It is with deep sadness and much love that we mourn the passing of David Joseph Saluk of Signal Mountain on Tuesday, April 15, at the age of 75.
David was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Saluk, and mother, Mabel Saluk (Nowlan). Survivors include his loving partner of many years, Stephanie Rider, his sisters Beverly Morris and Carol Lebovitz, five nieces, several great-nieces and great-nephews, and a number of dear close friends as well as his former wife, Brenda Whiting.
A Chattanooga native, David graduated from Brainerd High School and Chattanooga State. He was retired from a successful career in engineering that began in the 70s as an office boy at Chattanooga Boiler and Tank. While there he learned about drafting and the workings of an engineering department within a manufacturing plant. That led David to De Soto, Inc., where he was a draftsman for several years before moving on to Roadtec, Inc., where at age 70, he retired as engineering supervisor. At work, David was known for being thorough and analytical with a knack for anticipating unforeseen complications that might arise when the many departments, customers and vendors work together to make a product.
David’s wit and friendliness made him well liked by all. Even as a teenager, David knew how to ask the right questions. He had little appreciation for status and was open to talking to people from all walks of life. As a man he took pride in giving useful answers to work peers and friends alike.
David loved music and enjoyed singing. He not only played the guitar but also taught others to play. he had a large repertoire of songs and delighted in entertaining friends and family, as well as patrons at the hangouts of his youth. David especially loved country blues and was a student of its history and origin.
Summer, the hotter the better, was David’s favorite time of year. While never one to exert undue physical effort, in his younger years he did love getting sweaty with friends playing tennis at Warner Park or walking his dogs on the Brainerd Levee. Sitting in the hot sun on a July day drinking an ice-cold Coca-Cola, maybe shooting the breeze with an old friend or two, made David a happy man. Summer brought out David’s love for, and deep understanding of, baseball. He enjoyed taking in a businessman’s special at Engel Stadium. He followed the Atlanta Braves on television until he decided to cancel his TV subscription in recent years because “it’s nothing but commercials“. David did appreciate the Internet and the access it gave him to learn and read about whatever piqued his interest, be it history, geography, or biographies of people he found interesting. David liked reading about “real stuff” and never cared for novels. He appreciated how email and Facebook allowed him to stay in touch with far-away friends and old school mates.
David will be remembered for his incredible kindness. He was a man who cared deeply for people and all animals. He was devoted to those he loved, and if you were his friend, you were his friend for life. He will be greatly missed.
A gathering of friends and family to celebrate David’s life will be held at a later date.
Please honor David’s memory with a donation to the Hamilton County Humane Educational Society at heschatt.org.