David S. Hawbaker

1930 - 2021

David Stickel Hawbaker died peacefully, and with loved ones nearby, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. His energy and bigger-than-life personality filled every room he entered. The family members he loved so dearly will always hold him close in their hearts and be warmed by the countless memories he created. Dave was born Sept. 2, 1930, in Carnegie, and was raised in Sewickley, attending Sewickley High School. In his senior year, he met the love of his life, Jody Turner, of Ben Avon. He also developed his lifelong love for music, particularly Dixieland jazz, at this time, and played trumpet in the high school band. Dave attended Westminster College, where he was on the basketball and tennis teams and was president of his fraternity, Sigma Nu. He graduated in 1952 and went on to graduate with a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Dave and Jody married on June 13, 1953. Next was a four-year stint in the Navy, during which Dave and Jody lived in Pensacola, Fla., and Hutchinson, Kan., followed by two years in Japan, where Dave was a Navy pilot monitoring Chinese air defense systems. Dave went into the advertising business after leaving the service. He worked for Alcoa Aluminum and the ad agency Fuller, Smith and Ross before founding his own successful advertising agency, Hawbaker & Partners, focusing on industrial advertising in the Pittsburgh area. Dave was devoted to his faith and to his church, Northmont Presbyterian, where he ran countless committees over the years and taught from the Bethel Bible Series. He was passionate about the written word and was a founding member of the Writers' Academy in Madison, Wis.. Committed to service throughout his life, Dave helped prisoners with their transition to post-prison life, worked with the Salvation Army, and sat on the Board of Trustees of Westminster College. He loved doubles tennis, home improvement, Japanese cooking and boating. In retirement, Dave enjoyed traveling in his beloved motor home, including visits with friends throughout the country; playing with his grandkids; perfecting his cooking skills; bonsai; gardening; reading up on U.S. political and military history; volunteering, particularly to provide interviewing and job-search skills to the underemployed; and continuing his work with Northmont. Dave is survived by daughter, Wendy Hawbaker, of Cleveland, Ohio (spouse, Paul Bellamy and children, Carlye Pearce (husband Kyle) and Michael Bellamy); son, David Hawbaker, of Estero, Fla. (wife, Fran and children, Mia Hawbaker; Eva Torrence (husband Brett) and great-grandsons, Brooks and Cole; and Alex Simeone); daughter, Beth McConnell, of Bethesda, Md. (spouse, Scott and children, Lauren McConnell and David McConnell); and son, Stephen Hawbaker (wife, Tammy and children, Robin Elrod (husband Kevin) and great-grandson, Miles; Megan Oeler (husband Jordan); and Coleton Hawbaker). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to North Hills Community Outreach at https://www.nhco.org. A celebration of Dave's wonderful life will be held at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to SIMONS FUNERAL HOME INC. www.simonsfuneralhome.com.