May 20, 2019
My guest today is David M. Sinclair. David was a Marine Surveyor
for 60 years, an avid sailor, and still, at the ripe old age of 91,
is a nature enthusiast! David is my oldest guest and my beloved
uncle, the eldest member of my extended family! I admired the
playful, prankster loving relationship he and my mother closely
shared. Raised as a Quaker in Germantown, PA, Dave remembers a
teacher at Germantown Friends School igniting his love of bird
watching. From that he has cultivated a life-long love for nature
and within the past year the Darien Nature Center in Connecticut
created a volunteer award in Dave’s name.
Dave describes what the work of a marine surveyor entails, stories
that highlight his detective skills, along with the changes he
endured to keep his business running into he was in his early 80s.
His sailing stories include racing the Ticonderoga in the 1940s,
the various boats he and his wife Susan sailed, her Adam’s Cup
award in 1962, his role as judge for YRA that earned his Ned
Anderson Achievement Award.
The tragic loss of his eldest son, Timmy was heart-wrenching and
yet somehow in the midst of his shock and grief, Uncle Dave found
the strength to offer forgiveness to the driver who killed his son.
Despite the obvious strain such a loss plays on a marriage, Dave
and Susan weathered their tough times, focused on their love and
pride of their 2 other children, 4 grandchildren and have been
married for 63 years. Enjoy the podcast!
Links:
Darien Nature
Center
News
12 CT - Hometown Hero (video)