Don't forget to send financial contributions in Dave's memory to:

The Dave Brumitt Foundation
P.O. Box 6725
Raleigh, N.C. 27628

Here's Dave's obituary.

There was a time, many years ago, when Dave and I would meet at the gym and then go for a morning jog (before he discovered cycling). Of course, Dave never was one to "just jog", so it always escalated into a foot race. What I remember most about those runs, was the ardor in which Dave participated. As with all the things I observed Dave apply himself to through the years, he was inexhaustible in his enthusiasm and optimism! He was remarkable and my role model in this regard. -- Dan Southwick, Cary, NC

Here's a posting from SAS-L remembering Dave.

Here's the announcement on the SAS Support website.

Thank you for 'coming to get me' in 1987 and asking me to be in your PC group, it was the beginning of many happy years at SAS. From that time, when I was young and right out of college, to 8 years later when you moved to the international division, you helped me grow professionally and as a person. You un-knowingly gave me confidence and the space to use it. I was happy when you returned to Technical Support as director.
Thank you for driving VERY far to our 'band party', many years ago!
For giving me guidance with humor, few words and without judgment.
For always being the same so I knew what to expect.

You were kind to me for all the years I knew you, I with always be grateful.
--Lindi, Cary, NC

I have several great memories of Dave in spite of the fact that we didn't socialize outside of work.

The one I tell the most is my first encounter with him. As a new hire tech support consultant in 1997, I was told that one of my exercises would be to get the signature of everybody in tech support. In order to know who I was speaking with, I searched out the managers, and especially who was the director.

I remember knocking on his door for the signature.
Dave "Yes, what can I do for you?"
Me "I'm Kurt Jones and need to get your signature on this piece of paper. I work for Wayne, and the way I understand it, you have to keep Wayne out of trouble, and he has to keep me out of trouble. Did I get that right?" Dave "Well, yes, but why do I feel like that is going to be a tough job?"

We both laughed and talked for a bit longer.

One additional memory. After he and Barbara returned from their honeymoon, tech support had some cake, drinks, and an informal afternoon open house to wish them well, and to meet Barbara. When I stopped by, Dave introduced me by saying "This is Kurt. Don't talk to him too long." We all chuckled.

Dave will be greatly missed. He was just one of the guys... an awesome man with a thirst for fun, and tremendous sense of humor !!!
--Kurt Jones, Cary, NC

Dave Brumitt was one of the few people I've met in customer service - in any industry - who understood the purpose of Customer Service was to "service the customer". That meant to understand their concern, either resolve their concern or help them to resolve it themselves, and help prevent its recurrence. (As opposed to "feed them some quote from the 'shut them up' book, check the 'solved' box on the form, snigger about them behind their back, and move on to the next clown - uh, customer.") And he ensured that his whole staff not just practiced this, but understood and believed in it, as well.

Dave also had the ability to make you feel like bumping into you at a conference was the highlight of his entire trip. I felt that way, I'm sure others did as well. And it wasn't an act, either. Meeting folks (and reacquainting with them) probably WAS one of the highlights for him, and no one in the world was more important to him than the person he was dealing with at that moment. I've really missed the opportunity to talk with Dave face to face over the past couple of years.

The world is a lesser place for his passing, and it happened far too early. But then, the world - or at least our little corner of it - is a better place for his having past through at all.
--Andy Kuligowski

I remember calling Dave up one morning to call in sick for the first time while working in the PC tech support group and being a little nervous about it. Dave said stay home and get better and then proceeded to tell me how much he enjoyed a problem description of mine he had just read in which I described how close I came to asking the Century 21 real estate programmer/employee I was talking to if they made them wear those silly blazers at their desks.

That is what I think of when I think of Dave. One of the most natural and instinctive humanists I have ever met. He had an uncanny ability to connect with people in a genuine way and to achieve success upon success with malice toward none, charity for all and having more than a little fun along the way as the above picture beautifully suggests.

We were all very lucky to have him as long as we did.
--Jim Lee, Cary, NC

I wonder if I should call Dave a friend.
We never did anything outside of work.
Never went to lunch or traveled together.
Never socialized.
But something inside of me wants to believe it.
Maybe it was respect. Maybe it was trust. Maybe he just made me feel a little bit special.
I don't know
Maybe it was because we could talk about cars with big smiles and no ego.
I do know there is a void in my life.
--Anonymous, Cary, NC

I first met Dave just before Southpeak was sold, as he was over talking with my group about moving over to Tech Support. I didn't know he was the director of TS at the time, and I don't think anyone would have thought that, with how personal and genuine he was towards everyone he would meet. After we made the transition to Tech Support, Dave was "The guy with the Porsche in the reserved spot" to me. That changed after I was asked to detail his car, and went to his home to do the work. I was there far longer than I'm usually at an appointment because we talked quite a bit about many things ranging from job/life goals to what we loved about our cars and other cars.

The thing that sticks out the most in my mind was after I finished detailing his car, he threw me the keys and said we needed to drive to the bank, and I was the one to drive this pricey automobile. I had already been nervous just detailing his car because of who he was in relation to work, as well as the car's worth. If that wasn't enough, once we got near the main road he tells me, "Okay, now once you're in second gear on that main strip, get those rpm's into the redline before going into 3rd. You've gotta feel what this baby can do." In a very nervous state I did it (and immediately slowed back down to a safe speed), and it was at that point that I thought, "Wow, this guy really knows how to make people comfortable around him. I really hope I turn out even half as cool and fun to be around as him 30 years from now." You can't help but cherish who he was. Thanks Dave!
--Jer Harwood, Cary, NC

My funniest memory of Dave was when he first came to work as the director of Tech Support. He had been gone a while working for Asia/Pacific and was now back in Tech Support. Was he going to be the same old Dave that I knew back when he worked in the Unix group?? On his first day on the job, he sent a note around letting the division know of the changes that would be made starting that day… No more casual dress, no more breaks, no more flex time, vacation requests had to be made months in advance, etc, etc! Of course, his first day as director of TS was April 1st…and he put a little note in at the bottom of this long email of new "rules" letting us know that we were all April Fools! Yes, it was definitely the same old Dave back in TS again!

