An Internet meme pertaining to Delta Air Lines and three smiling emojis were what FlyerTalk member davetravels posted in the Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles forum on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 10:57 in the morning Eastern Standard Time in response to a fellow FlyerTalk member who asked “Can this thread get a more descriptive title and/or be merged with a relevant thread?” — and that became the last time he posted on FlyerTalk.
In Memoriam: davetravels
Although davetravels — whose real name is David A. Simon — passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2020 in Pittsburgh, FlyerTalk member DavidDTW had announced the sad news last night, Tuesday, April 21, 2020:
“For those who knew or remember Davetravels, he lost his battle with cancer a few weeks ago. I just found out myself, and have known him for 25 years! He will be missed.”
Having first joined FlyerTalk as a member on Monday, May 9, 2005, davetravels was prolific and gregarious, as he posted content a total of 15,408 times and participated in a variety of forums. His last activity on FlyerTalk was on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 2:55 in the afternoon Eastern Daylight Time — only three days prior to losing his life to a long and heroic battle with cancer.
His obituary — which appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — is as follows:
DAVID A. SIMON
Died on March 28, 2020, after a long and heroic battle with cancer. Son of the late Miriam and Maurice Simon. Dear friend to many, including Howard Stern, Sandro Etcheverry, Karen Gerson, and Eddie Lowy. Graveside service and interment were held at Homewood Cemetery. David built and managed a highly successful business for nearly 35 years. He loved to shop and travel and had visited 49 states and over 80 countries. Contributions in David’s memory may be made to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Arrangements entrusted to RALPH SHUGAR CHAPEL, INC., family owned and operated, 412-621-8282. www.schugar.com
Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb
Summary
I did not know davetravels personally nor do I recall having ever met him, but I have communicated with him multiple times on FlyerTalk — his humorous thoughts constantly graced the Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles forum; and I enjoyed them — and regardless, the loss of a FlyerTalk member is still sad for me. I really dislike having to mourn yet another fellow frequent flier — no matter when he or she passed away.
Any other information pertaining to davetravels — such as an Internet web site pertaining to remembering details about his life — had been unavailable to me at the time this article was written. I intend to edit and amend this article if any new information becomes available so that he may be properly remembered with a more fitting tribute.
In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of davetravels. May he rest in peace…
Photograph ©2014 by Brian Cohen.
