Name: Burgee-Henss-Seitz Funeral Home Inc.
Address: Baltimore, MD

I looked for David Lancaster Lanier for 40 years until a couple of years ago. From the first second,we talked again like the brothers we are. My heart is breaking. Love Ya Bro 
C battery, 3rd battalion, 37th artillery

I met Mr. Lanier a little over a decade ago when I was dating his daughter, who is now one of my good friends.  I remember shaking his hand as if it were yesterday, the handshake itself was very intimidating, but the man gentle and hilarious.  Over the years we enjoyed bantering back and fourth about the proper way to raise a daughter in today's society.  He was simply a great man, I hope that one day I will have a handshake and daughter like he had.

I met Mr. Dave when I was 13 years old, 11 years ago. He was always so warm, friendly, and inclusive of me and all of Kira's friends. He never treated us like we were children. I always felt I had his respect and attention whenever we spoke. He was thoughtful and kind.

I am so sad that the world has lost such a good soul. I will miss you, Mr. Dave.

From the very first time I met Mr. Dave while he was visiting Kira at Dickinson, he treated me like a part of the family. Over the past seven years, I came to know him very well. I'll miss his random history lectures, rips to the market, Sundays at Aunt Charlotte's and road trips to historical locations. He was an amazing brilliant person, a loving father and a good friend.  We'll miss you, Dave.

Dave was willing to teach anyone anything anywhere anytime!  Over the years, he taught employees from various companies and government agencies, dislocated workers, ex-offenders, and at-risk youth.  He believed that anyone could learn and improve themselves if they were just given the chance.  I will miss him, and I know that everyone at CCBC who knew him feels the same way.  

Best wishes to Dave's family during such a difficult time.

Dear Dave,
I am sorry to see you go. Your company was alway fun to be around, especially when we would gang up and aggitate you know who :) Although only in passing You are one of the coolest friends that I have ever had the pleasure to know and to hang out with.  This news has truly saddened me.   I'm really going to miss running into you Dave on Fawcett and being able to chat it up with you.    
May God Bless you Dave.  

Dear Lisa and Kira - I am very sorry for your loss.  Kira your dad will be sorely missed by all who knew him.  May God Bless you and your family.  You are very much in my thoughts and prayers.
Lisa Scelsi and Family

I am sad to here of Dave leaving us. We go back to Miles Ave days. He was one I my first frieds when we moved in the neighborhood. We had many good times and I will never forget him.

My deepest condolences go out to Dave's family. Dave was a great guy who made whatever class he was instructing fun and interesting, certainly never boring. He'll be missed!             William A. Murray(Baltimore, Md- Walters art Museum)

I was shocked to hear about Dave's passing.  My father and he were very close back in the day (Richard (Tom) Blosse).  Kira you have my deepest sympathy as I too know how it is to lose a father.  Lisa, you know we all love you and are here for you if you need us.

There will be an empty chair at the holiday table this year, but it will be filled with loving memories.

Dear Kira-
By reading these lovely messages about your Dad, I feel that I know him better. But, by knowing you, I can see what a wonderful father he was to you and how proud of you he was. My deepest sympathy to you, Lisa, and Aunt
Charlotte.
Miriam

I havent known Dave for very long, But I've had the pleasure of being in last two classes at CCBC.Although i haden't known  him long,i learned in that short time he was an intelligent,caring individual who simply adored his daughter.He was sooooooo proud of her.
  Kira i,d like to say sorry for your loss my thoughts and prayers go out to you.
  Dave this new castle is to you bud.


Mark Markell

Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the infinite peace to you.

How lucky we are who knew David Lanier. To have merely caught his eye, his smile, or to be the recipient of his bombastic charm, is to have lived a better life. He was a flawed king, a soft hearted warrier, a proud servant of all who needed him. 
The loss of David is a loss so huge, my heart goes out to Kira, Charlotte, Lisa, Michael. Goodbye, dear friend, the brother I never had, heart lifter, soul cleanser, spreader of joy and peace and goodness.

I am sorry to hear about Dave's passing he was a great man and a wonderful neighbor on Miles Ave. He was great to my mom and she thought the world of him. My deepest sympathy goes out to you.

Vickie Elburn Beatty and family

 I met Dave in 1968 on the corner of 30th & Huntington Ave for the frist time and he was a friend ever since .I have not seen him for some time but when I did it was like you just talk to him the day before.I know I can speak for the guys from the church corner we will miss you are friend and until we all meet again rest in peace you big teddy-bear.                   

        Virgil & Roger(Slim)Shugars

Lisa and Kira I am so sorry to hear of Dave's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you now and always. My deepest sympathy goes out to the families. May he rest in peace.


Sandy O'Rear and family

My thoughts and prayers are with you during this terribly sad time. Dave was always his own man but he was such a loyal friend and loving father. He was so proud of Kira!

I met Mr. Dave back in about 1998, and he has been a blessing to both me and my daughter's lives ever since.  First and formost he has been Sam's primary father figure since she was about 12.  Sam would not be the beautiful and amazing person she is today, had it not been for Mr. Dave.  He was a guiding and influential part of Sam's life.  

There are so many things I will miss about him -- his loud and boustrous voice -- his dry sense of humor, his smile -- everything.  

From hanging out on my porch with a beer or two, to his interest in the
Druids and the Masons, of which we had many a good discussion.

