A Death at Pacific Sales

I have never met Pacific Sales' retired buyer and GM, David Sheek, but the letter read at his funeral (below) paints his picture in fine detail.
Sounds like the guy one would want to avoid running afoul of, but JUST the guy one would want to steer the ship.

July 30, 2008
As read at David Sheek's funeral:

Dave Sheek passed away last Wednesday but waged an epic battle, before finally succumbing to the inevitable.

This of course, should come as absolutely no surprise, to anyone who ever crossed paths with him.  Dave, as we all know, was an exclusive member of a rapidly vanishing breed; a real mans man who commanded respect, admired dedication and accepted no excuses for a lack of either one.

I've lived half of my life on the East Coast and half on the West Coast and have come across many accomplished and formidable people over my 50 years on this Earth.  Dave Sheek, trust me, does not have to take a back seat to anyone of them.  If he really liked you he made a point of letting you know and if he really didn't he definitely made a point of letting you know.

The bottom line is that his word was his bond and he never offered anyone advice that he wouldn't employ himself.  He will always be revered and remembered as a giant in this industry but he was often misunderstood.  Many people wrongly perceived his silent stoic demeanor as arrogance or indifference but few were completely aware of his keen sense of humor and lion sized heart.  I feel honored to have truly known the real man and can honestly conclude that I became a better man as a direct result.

Rest in peace Dave, you definitely maximized your time in this cold and callous world and set a standard of excellence that will never be erased.

Steve Stropoli
August 4, 2008