David Hudson

1934 - 2021

David Hudson
September 9, 1934 – May 14, 2021
David Hudson passed away peacefully at dawn on May 14, 2021, at 86 years of age, lovingly surrounded by his seven children, their spouses, and significant others.
David Hudson was born on September 9, 1934 in Madison, IN near the Ohio River to Kathleen Bevis-Dugan. He grew up in the small Southern Indiana town of North Vernon. In 1942 Roe Hudson married Kathleen and became a father and mentor to David and passed along his woodworking skills and passion. David graduated from Purdue University's School of Forestry in 1957 where he made many lifelong friends while living in the "Dover House" Co-op. David landed his dream job as a US Forester in Sonora, CA where he worked the Stanislaus Forrest for 5 years. In 1963 David was promoted to District Ranger for the Mendocino Forest, becoming the youngest US forester to manage a Forest district. In 1966, David was promoted to the US Forest Service Regional Office in San Francisco and moved to Novato, CA. He later worked for Kaiser Permanente in the 1970's as a Management Consultant, lived in San Rafael, CA and then founded Marin Consulting Associates which he owned and operated for 30 plus years training police, fire, other government agencies and several corporations in management and accountability. David loved the romance of Napa Valley's, mountain ranges, vineyards, fall harvests and wineries, so he moved his family to St. Helena, CA in 1990. He later retired to Yountville, CA and then Calistoga, CA. David also served in the Army Reserves from 1957-1961.
David's greatest joy was his seven children from marriages to Tomaline Hudson: Brad (Christy), Todd (Laura), and Scott (Heather); and to Judith Hudson: Elizabeth (Nate Smith), Mark (Kelsey), John (Katelyn Williamson), and Nadya (Montia Garcia); and his eight grandchildren: Kevin, Jenny, Nick, Tori, Destin, Logan, Emily, and Andrew, to whom he is affectionately known as "Papa D". David's other passions were music, cooking, woodworking, wine making, acting in local theaters, writing, reading, history, politics, and storytelling. David was also an avid San Francisco 49'er fan along with most of his children.
One of David's proudest achievements was facilitating the adoption of multiple children from the Yuriev-Polsky Orphanage in Russia, to U.S. families, beginning with his daughter Nadya.
David is also survived by his loving sister Jeanie Kast (Charlottesville, VA), her children – Mark Kast, Ann Kast-Train & John Kast and his wife Sharie Renault (Calistoga, CA) and many wonderful friends.
David's passing leaves a hollow in the hearts of his children, grandchildren, and friends, old and new. The world has lost a good man who gave much of himself to many. David will be remembered for his love for family & friends, compassion, kindness, generosity, entertaining and sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by all.
David's memorial service will be held in St. Helena in late summer.