David Constantino

1958 - 2013

David Patrick Constantino

July 10, 1958

June 30, 2013

David Constantino passed away on June 30, 2013 surrounded by his family and dearest friends. Known for his easy laugh, passion for faith, family, friends, and anything outdoors, Dave will be missed by his sons, granddaughter, mother, sisters, and many life long friends.

Born in a taxi enroute to Carson hospital to a 16-year-old mother on July 10, 1958, Dave weighed in at only 3 lbs 5 oz. The call came from Catholic Welfare that he was available for adoption and on September 13, 1958 he was placed with the Constantino family.

As a child, Dave overcame many obstacles. The doctor told his parents in 1958 that he would never walk or talk and to "give him back". The odds were in his favor as he was the son of a determined, no nonsense mother who refused to listen and together, they never gave up. He endured many leg surgeries, braces and crutches in his childhood and considered his limp a badge of courage.

Dave attended TMCC, Sterling College in Kansas, Rockmont College in Colorado and finally graduated from the University of Alaska with Honors. He operated a treatment home on Kodiak Island, Alaska, which served severely delinquent youth. One of the teens described him as having the attitude of a 16 year old and the morals of a 60-year-old man. He later worked as the program manager for the Kenai Care Center that served severely emotionally disturbed youth and was honored by the Alaska Governor as the Residential Care Provider of the Year in 1992. Known for his steady judgment, non-judgmental attitude, and keen understanding of high-risk children, he helped countless families change their lives for the better. Later, he ran an outreach program for the Veterans of Alaska and his unparalleled compassion helped many Veterans re-assimilate into society.

Missing his family and friends and the mountains of Nevada, Dave returned to Reno where he worked for the Division of Child and Family Services as a treatment home supervisor at the Family Learning Homes and later as a psychiatric case worker for the Wrap Around in Nevada program which facilitates permanency and well being for Nevada's children. As one friend put it, "he loved what he did and he got a lot of fulfillment out of helping kids in transition and he was a whiz with them".

Dave went down the ski slope with a boyish grin and a look of sheer glee and wanted to share that joy. For many years he volunteered for the adaptive ski program at Sky Tavern, working countless hours with children with cognitive disabilities and visual impairments.

One of David's greatest accomplishments was being a great friend. Who still has close friends from Junior and Senior High School? He did. As one friend said, "he was always there for you; he was a guy who always had my back. He will be missed." Among his friends, Devo was the joker and prankster. They played poker, softball, dined at the Santa Fe on Thursday nights, fished, camped, golfed, skied and laughed together.

He considered his greatest accomplishment that of his children; Josh and Patrick were the light of his life.

The last years of David's life involved great physical pain but his faith in God never waivered. His church family provided support in his walk with God. He could no longer ski or play midnight golf with glow in the dark golf balls but last winter, he spent the day at Sky Tavern watching the kids and soaking up the sun with his blue Ray Bans enjoying the mountain view. We are quite certain that, now, he is enjoying one long and exhilarating run. Next time you visit a ski slope, look for his boyish grin.

His father, Joseph Constantino preceded him in death. David is survived by his mother, Elisabeth Jane Constantino of Reno; sons Joshua and Patrick Constantino and grand daughter, Rylie all of Colorado, his sisters, Carala Cherry (Robert) of San Clemente, California, Samantha Constantino (Carlos Gonzalez) and Nora Constantino (Christopher Smith) of Reno and Rebecca Constantino (Steven Sines) of Los Angeles, California. Uncle Day Day is also survived by nieces and nephews, Ariane Cherry, Gianna and Carala Gonzalez, Whitney Smith, Joel and Olivia Constantino-Smith and Tasha, Sabine and Giovanni Sines. He is also survived by close family friend Nancy Howard.

Please join us in celebrating his life on July 10, 2013, which would have been his 55th birthday at 5:30 PM at the Sky Tavern Lodge on the Mount Rose Highway. We ask that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in his name to the Sky Tavern program at http://www.razoo.com/story/Skytavern or www.skytavern.com.

Dave's mom asks that you say prayers of thanks that he is no longer in pain and at peace and comfort for his family and friends because we don't know how to live without him.