David J Somers

David (Dave) left his hometown of Binghamton, NY, at the age of 14 for a new life in the Detroit area, which was to be his home for 25 years. During those years Dave served in the US Army with the First FA Observation Battalion in the iron Triangle area of Korea during the Korean War in 1952. After his discharge Dave attended Wayne State University in Detroit with the aid of the GI Bill where he earned a BA in English Composition and MEd in Special Education. His Michigan experience included teaching and supervision of programs for the educable and trainable mentally handicapped.

After moving to Lake Worth, FL in 1970 Dave, at age 40, began his work with the Palm Beach County School District Department of Exceptional Child Education which included providing inservice training to special education teachers. His experience included roles in the initiation and development "of districtwide programs for the profoundly mentally handicapped, the autistic, and the teleclass program for the hospital/homebound. The teleclass program telephonically provided an alternative "classroom" experience with opportunities for interactivity between school-based teachers and homebound students in their widely dispersed home locales. Dave also introduced the CPI (Crisis Prevention and Intervention Program) which instructed school district personnel in safe and legal intervention into crisis situations at district schools.

In 1977 Dave authored "Learning Functional Words and Phrases for Everyday Living" which taught survival words and signs to special education students nationwide. In 1981 he was awarded a Rotary International Scholarship for Educators of the Handicapped. Most of that year was spent on Sabbatical leave at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. It was a rewarding adventure in learning and teaching that Dave considered a highlight of his life.

Dave's favorite pastimes included US and world travel. He also enjoyed singing with the Palm Beach Opera Chorus, local theatre, major league spring training baseball games, area churches, senior centers, assisted living facilities, etc. Other favorite activities included bowling, tennis, swimming, canoeing, camping, etc.

Dave was predeceased by his mother, Edith J. Somers of Lake Worth, FL in 1999, his brother, Charles Norman Somers of Fairfax, VA in 1991, and his long-time partner, Raymond F. Vernier (Ray) of Lake Worth, FL in 2013. He leaves behind cherished family and special friends.

Burial is at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens, West Palm Beach, Florida