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Heartbroken to be writing this thread in memory of my pal and former colleague Dave Dutton, who died of COVID-19. For two years we sat across the aisle from one another, sharing many of the same nights and weekend shifts.
At first, the frequency and volume of swearing
At first, the frequency and volume of swearing
was truly startling. But beyond the gruff exterior of a veteran news guy was a super softie who never stopped caring.
Dave cared about his work and about the world and he always expected more. He was a journalist with rigour and integrity and the highest expectations -
Dave cared about his work and about the world and he always expected more. He was a journalist with rigour and integrity and the highest expectations -
for himself and his colleagues.
He was an incredible mentor for - who knows - dozens? hundreds? - of young journalists who were lucky enough to cross his path.
His kindness and support helped me grow as a journalist and a leader.
He was an incredible mentor for - who knows - dozens? hundreds? - of young journalists who were lucky enough to cross his path.
His kindness and support helped me grow as a journalist and a leader.
When I was learning to copy edit the front page for mistakes and I found an error for the first time, he talked about my (minor) heroics for a week. When I was working on big video projects past midnight, he would tell me to knock it off.
“Work will still be here tomorrow. Go the hell home.”
At some point, Dave and I started sharing packs of skittles. If he noticed I was having a bad day, he wouldn’t say anything, but would quietly dump a pile of loose candy on my desk. It always helped.
At some point, Dave and I started sharing packs of skittles. If he noticed I was having a bad day, he wouldn’t say anything, but would quietly dump a pile of loose candy on my desk. It always helped.
One day he decided he decided he needed to trim down so he cut out junk food cold turkey. I still found packs of Skittles on my desk every few weeks.
To me, what really made Dave remarkable was the way he treated people. To him, everyone was the same, everyone was an equal.
To me, what really made Dave remarkable was the way he treated people. To him, everyone was the same, everyone was an equal.
Young, old, male, female, Editor-in-Chief or first-day-on-the-job intern; they all deserved respect, and they all were expected to deliver excellence.
Dave loved his family above all else - and I know this as a fact - because he told anyone within a 50 meter radius.
Dave loved his family above all else - and I know this as a fact - because he told anyone within a 50 meter radius.
It was a special privilege to see the kind of pure joy Dave had when he spoke of his family. Of course every grandpa loves his grandkid, but I might say no one on earth loved to be a grandpa as much as Dave did.
Dave always gave a shit. And for that, we are all better off. He will be so missed.
Next round of Skittles are on me, pal.
Next round of Skittles are on me, pal.
