Dave was on the same Little League team as myself and Charlie Brown. I remember standing in line next to him as we waited to get our uniform shirts. A good guy.
I will never forget Dave. He and I and Steve Beales shared a house for almot two years back in college in the early 70's. Not only that, he dated my girlfriend's sister for a year or so. When we graduated from college, he went to Australia to teach because jobs were hard to get here, and he liked to travel, He went with Doug Dixon on the Victoria Teacher Selection Program. He stayed there afterward and met his wife, built a house, and had three children, two boys and a girl. When the fires swept through Melbourne in 2009, he and his wife rushed back to try to save their house and were both burned to death. There was a memorial service for him in La Mesa or Spring Valley afterward.
Dave and I both drove a schoolbus in San Diego to get through college, and we took several trips together. One was to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in about 1971, where we camped and climbed mountains for about a week. Had a great time with a great friend. Another time we went to San Felipe with Steve and drank beer and ate home-made tacos and pretended like we were cool. Another time Dave and I hitch hiked up to Patrick's Point Stae Park near Eureka.
I have included an album of photos of Dave on my Faebook page. You are welcome to check them out.
I remember Dave as a very good guy, very friendly and unpretentious. Good for him for having followed a great life path. Dave was a friend early on. We palled around at about age 11, having become grade school chums. We lived in opposite ends of La Mesa and I lost touch with him. This is the first I heard of his tragic death. Rest in Peace Dave.
Yes, George thanks for all the info on David. Like Jon I was in school with him from LME on. We knew each other, but never really became friends. I do remember him as being friendly and good natured.
It is with sadness that we wish to report that David Lee Holcombe Helix Class of 1965 and his wife; Carol perished in the massive fire that took place in Victoria, Australia. They are survived by their three children; 27 year old Ella and his 23 year old twins; Patrick and Eugene.
Australia's Prime Minister says there will be a national day of mourning for the nearly 200 people killed in a firestorm there. Among them a former La Mesa resident was killed along with his wife in one of the wildfires. Those closest to the 61 year old David Lee Holcombe say the San Diego native loved camping, hiking, music, literature and most of all his family. The Helix High School and San Diego State Graduate died in the devasting southeastern Australian wildfires along with his wife; Carol.
The veteran school teachers lived in Kinglake, a small mountain town in the state of Victoria surrounded by a national forest, which was razed by the blazes. Relatives say the pair took fire protection measures, which included a full size fire hose and three water tanks on their property. The couple's three children were on their way home, but were turned back because of the dangerous conditions. They were however, able to speak to their parents earlier in the day until the winds shifted the fire and communications were lost.
David Holcombe's love affair with Australia began in the early 1970's when he went down under to teach for what he thought would be a year. He first fell in love with the country, and then with Carol Crosbie, a fellow educator who shared his love for nature and who he eventually married. They built a beautiful home from salvaged timber, reclaimed windows and mud bricks they made themselves. The couple even constructed a shed to live in while their dream home was going up.
As he settled into semi-retirement David spent plenty of time with the family dog; Brittany, who also enjoyed her master's art pieces After a long day of teaching, Carol tended to a garden filled with daffodils. Unfortunately, the fire not only claimed the couple, but also their gorgeous home and garden which was admired by so many. Besides his three children, David Holcombe is survived by three sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
Got to say that at La Mesa Jr. High, Dave Holcome, Sandy Finkleman and I were the 3 baritone horn players under the direction of Marshall Sleet. We had a blast! Seems like yesterday...but it was 1959-61.
Michael Sergent
Dave was on the same Little League team as myself and Charlie Brown. I remember standing in line next to him as we waited to get our uniform shirts. A good guy.
George Peterman
I will never forget Dave. He and I and Steve Beales shared a house for almot two years back in college in the early 70's. Not only that, he dated my girlfriend's sister for a year or so. When we graduated from college, he went to Australia to teach because jobs were hard to get here, and he liked to travel, He went with Doug Dixon on the Victoria Teacher Selection Program. He stayed there afterward and met his wife, built a house, and had three children, two boys and a girl. When the fires swept through Melbourne in 2009, he and his wife rushed back to try to save their house and were both burned to death. There was a memorial service for him in La Mesa or Spring Valley afterward.
Dave and I both drove a schoolbus in San Diego to get through college, and we took several trips together. One was to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in about 1971, where we camped and climbed mountains for about a week. Had a great time with a great friend. Another time we went to San Felipe with Steve and drank beer and ate home-made tacos and pretended like we were cool. Another time Dave and I hitch hiked up to Patrick's Point Stae Park near Eureka.
I have included an album of photos of Dave on my Faebook page. You are welcome to check them out.
Jon Potthoff
I remember Dave as a very good guy, very friendly and unpretentious. Good for him for having followed a great life path. Dave was a friend early on. We palled around at about age 11, having become grade school chums. We lived in opposite ends of La Mesa and I lost touch with him. This is the first I heard of his tragic death. Rest in Peace Dave.
John German
Yes, George thanks for all the info on David. Like Jon I was in school with him from LME on. We knew each other, but never really became friends. I do remember him as being friendly and good natured.
Cyndee Spurlock (Krumholz)
David Holcombe - February 2009
It is with sadness that we wish to report that David Lee Holcombe Helix Class of 1965 and his wife; Carol perished in the massive fire that took place in Victoria, Australia. They are survived by their three children; 27 year old Ella and his 23 year old twins; Patrick and Eugene.
Australia's Prime Minister says there will be a national day of mourning for the nearly 200 people killed in a firestorm there. Among them a former La Mesa resident was killed along with his wife in one of the wildfires. Those closest to the 61 year old David Lee Holcombe say the San Diego native loved camping, hiking, music, literature and most of all his family. The Helix High School and San Diego State Graduate died in the devasting southeastern Australian wildfires along with his wife; Carol.
The veteran school teachers lived in Kinglake, a small mountain town in the state of Victoria surrounded by a national forest, which was razed by the blazes. Relatives say the pair took fire protection measures, which included a full size fire hose and three water tanks on their property. The couple's three children were on their way home, but were turned back because of the dangerous conditions. They were however, able to speak to their parents earlier in the day until the winds shifted the fire and communications were lost.
David Holcombe's love affair with Australia began in the early 1970's when he went down under to teach for what he thought would be a year. He first fell in love with the country, and then with Carol Crosbie, a fellow educator who shared his love for nature and who he eventually married. They built a beautiful home from salvaged timber, reclaimed windows and mud bricks they made themselves. The couple even constructed a shed to live in while their dream home was going up.
As he settled into semi-retirement David spent plenty of time with the family dog; Brittany, who also enjoyed her master's art pieces After a long day of teaching, Carol tended to a garden filled with daffodils. Unfortunately, the fire not only claimed the couple, but also their gorgeous home and garden which was admired by so many. Besides his three children, David Holcombe is survived by three sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
David Lewis
Got to say that at La Mesa Jr. High, Dave Holcome, Sandy Finkleman and I were the 3 baritone horn players under the direction of Marshall Sleet. We had a blast! Seems like yesterday...but it was 1959-61.