharing history, in particular family narratives, would designate him the unofficial family historian. David was extremely proud to be the great grandson of two important cultural figures - Gilbert Faustina, a founder of The Knights of Peter Claver and the early New Orleans jazz cornetist and bandleader Manuel Perez.
In 1976, David moved to NYC to attend Columbia University, studying journalism and economics, and later studied history in London at Oxford University. The consummate New Yorker, he was in constant pursuit of the best Chinese restaurant. David's love of cooking and food led him to multiple ventures in food production including selling ice cream during the 1984 World's Fair, a food truck in Harlem and recently Creole Mama, specializing in pralines.
In 1994, he co-founded The New York Independent Film Monitor, serving as Publisher/Editor-in-chief for its nine year run. David was also a producer of the award winning short films Destiny and The Beauty of Disaster. Preceded in death by his father, John, David will be lovingly and sadly missed by the love of his life, wife Janet Stilson-Chachere, his mother Joycelyn, sister Maria and partner Reginald Jones-Sawyer, brother Michael and wife Mercedes, sisters Angela and Gianna; sister-in-law Marian and husband Alfred Sive, nieces Aisling, Caitlin, Haley and Hannah Sive; niece Nellie Vasquez and nephew Evan Jones-Sawyer, as well as a host of loving relatives and friends. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Memories and Condolences
for David Chachere
9 Entries
Lorna Keuning
April 16, 2022
My sincere condolences to the Chachere family. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. David was a kind and generous man. Even though he hailed from New Orleans he was a true New Yorker. One of the most intelligent men I ever knew. I had sadly lost touch with him these past ten years or more and just learned of his passing via a google search. I really wish I had reached out sooner. David was/is a beautiful soul.
Jackie Harris
January 8, 2022
I just did discover this page..as I did a search for David...; sorry I got here so late...I met David (John) at Holy Cross...we became band managers of the Holy Cross High School Band...and with his charm and whit...David convinced Prof.Mannino to let us March with the Tiger Band ( in uniform) for Mardi Gras....David played the French Horn...he also once invited me to join him ushering for the Reperatory theatre of New Orleans, where I met a lot of girls.
Being from an all boys High school was rough...if you were looking for a date.../ we once made an 8mm silent film together...just for fun...
later I visited David in New York...staying with him and his girlfriend at the time and another time as he was house sitting..he let me have access to my own place in Manhatten for a week...being ushered into theatre by David had a huge affect on my life...I later pursued it as a career and eventually joined the Union and did films and commercials.
I was hoping to catch up with David and become reaquainted...
I am very sorry to hear of his passing and sorry to be so late to
catch up with him...he was a passionate person regarding life, theatre, and the arts....We were in a Children's Play together at the Reperatory Theatre of New Orleans, directed by Wendell Phillips and segments workshops by a young Gerald McCraney ( now one of the leads on NCIS LA.May God Bless the entire Chachere family....particularly his mom and his sisters....Shalom....
Tommaso Fiacchino
May 5, 2021
I met David years ago in New York, where I was co-running a small film festival. David was one of the first people to express interest, support and insight in our endeavor. I only have fond memories of him, and his incredible film knowledge. He was a true gentleman and a beautiful soul.
Marco Masoni
April 25, 2021
David was a gentleman through and through. I met him during my New York days when I was running an independent film festival and he was always sweet, supportive and incredibly knowledgeable. He was a generous soul.
Juan Neri III
April 3, 2021
I extend my condolences to the Chachere family in this time sorrow.
