by Scott Walters
We lost a very special member of our Wayland community on Friday night. David Pearlman passed away suddenly and it’s left a massive hole in the hearts of so many.
Dave was one of a kind, generous, and caring person who did so much for our community. He was also one of my closest friends and our families spent many vacations and holidays together. I will miss him dearly.
I met Dave in February 2014 when our elementary school kids took a Zip tennis clinic together. I vividly remember him standing up and making a pitch about starting a men’s softball league and needing some players. I’d lived in Wayland for nearly 3 years, socializing in the shadows of my wife’s WCPA calendar. My friendship with Dave changed not only my social calendar but my commitment to our community and the trajectory of my life.
The very existence of Wayland Dads, our many activities, and this newsletter are all because of Dave. Right when Dave was forming the Wayland Men’s softball league, Tyler Stowell and I hosted Wayland Dad’s first Saturday morning Loker Dads & Kids Drop-in. Here’s a secret I can now share, membership in Wayland Dads took off when Dave gave me the original list of 100 emails of dads playing in that first season (see our original Lavelle team pic above). Now our list is more than 1,000 strong.
Dave instilled in me so much confidence and encouragement to grow and evolve Wayland Dads. Without him, I would not have had the courage or motivation to keep Wayland Dads going for more than 10 years.
There was nobody who cared more about our town than Dave. Wherever there was a community cause or a family in need, Dave, with his infectious enthusiasm, was the first to step up! Yes, he spoke his mind, and used his sense of humor and quick wit. And sometimes his passion got the best of him, but his heart was always in the right place.
Our families went on many vacations together and shared so many fun stories. Numerous ski trips and holidays were organized by Dave as he would always have a reservation or know where to go. Every dinner, every trip, every occasion became an adventure with Dave at the helm. Really, it didn’t matter where we went or what we did, if Dave was there, it was an adventure filled with laughs. He was a legend.
Playing on Team Lavelle gave me a front-row seat to watch Dave as a leader, teammate, and commissioner of the Wayland Men’s softball league. If you know, you know what an incredibly powerful force for our community the league has become. From those first 6 teams in 2014 to the more than 14 teams that play today, the league is a juggernaut. Dave’s end-of-year softball banquet speeches will be sorely missed.
Dave was an extraordinary husband to Jen and an equally amazing father to Jake and Alex, and also loved all of his boys’ friends. He always wanted the kids to be doing something. It didn’t matter where it was or what time it was; they were always doing something and having a good time. The more friends the better.
Last Sunday, I was with Dave at a Super Bowl Party. There were several families and half a dozen kids watching the game. Dave, per usual, arrived late deep into the 2nd quarter. What I noticed about Dave was remarkable. Over the next hour or so as the Eagles blowout ensued, as he chatted with the adults, Dave also managed to quietly and systematically go around that room and have 1-on-1 conversations with every kid there. He wanted to know what they’d been up to, how school was going, or just to offer a compliment from the last JV basketball game. That was Dave to his core. He cared so much about the kids and making them all feel included. I remember commenting on it to my wife later that night.
Over the last year, I went on dozens of walks with Dave, and our dogs Gus and Coco in the Greenways. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed those walks and our conversations. I will miss those walks tremendously.
The online outpouring of support for Jen, Jake, and Alex speaks for itself. Dave’s death has touched so many people. It’s crazy how many people in this town he effected positively. The strength of our Wayland community will stand behind Jen and the boys.
Please don’t take anything for granted. Every day is a gift. Hug the ones you love.
Services for David Pearlman will be held on Friday, Feb. 21 at Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland (141 Boston Post Road) at 9:30 a.m., followed by interment at Beit Olam East Cemetery in Wayland. Following the burial, those who wish to visit with the family are welcome back to Temple Shir Tikva for a Shiva until 3:30 p.m. Immediately after, from 3 to 6 p.m., David’s friends will be renting out the Jindu restaurant for of all of David’s friends, members of the softball league, and others who knew David.
