Dave and I became friends when we were both in Grade 8.  Sitting in Miss McTavish's history classes I found him very entertaining in an otherwise boring class. Miss McTavish wavered between laughing and crying while trying to deal with Dave. She was either hitting him with the ruler or trying not to laugh and further encourage him.  I don't think she realized that Dave didn't need much encouragement.
I have many fond memories with Dave and his friends, from sitting around the "Grove" and
drinking beer, to flying over Disraeli Bridge on his Honda 750 at about 100 mph. We
spent many hours suntanning at Whellam's Lane, Grand Beach and the "Pits".  Wherever Dave was, there was always laughter. Since we went our separate ways I've always missed all the laughs we had.  I think back to sneaking out my bedroom window, getting on my tandem bike, picking up Tannis Nebo and riding off to meet him at 7-11.  He was always there no matter how late we arrived.  I remembered him deciding one night, that he should wake me up in the middle of the night so I could go out cruising with him - unfortunately he woke up our entire household except me. He thought it was hilarious that my Dad told him and his friends to go home and have a bowl of cereal and get to bed.
(I was mortified!)  I remember another night when my parents were out of town and I told him he'd have to go home.  He said good night and I caught him winking at my younger brother.  The next morning I woke up to find a sheet over his motorcycle which was parked on our front yard. Upon searching the house I discovered him sleeping.  He and my brother had obviously stayed up for most of the night.  (like my neighbors couldn't figure out what was sitting under that billowing sheet!).   I think the minister at the funeral said it best, "Dave always saw the humourous side of human behavior."   Most importantly no matter how upset or angry someone was, he was always persistent in his attempts to get you to see the humourous side as well. That summed it up best for me. I think back to celebrating his birthday or giving him gifts for Christmas and I remember how pleased he'd be about small remembrances, etc.  He was so excited when I gave him the St. Christopher's medallion and told him that I didn't know anyone who needed some protection more than he did.  He was a true romantic. On looking back at pictures of Dave after his passing, almost every picture he gave me had some sentimental message he had written.
Going to the funeral and reminiscing with old friends like Penny, Charlie, Peter, and Lynn
brought back so many fond memories. It was wonderful to see so many school friends there.
But then Dave was a special person and a friend that no one will likely ever forget. I
know I won't, especially since he was my first love.  Thanks for the memories!

Carolyn  Kwiatek  (carolynkwiatek@hotmail.com)

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The last time I really hung out with Dave was just before I moved to New York. Dave
had me and a few friends back to his house after a social or something.  We had one
of those classic great times!  Dave sang and played the guitar and we all sang at the
top of our lungs  to his extensive 70's music collection until the sun came up.

Dave was always around as far back as I can remember.  He remained a constant
throughout the years... Randy's friend, Jeff's friend, Tim's friend... from back at our
parents house on Hazeldell; when he lived on Foxgrove with Jeff and Tim; being at
various Gzebb family events and gatherings; and more recently over at Jeff's house
- Jeff, Tim and Dave - proud fathers with their sons.

Dave often said that he felt like he was the 5th Gzebb child.  I was always glad to
run into him - at a social, a party, the "Curtis", the "Oasis", etc.  He was the face
in the crowd that I knew like one of my brothers.  And I knew that soon I'd be
laughing at his stories that he was always eager to tell, his antics and his insightful,
witty commentaries on everything around him.

And, Dave, although you probably didn't realize it at the time... You'll be missed.

Kerry

I first met Dave 10 years ago when I started my journey with Colin. The first thing that
struck me about him was how brown his skin was. After we established that he wasn't
Mexican I realized that he was most decidedly LARGER THAN LIFE.  He had a
gigantic television, a huge mafia automobile, a formidable stereo system that blasted out
tunes {from his endless music library} at warp 12, a king size waterbed, and not to be
outdone in the domestic animal department he was the owner of a six toed cat. His rapier
wit and natural ability to recount hilarious escapades from his youth made him a joy to be
around. It always struck me as funny how his recollection of an event and Colin's somehow
differed. I learned to filter the two tales and imagine the event somewhere in the middle.
Dave was an original. He was the genuine article. With Dave WHAT YOU SAW WAS
WHAT YOU GOT. I respected him for his honesty and his true love of life. Dave will
never be gone in the hearts and souls of those who love him. His light will always shine
brightly; it is too vibrant to fade.

Vikki

Dave Harrison was a close friend growing up in Winnipeg. People always ask me what I miss most about Winnipeg. The answer always is the people and friendships that I experienced while I was there. I left Winnipeg in the fall of 78 and moved to San Francisco. I've been in California ever since then. Over the years I've met many people and friends or should I say acquaintances. I say acquaintances because very rarely you meet someone that you could call a good friend,  the kind of friends that I was used to back home. Dave was one of those friends.

