David Paul Krivonak

Speedy was born in 1951 to Ed and Diana Krivonak in Providence, Rhode Island. The family was soon relocated to Richlands, NC, when Ed was transferred to Camp Lejeune. There they raised their five sons Jim, Mark, Speedy, Mike, and Duane. Speedy joined the Air Force after graduating from high school in Richlands and was stationed as a firefighter in Texas and, ultimately, Thailand for service during the Vietnam War. His energetic capabilities as a firefighter gained him the nickname he was known by for the rest of his life. Upon completing his tour of duty, he used his GI bill funding to pursue his lifelong dream of studying filmmaking in the Radio, Television, and Motion Picture program at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the program in 1979. His career following graduation included many roles in entertainment, including Technical Director of UNC's Memorial Hall, Production Coordinator for numerous films and musical groups, and props and wardrobe positions with national and touring Broadway companies. While often touring and traveling with his work, he continued to be based in North Carolina until moving with his partner Dan to Punta Gorda, FL in 2010. He was proud of his many roles and continued stage work with his local IATSE chapters in Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Fort Myers, and other locations until he was diagnosed with Agent Orange-related non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2015.

Speedy was beloved by the many friends he made throughout his career and life. He was an outstanding teacher and leader and was known to be a consummate professional who was dedicated to his work. He was a devoted uncle and proud foster parent, and one of the proudest events of his life was seeing the graduation of his foster son Xavier. He had both first-responder and caregiver skills that were unsurpassed. He loved animals and he and his partner Dan, a veterinarian, cared for a household of handicapped pets. He loved sports and was a dedicated fan and supporter of his UNC Tar Heels until the very end.

Speedy was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Duane. He is survived by his partner Dan Bowen and foster son Xavier; by his three brothers Jim, Mark (and wife Marcia), and Mike (and wife Lorie), as well as many nieces and nephews. The loss of Speedy's bright light, with his humor, his happiness, and his care, leaves a hole in the hearts of all who knew him.

A quiet gathering was held by the family on November 4, 2021. In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions to be made to the Actors Fund at https://actorsfund.org/.