And most of all the banter we used to carry on -- and, no matter how hard I tried -- he always came out on top -- in charge -- with the best answers. 

I still can't believe it -- this great loss.  But, I do believe his spirit will persevere for a long while.

We were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Dave's death.  He was always an easy-going and lovable guy.  Ted shared a happy childhood with Dave as "backyard" neighbors - always getting into trouble together.  I shared lots of good times with Dave as a teenager - especially when we performed in plays together at Keen Memorial.  Unfortunately, we lost touch and hadn't seen Dave in several years but certain songs bring back memories.

I have known Dave for about 8 years. He was always smiling and talking about how good things were. He really made a difference in my life and a lot of students, friends, and family as well. I will miss him a lot.

I met Dave at CCBC Dundalk campus I am a student and work study there and we worked in the same dept. and building. A nicer man you would never find, he will be missed!

I knew Dave from the famer’s market, where he’d come by to chat and buy French bread and pastries from my stand. It was during these brief conversations that I came to know him as someone who was interested in those around him, and who liked to share his “joie de vivre” (as they say in France) with others. I understood that he was a man who accepted others as they were, and was himself totally without pretense and at ease with who he was. I know others recognized this about him, and were naturally drawn to this man who seemed to spread humor and goodwill wherever he went.

He also spoke fondly of his daughter, whom he was quick to recount once ate one of my pastries he’d brought to England for her. The story always ended the same: The pastry was as good as or maybe better than the ones she had in Europe. I think the point of this was that it gave him a chance to mention his little girl, of whom he was obviously very proud and wanted the world to know it. I’ve had the good fortune of meeting not only her but his extended “adopted” family—all extremely interesting and gifted people.

I appreciate hearing this sad news from Kira and Sam, and hope they will continue Dave’s tradition of stopping by the market when they can. And, even though I was not a close friend, I really believe he left this life as he lived it—at peace.

I known David all my life. As he said I kept him up all night when I was a baby. My parents lived in the same building. I will miss David very much. I looked forward to seeing him at all gatherings. He was a great person to speak with. He was just a great person. He was everyone's Uncle David. Things just won't be same anymore without him. I am so glad he came to birthday party this year. It is sad to say it was the last time we spoke. Who would have thought when I waved goodbye that day, it would be my last wave to my friend.

David my long lost childhood friend. Charlotte and David and and I   Donald,Tim,Janette would go to the church to socials. so many are gone now.
We will meet again and have our long talks about the days of our lives.
  Martha (Elmo) Chalk) McSorley

My family and I are so sad at the loss of such a sweet generous man.  We knew him as Mr. Dave.  Our brief weekly encounters at the Sunday market always left me feeling a little more uplifted.  He visited us weekly and was always joking and in a pleasant mood. Such a kind, joyful man... I'm sure there's a cinnamon roll in heaven waiting for him.

Everyone at the Kennedy Krieger Institute is saddened to know of your loss and extend our condolences to Kira especially.

I hadn't seen my uncle david for a few years and then I started seeing him at the Royal Farm store on 36th street almost every day I was going to breakfast or to work.  He cared about how I was doing as much as anyone I'd ever met and we would just small talk, but I"m going to miss talking with Uncle Dave.  This is hard to write about.
Big Nick..."Heyyyy Big Nick, how you doing boy?"

I met David when he came to the Dundalk campus of The Community College of Baltimore County to apply for an adjunct faculty teaching position. He started teaching construction-related courses and was so successful as an instructor that he was still teaching when I last saw him earlier this year. He had a special gift for working with students, and everyone was so fond of him. CCBC staff and students who knew him and counted him as a friend will greatly miss him.  My deepest sympathy to David's family.

Dave was my good friend for over 37 years.  We went through good times, bad times and had some of the best adventures I can remember.  He was always there to help and give good advice. Dave wasn't just like family; he was a member of my family.  All of our lives will be less because of his passing.

It had been wonderful of late to have run into David quite a few times, and a real shock to learn of his death earlier today. David always asked when we would be having another City Fair reunion, as he missed seeing so many of his old friends from those days. Sadly, we didn't make that happen soon enough. I will always remember David as a kind and gentle giant of a man, and will treasure my memories of good times spent together. You will be deeply missed, my friend.

David was a part of my life when he was much younger and we always maintained that friendship. He was a loving, gentle person. My deepest sympathies to Kira, Charlotte and Lisa.

He was one of the greatest men in the world ever. a hero to us all with a heart the size of the man himself : larger than life. Dave is that special type of guy and noone can really belive hes gone, i know hes up in Valhalla now. he went how he lived: peacefully. I cant stop thinking of the little things he would say, throughout the day it stays with me. Dave, we love you and always will.

When I was much younger, I met Mr. Dave as I was getting out of a really nasty relationship that had left me feeling unsafe and depressed. He made me feel safe for the first time in a long time, and made it clear that he would literally come running if anything ever happened again. He supported my interests, and his jokes always lifted me out of a bad mood. I knew I could go to him with any problem and he would somehow make it better. The world is a lesser place without him.

I remember Dave as always smiling and happy. A loud booming voice, but a quiet soul.    My deepest sympathy to Charlotte, Lisa and his daughter,  I know he will be missed by all.

OBITUARY

David L. Lanier

12 July, 1950 – 19 November, 2010

Burgee-Henss-Seitz Funeral Home Inc.

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services