I was extremely fortunate to have met David when we were both students at Columbia University. We became roommates and shared many hard times and good times. But, no matter what we were dealing with, we always found time to laugh and listen to NPR’s “All Things Considered” which David listened to religiously. We shared an apartment on 106th Street after we were locked out of our place on Central Park West. For a period of time, we had no place to live. We split up, David telling me later that he would sleep on a cardboard bed at whatever corner he could find! Somehow we managed to attend class and eventually got the apartment on 106th. One class we shared was Professor Robert Murphy ‘s “Introduction to Cultural Anthropology”. We enjoyed discussing the class lectures and listening to professor Murphy’s first hand account of life he shared among the Mundurucu , an indigenous people of the Amazon. it was because of David that this class remains the most enjoyable class I ever had at Columbia. David’s intellect was unmatched. He could talk to anyone about any topic and leave his listener amazed at how deep his knowledge was about any given topic. We were mostly penniless, we managed to furnish our apartment with items we picked off the city sidewalks, we always had just enough to share a meal at “Szechuan West” or some “Chicharron de Pollo” at a Chino’s/Cubanos restaurant.
There was never a dull moment and that is the way it was when I last visited David in November 2013, always the ultimate host showing my wife and I a good time. Seeing him then as always was good for the soul.
The memories I have of my decades of friendship with David are too many to list. We all share fond memories of David. Those memories will live on and by sharing them they will live forever. Remembering his warmth and enthusiasm will give us solace. We all drank deep from David’s profound well of knowledge. We will we carry him in our hearts. I know I will.
My sincerest condolences to the Chachere family and all friends.
Juan Neri III
April 3, 2021
I extend my condolences to the Chachere family in this time sorrow.
I was extremely fortunate to have met David when we were both students at Columbia University. We became roommates and shared many hard times and good times. But, no matter what we were dealing with, we always found time to laugh and listen to NPR’s “All Things Considered” which David listened to religiously. We shared an apartment on 106th Street after we were locked out of our place on Central Park West. For a period of time, we had no place to live. We split up, David telling me later that he would sleep on a cardboard bed at whatever corner he could find! Somehow we managed to attend class and eventually got the apartment on 106th. One class we shared was Professor Robert Murphy ‘s “Introduction to Cultural Anthropology”. We enjoyed discussing the class lectures and listening to professor Murphy’s first hand account of life he shared among the Mundurucu , an indigenous people of the Amazon. it was because of David that this class remains the most enjoyable class I ever had at Columbia. David’s intellect was unmatched. He could talk to anyone about any topic and leave his listener amazed at how deep his knowledge was about any given topic. We were mostly penniless, we managed to furnish our apartment with items we picked off the city sidewalks, we always had just enough to share a meal at “Szechuan West” or some “Chicharron de Pollo” at a Chino’s/Cubanos restaurant.
There was never a dull moment and that is the way it was when I last visited David in November 2013, always the ultimate host showing my wife and I a good time. Seeing him then as always was good for the soul.
The memories I have of my decades of friendship with David are too many to list. We all share fond memories of David. Those memories will live on and by sharing them they will live forever. Remembering his warmth and enthusiasm will give us solace. We all drank deep from David’s profound well of knowledge. We will we carry him in our hearts. I know I will.
My sincerest condolences to the Chachere family and all friends.
Juan Neri
April 3, 2021
I extend my condolences to the Chachere family and to David’s friends in this time sorrow.
I was extremely fortunate to have met David when we were both students at Columbia University. We became roommates and shared many hard times and good times. But, no matter what we were dealing with, we always found time to laugh and listen to NPR’s “All Things Considered” which David listened to religiously. We shared an apartment on 106th Street after we were locked out of our place on Central Park West. For a period of time, we had no place to live. We split up, David telling me later that he would sleep on a cardboard bed at whatever corner he could find! Somehow we managed to attend class and eventually got the apartment on 106th. One class we shared was Professor Robert Murphy ‘s “Introduction to Cultural Anthropology”. We enjoyed discussing the class lectures and listening to professor Murphy’s first hand account of life he shared among the Mundurucu , an indigenous people of the Amazon. it was because of David that this class remains the most enjoyable class I ever had at Columbia. David’s intellect was unmatched. He could talk to anyone about any topic and leave his listener amazed at how deep his knowledge was about any given topic. We were mostly penniless, we managed to furnish our apartment with items we picked off the city sidewalks, we always had just enough to share a meal at “Szechuan West” or some “Chicharron de Pollo” at a “Chino’s/Cubanos “ restaurant. David enjoyed dining in New York City, we constantly explored the culinary scene once we both got jobs. When I last visited him he arranged for a group of friends and some of his cousins and my wife and I to dine at one of the few restaurants left that offered Chinese / Cuban cuisine. We all had a great time ! This was always the case with David.
