David Gravinsky

The following I wish to dedicate to the memory of my father: David, whose generous spirit, laughter, quick whit, and kindness I have always cherished and admired. David Gravinsky, born Edward David Gravinsky, arrived on February, 28th 1953. He was the son of Albert Leo Gravinsky and Dorcas Elizabeth (Blumenberg) Gravinsky. He is survived by: one sister, Frances Ann Beyer, and one brother, Frank Albert Gravinsky and one daughter, Christine Lee (Gravinsky) Menges, son-in-law Christopher Philip Menges and four grandchildren, Monika May Menges, Katrina Isabel Menges, David Christopher Menges, and Henry Philip Menges.

David grew up in Wheat Ridge - He attended Martenson Elementary and Wheat Ridge Junior High. He graduated from Jefferson High . While at Jefferson he played both clarinet and alto sax and was a part of the jazz band - which he loved.....I think that is where his appreciation for music came from.......While attending Jefferson he met and later married Harriet Lee Gravinsky. At the age of 20, he became a father.

In 1980 he married Sherry Gravinsky and became a father to Ryan whom he always treasured as his son. In 1986 David moved to Albuquerque where he became known as Mr. Sun Country, a nomenclature which hence forth adorned every card he sent. He traveled the roads of New Mexico in pick-ups named the Silver Ghost and The Blueberry Bitch, named for its propensity of constantly breaking down. He quickly adapted to New Mexico and began setting out luminaries around Christmas time, giving green chili jelly, burritos as good as any native New Mexican, and developed a talent of picking out the best chilies in the entire state.

For most of his life, he worked in the Pipe Line Industry where he became a salesman - and a darned good one - his success was largely due to his vivacious personality and phenomenal memory. Prior to his sales success he loved driving his Kenworth semi at breath taking speeds down the highways of Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and New Mexico. He was known to remark on more than one occasion that "I ain't never delivered or sold anything between towns yet."

In December of 1993, he moved back to Denver and bought the "Syracuse House." He worked for Water Works until 1996 and then continued working as a pipe salesman for other companies in the Denver area.

When dad was young, his sanctioned hobbies were, music of many kinds, cruising, and working on cars. Later he enjoyed driving, usually over the posted speed limit, NASCAR, pro football, cooking, joke telling, shooting, and photography. He loved to go to NASCAR races and football games. He remained loyal to the Broncos even though he was teased mercilessly by the Dallas Cowboy fans who worked with him. His specialties in the kitchen were: cheese eggs, spaghetti, burritos, green chili stew, green chili stuffing, which he seems to have invented, and he could grill an excellent rib eye. My dad was an excellent story and joke teller. He could remember long verbatim passages and did such a good job with characterizations that even the person being characterized always laughed. He especially loved Pollock jokes, which people delighted telling him just to see his reaction.

David enjoyed taking pictures of New Mexican scenery. He especially admired the sunsets over the Sacramento Mountains. Like the beautiful colors that filled the sky in his photos, his memory will always be bright, shining and a treasured light in my heart.


Memorial service Bullock Colonial Chapel Monday, January 18, 2010 11:00 a.m.