David M. Groff

Sometimes special people come into our lives who by their unique differences teach us lessons of patience, compassion and gratitude.  Such was the effect of David's personality and situation on all who knew him.  David was born with a number of physical and mental limitations which prevented him from pursuing life as fully as many of us, nevertheless, he was just as much a person as any of us.  He experienced joys and sorrows, successes and failures, needs and contentment.  He nurtured hopes for the future and always carried a simple and childlike reverence for God to whom he prayed often.In the first half of his life, David was physically active and enjoyed bicycling, basketball and swimming. He participated in the Special Olympics and proudly showed his ribbons.  A knee injury at the age of thirty-two greatly curtailed his mobility and his lifestyle became more sedentary.  He transferred his love of sports to becoming an ardent viewer of televised games.  He knew all the players and the scores and a remarkable number of statistics.  An effusive follower of his beloved Redskins, he was not averse to rooting for the Ravens when the 'Skins' fortunes ebbed.  Notably, some of his last words on this earth, were a cry in delirium: "Eagles won, Eagles won!", obviously recalling their Super Bowl victory.David worked for many years at the Providence Center in their pottery workshop where he carefully crafted bowls and other articles that were sold in the Center's shop. His affable nature and love of talking no doubt hampered his output, but the staff was lenient and made him feel competent and productive.  Over time he worked as a busboy in a restaurant and with a janitorial crew.  His last job was as a volunteer at the Baltimore-Washington Hospital Center.  He was very proud of his hospital smock and laminated I.D. badge.David liked the company of others and showed his affection by giving them memorable nicknames.  Those he didn't care for so much were given especially creative names.  He had several friends and always had a girl friend or two on the line.  He loved music and most of all, dancing, for which he had a special talent and excellent rhythmic sense. David loved to draw.  His sketches were simple but with a good sense of color.  It was touching to see the sincerity with which he would give them to others as presents accompanied with the words "I made this for you."  While never truly literate, writing was somehow very important to him and he filled countless notebooks with copied text.Sometimes moody and frustrated with his circumstances, David was at heart a peaceful, loving soul.  This was evident in the gentle way he treated animals and babies.  He didn't know what selfishness was and unfailingly shared all that he had, even breaking a cookie and giving half to another if they had none. He retained throughout his life many of the simple, true feelings of childhood that for the rest of us are too often swept away by the currents of this world.Our lives are better and richer for having known him.  May he dwell in peace with the Creator whom he loved.