David Searls True

David Searls True died of cancer on June 16, 2010 after several months in Hospice care.

Born in Dorset, Vermont on May 19, 1945, to Phoebe and John True, David was the second of their five children. He was raised in Rye, NY. In 1963 at the age of 18, he came to San Francisco and found a new world in the Haight Ashbury. There he developed a life-long love of the Grateful Dead, anti war politics and otherwise challenging the status quo. Although he traveled back across the country several times, he always found his way back to California.

His personal history of addiction led to many difficulties, both for him and for those who loved him. Through efforts at recovery, however, David found his way to the pursuit of justice for people living on society's margins. He moved to Santa Cruz in 1988 and began volunteering at and eventually leading numerous programs to facilitate social change. David founded several Central Coast and Bay Area needle exchange programs to fight AIDS. He organized, with great joy, annual Christmas toy drives for children in the Salinas Valley. For the last ten years, he worked in Santa Cruz County to find alternatives to incarceration for youth in the juvenile justice system and to welcome parolees back to the community.

Youth sports fans from across the county will remember David's raucous cheers for his son, Nicky, and Nicky's many soccer, baseball and lacrosse teammates. His booming voice rattled the walls at Soquel High basketball games as he sang along with the school band and echoed across the fields during Live Oak Little League games. "That's a STRIKE right there, ump!" He is loved by many young men and women, and his smile and interest was genuine for each and every one. Game nights made his world bright.

He benefitted from the friendship of close friends who played the dozens with him, talked sports, shared crime novels, told stories, created family gatherings, drank coffee and pursued an honest life in recovery.

David's great joy was family. The birth of his son, Nicky in 1990, marked a new life for David. Years passed reading stories, playing catch, tidepooling, listening to music, bodysurfing, going to Giants games, traveling the minor league baseball circuit, making biscuits, and simply delighting in Nicky. He often said, "Oh, this is my favorite stage of Nicky's life." Indeed, every stage was David's favorite. His reunion with his son Chris, over 12 years ago proved to be a powerful source of love. He celebrated Chris' marriage to Kristie and the birth and toddlerhood of their son Chase with tremendous joy. David also recently reunited with daughter Jessica and her family and took to his role of grandfather happily. David and Susan were together for 17 years and created a home and community for Nicky and many friends. Nicky, Chris, Susan and several very close friends were with David in his final hours.

In addition to Nicky, Chris, Kristie, Chase, Jessica and Susan, David leaves his four siblings John, Trip, Mary and Laurie and their partners and children. He loved his nieces and nephews and their children and celebrated their many accomplishments. Through the many twists and turns in David's life, his siblings offered forgiveness, welcome and love. He also leaves many people in the community whom he hopes will use his death as inspiration to treat children and youth well and advocate for justice. David asked that any contributions be made to the Youth Resource Bank PO Box 1844, Capitola CA 95010 to support Christmas presents and needed items for youth participants of the Community Restoration Project.

A memorial service will be held this Friday, June 18th at 10:30 AM at Sesnon House on the Cabrillo College campus 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, California.

In David's own recent words, "I have deeply loved and I have been deeply loved. Thank you."