There was never a dull moment. David was always the ultimate host. Seeing him then as always was good for the soul.
The memories I have of my decades of friendship with David are too many to list. We all share fond memories of David. Those memories will live on and by sharing them our memory of David will live on forever. Remembering his warmth and enthusiasm will give us solace. We all drank deep from David’s profound well of knowledge. We will we carry him in our hearts. I know I will.
My sincerest condolences to the Chachere family and all his friends.
Donna Cuneo Wicker
March 30, 2021
As a longtime friend of Maria, I wish to offer my deep condolences to her and the family . I met Maria, David and the family in the 70's . Our paths did not cross much as he was soon off to college in NYC. In just a couple of meetings I knew he was so smart and bookish which I thought was an admirable quality. I think David's first car was a VW Bug we got to ride in and later we got to "borrow" it and go for many more jaunts. By that time, the front seat was missing and the floor board had a large hole in it. It had seen better days but ne'er a complaint from the peanut gallery. You know New Orleans, anything can pass inspection . I recall Maria was so proud of David after he got into Columbia and we were just entering high school. I was so "wowed " by that news. She always looked up to him.
To all those who knew and loved him ...a big virtual hug . May he Rest In Peace.
David pictured with Wayne Ferrara's son, John in NYC; 1997
Wayne Ferrara
March 27, 2021
I offer my deepest sympathies to David’s family, his wife Janet and everyone else who knew him.
David was my best friend since high school where we first met. He was perhaps the most intelligent person I’ve ever known and I learned a lot from him; but most of all, he was always there to lend an ear and offer advice to me if I asked him to.
We spent a lot of time together, especially when we were younger and most adventurous. David and I made a road trip in my 1963 VW from New Orleans to Canada and back one summer, going from Toronto to Montreal, over to Quebec and back down the eastern seaboard. It was one of the most memorable trips of my life, full of stories to be remembered and talked about for many years to follow.
Even after David moved to New York to attend Columbia University, we still managed to stay in touch by phone and visit each other whenever we could. Sometimes, David would call just to see what I was cooking for dinner. David and I both loved to cook. Other times we would talk about work or politics. It was always a lively conversation to say the least. One of my favorite things to do was make David laugh.
Whether here in New Orleans or romping the streets of NYC together, I remember our days hanging out together as being a lot of fun for both of us. David was always the perfect tour guide and host when I visited New York. He was, in fact, the best tour guide you could wish for, even before he did tours of NYC to earn a living. Two things are for sure, ‘the tour’ never ended when you were with David; there was always something else to see or do and you were just about guaranteed to wear out a pair of shoes doing so.
Through the years, David and I always found opportunities to talk about our life plans, hopes and dreams. Through it all, I remember us both saying we may not get to do everything we hope to or want to, but we agreed to have as much fun as possible along the way.
It didn’t matter if you knew David for a short time or a lifetime; he always left an indelible impression on everyone he met. In the world of today, it’s common for people to find themselves busy with life and lose touch over the years. David and I were fortunate enough to maintain our friendship over a lifetime. While that makes it even more difficult to accept his passing, at least now he is no longer suffering in pain.
I will miss David with each passing day. He was my best friend and I look forward to seeing him again on ‘the other side’.
Again, I offer my most sincere condolences to David’s family and all who knew him.
~ Wayne Ferrara
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