Friend
Randy Gzebb

I first met “Nave” when I was 14 years old. He had moved into a condo complex in N.K.
and we were neighbors. I was struck by his gregarious and hilarious nature and we struck
up an  immediate friendship.  Being easily bored 14 year olds, we would spend hours together in the K- Mart parking lot racing around in shopping carts. One day Dave decided I should ride and he would push. He pushed me straight into a ditch! I was furious! I pulled myself out sopping with mud and garbage and stinking like a hundred year old mattress!  I chased  Nave around the parking lot until he couldn't run any more - he was laughing so hard!  I yarded him straight back to the scene of the crime and planted him face first into the brackish water. By now we were both laughing so hard we were almost pissing ourselves. We decided the shortest route home was directly through K-Mart. And so... that is exactly what we did.  Dripping and stinking we paraded ourselves through  the crowded mall.  “Squish ! Squish ! Squish !”  No shame , no regrets, and no fear!  A few months later... Dave introduced me to his best bud Jeff. We decided it might be fun to “ explore “ a new high rise that was being constructed on Henderson Highway. Dave  and I walked and Jeff rode along on his new bicycle.  We decided it might be fun to throw things off of the roof! Yeehaw!  A palate of bricks and a wheel barrow later and ...OOpps!
Sorry about your bike Jeff! ( My fault!) I think Dave  laughed harder than the day he pushed me  into  the mud !
Dave  encouraged me strongly to be a musician. I used to rehearse with my band in my basement and one day  Dave popped by with Jeff's brother Randy. It was through this introduction that I met some of my very best friends and professional compatriots, and directly because of this that I would spend the next 12 years seriously pursuing a career in music. David made me laugh  whenever he was around me. He used to sing some crazy little ditties in the wackiest weasel voice. “ Walking with my Angel”, “Susie Q” and a string of  deliciously filthy Weird- Alesquizms. It used to bring us to tears of laughter. When I last saw Dave he played me some of his own music  and some “Crowded House“ tunes on his guitar.  I was pretty wowed! I wanted to jam with him but he only had crazy left-handed guitars! I felt that it should have been me  encouraging him all those years ago to be a musician.
Dave brought his friends and family a lot of joy with his talent and humor. I'm only sorry that we will not have that pleasure again.

Thank you Nave!  We'll miss you.
Friend
Brian King

I was saddened to read of Dave's death. I knew Dave as we where growing up in our teens. Dave was always fun to be around because of his great sense of humor and friendship. Although I haven't seen Dave in several years, I will always remember our friendship as we were growing up as a positive one and well worth remembering as I grow older. Thanks for the memories Dave.

An Old Friend,
John Cox

I have many good memories of Dave, many of which can still make me laugh when I think
of them. My fondest are the pre-children years we spent together as a group just enjoying
life. There was a memorable trip to Apple River many years ago and many weekend trips
to the lake. There was always an adventure if Dave was around. Most often though, our
weekends would be spent playing Trivial Pursuit and indulging in good cheer. As best man
at our wedding, Dave injected his wonderful sense of humour and had no trouble keeping
everyone laughing. It was the only time I can recall Dave being nervous about anything.
Dave was a major player in my life for many years and my heart is heavy now that he's gone.
Dave.....you will be sadly missed but never forgotten.

Love your friend,
Linda

Dave Harrison was one of the funniest people I ever knew.  I rarely saw Dave in a serious mood but when my daughter was born, he wrote a song about it that was very sweet.

He and one of his buddies would have a yearly contest in the spring to see who would tan the darkest.  By the end of April, these two guys looked like roofers already.

Friend
Lil

Dave was extremely competitive regardless of what game or activity he chose. He could turn anything into a competition and challenge me to see who was best. We shot pool, threw darts, played tennis, snow skied, water-skied, arm-wrestled, rode snowmobiles went dirt biking and played a lot of cribbage. He even challenged me to a foot race yet neither of us had ever done any running unless we were being chased. According to Dave he won every game and was better, faster, stronger at everything he did. Fact is that was pretty much the way it went except for the cribbage.

We shared a love of music and although I had a huge head start at playing the guitar he eventually surpassed my ability and became a great musician. This was the only thing he never bragged about.

We had a lot of great times and I'm so thankful that Dave was there to challenge me.

Buddy
Colin McCowan (Wire)

I will always remember the way Dave loved to ride bike. At first it was his 10 speed.
At 3 am you could find Dave "boot'n it" down Henderson Hwy. weaving from one side
to the other or doing wheelies. Back then the street was empty at that time of night
and Dave would have the whole street to himself.

Another thing I remember was the way he loved his cigarettes, his "Filtermats". He
use to make them himself but he never seemed to get the tobacco all the way to the filter,
they were always hollow at the end.

One thing I don't think Dave really knew about himself was that he was the most talented
and versatile musician I have ever met. When he I played guitar often all I could do was
watch and think to myself "man what are you doing here."
He wrote a cute song for my daughter when she was born and he was always so kind to her.

God Bless you Dave
Friend
Chris

Dave was the probably the clumsiest guy I ever met. I loved the enthusiasm and bravado
with which he debated everything, but one had to stand clear in order to avoid being spilled on or burned. I always laugh when I recall the time we were listening to one of dave's
dissertations while standing around at the Curtis Hotel (The Dirt), and I pointed out the fact
that he was waving around an unlit broken cigarette. Moments later we noticed this guy walk by with a glowing ember in the middle of his back that was leaving a trail of smoke as it grew. We elected not to inform the hapless victim.

Buddy
Colin McCowan (Wire)

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