David Cartwright

David Carwright devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather is survived by his wife Susi, daughter Robin, son Mark, grandchildren Schelise and Ben, and great-grandchildren Halle and Holden. David married the love of his life, and they were fortunate to have many years together. 

He moved full time to “Croquet Heaven” in Mission Hills to pursue his passion for playing croquet.  David first played croquet at Mission Hills in the US Open AC Tournament and was impressed by the comradery of the club members and the beautiful facility.  This followed many years of hosting the annual “Cartwright Croquet Tournament”, where he enthusiastically introduced neighbors, friends and colleagues to the backyard game.  For his 60^th birthday he wanted to learn “real” croquet and embarked on the journey by having a party at the San Francisco Croquet Club, joining the Sonoma-Cutrer Croquet Club, where he was vice president for many years, and the Oakland Croquet Club, for mid-week games.  He got his nerve up a short time later to enter the US Open, held at Mission Hills, and the Meadowood Classic AC Tournaments.

David loved adventure and travel, he was always looking to enjoy life and plan fun.  If there was a boat, he was on it: from a sailboat in the Kingdom of Tonga, to a sea-serpent masthead river boat on the Amazon River, to the Galapagos Islands, Island of Great Abaco, British Virgin Islands, to a 1941 tugboat for salmon fishing on the inside passage of British Columbia, or fishing at “Bouy 10” in Astoria, Oregon or the Lewis River in Washington.  He also enjoyed sailing Hobie Cats in Lake Tahoe and Santa Cruz, and cruising from San Diego to Baja, for the “Baja Ha-Ha” aboard the Ocean Lady with good friends.  He never missed an opportunity to fish or have fun!

He was an avid skier, who managed 10 years of consecutive ski passes at Tahoe and the surrounding ski areas.  David was very resourceful in finding a way to make a living, while supporting his skiing habit, from Volunteer Fireman at NorthStar, to owner of the Red Dog Saloon in Bear Valley, to real estate sales.  AKA “BS Stories” (before Susi).

Following his years in Tahoe he moved to San Francisco, into real estate investment management, and found the love of his life at “50 California Street” on the 35^th Floor of the Union Bank Building.  He went on to work at Wells Fargo Bank, where he retired from, as a real estate loan specialist and as manager of the Redwood Empire Consumer Financial Center, and independent Mortgage Broker for many more years. 

Despite health issues, even from a very early age, David was a fighter.  It made him treasure life more and live it to his fullest ability, a true “Fun Hog”, wanting to ensure he had as much fun as possible and that those around him did too.  He had a magnetic personality that collected many friends, whom he enjoyed.

A Jimmy Buffett song, Bubbles Up (click on link to listen) who’s music he loved provides a good ending line:

Let’s pop a cork

To the rough and the right

To the bright blazing days

And the sweet starry nights

Bubbles up…

Celebrate his love of life every time you think of him.  Online tributes may be made in the guestbook.

Memorial contributions may be made to Take Care of Your Diabetes, https://tcoyd.org/donate/.