Even though he was very busy, his door was always open to me. Whenever I spoke with him, he treated me as if I was the only person that mattered at that moment. He cared about every single person in our division and showed it. He was easy-going, wise, thoughtful, generous, honest, and sincere. I am very thankful to have known him and consider it a privilege to have worked for him.
--Susan Poole, Cary, NC

In case you missed it, here's the memo referred to above.

I was a 21 year old kid at NCSU trying to get into a co-op situation during my junior year. I had never heard of SAS, didnt know what it was, where it was, and didnt really care. I knew that State had companies to place me in and was assured that I would be at Northern Telecom or IBM. A friend at my part time job said that his wife worked at SAS and that they often hired summer help, maybe she could help get me a co-op there. He asked his wife (Alissa Schliech) and she set up an interview for me with Dave. 24 hours before the interview I was in Leazar hall programming non-stop to complete an assignment due the next day. I barely completed the assignment before class started and completely had to blow off the interview in order to get it done in time. I left a haphazard message on Dave's machine... after the interview time of course... apologizing for being a no-show. After class, the friend got wind of my irresponsible behavior and quickly made me call Dave back to see if he would consider rescheduling.... and Dave said "Well sure! School is your number one priority now, right? You just come back whenever you have the time." I got the summer position after about 3 easy questions about PCs and being told "don't dress like that around here!". 14 years later, SAS is my family... I *even* met my husband here! Dave changed the outcome of my life that day. He inspired it every day after that.
--Pam Schiltz, Cary, NC

Each time I had a conversation with Dave, no matter how insignificant, I felt valued as an employee and a human being. When I was a relatively new employee, a customer emailed SAS to comment on the positive experience he had with Tech Support, but the customer did not remember who the consultant was. Dave searched the tracks to identify me and came to my office to thank me. He went on to praise the way I had documented the problem clearly and concisely saying it was about the best track he had ever read. This was my first conversation with Dave and it left me feeling that he cared not only about the customer, but also about his employees. Later, I left Tech Support to work in another division, but after awhile I decided I wanted to return to Tech Support. After I applied for an open position, Dave called me to explain why the position was being offered to someone else. He said that he would really like to have me back in Tech Support and encouraged me to apply for another position that would be posted in the next week. I have never felt good after being turned down for a job before! Of course I applied for that next posting and came back to Tech Support. I wonder if Dave had any idea how positively he influenced so many people, like me, who barely knew him at all. Treating others with respect and consideration came as naturally to him as his great wit and sense of humor.
--Karen Hoeve, Cary, NC

I first remember Dave when I started at SAS as a Systems Engineer in one of the sales groups about 8 years ago in Bldg J-5. It seems that Asia/Pacific was on the same floor and I would run into Dave occasionally and ask him about doing business in Asia. There was a lull in my encounters with Dave after he rejoined Tech Support. Then, just 3 years ago, I ran into Dave at the gym and he invited me to apply in the newly formed SE Tech Support. I went for it and I refocused my SAS energies into Technical Support.

When I started in Technical Support, I would see Dave in the halls and he would inquire how I was doing... he had a way of letting you know that he cared about your disposition. Then, just a few months into the new position, Dave approached me about visiting a customer account near Charlotte that was having some project problems and wanted to know if I could go there. The most astonishing aspect about this was that Dave said he would drive me there in his Boxster... I thought to myself that this was awfully generous on the part of Dave. Needless to say, we went and while Dave schmoozed with the management folks, I informed the technical folks what they needed to do. We got out of "Dodge" before sundown and all was well once more.

Dave, thanks for the memories... God bless. I'm missing you!
--Glen Grimme, Cary, NC

Dave hired me to join his PC support group, even though I knew nothing at all about SAS. Perhaps it was to have another "Dave B." in the group. Not long after he moved on to bigger and better things, but I enjoyed my time as his employee very much. He was never too busy for a friendly word or two, and always smiled politely at my bad jokes. My son enjoyed explaining Winnie the Pooh to Dave at a group picnic at our house. Unfortunately, I can't consider myself his friend, although I liked and respected Dave. He will be missed.
--Dave Barron, Cary, NC

What I remember most about Dave was his upbeat personality; it was obvious that he was a generally happy person and one who enjoyed life. A good lesson for us all.

I marveled at how Dave could remember everyones name instantaneously and never seemed to suffer from those "senior moments" like most of us do occasionally.

Dave's obituary revealed that he and I shared a number of common interests and especially a love of the outdoors. I also understand that we shared a love of reading and felt a connection in that I have read five of the six books mentioned in his obituary. I am sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to Dave about his travels to Spain and Portugal, and I will think of him when I am there.

A good man gone, but not forgotten.

--Paul, Cary, NC

Dave Brumitt was a great man. Someone to lookup to who knew how to talk and connect with people , I remember a couple of years ago I was scheduled for some Surgery (Risky Heart Surgery) that kind of put me in a state of shock. When he learned of it he came by my office and talked about the surgery and not to worry and what to expect and take my time coming back . His talk gave me so much strength to face this and come back stronger . When I came back he gave me one of those "I told you so", This meant so much to me at the time . I'll never forget his encouragement and friendship . His door was always open for you.

You will be missed and not forgotten.

God Bless

--Bill, Cary, NC