David Meister

A man of unmistakable charisma and compassion, David Bruce Meister was a pillar in his community through years of benevolent service. Despite the many significant obstacles present in his early life he was able to build a career and family that would be envied by many.

Born to Rita Colella, December 20, 1956 in Cleveland, before moving to Mantua, Ohio David was the second oldest of six. Through his childhood he was a hardworking member of the family helping to care for his mother and siblings. He attended St Joseph Parochial School from grades 3 to 8 where he was an altar boy, then on to Crestwood High School where he was a member of the football team, and a member of a State Championship wrestling team before graduating in 1976. He was also a recognized Boy Scout of troop 575 also of St Joseph Parochial School. During High School he worked at Frost Dairy Farms bailing hay where he was paid $0.01 per bale. During summers he worked at Papish Farms as a bricklayer assistant, there he learned to lay block and build chimneys. He was always up to challenges, such as the time he saved his stepfather from a lawn tractor fire before snuffing the flames.

In the late 70s David moved to Nashville, TN with little more than some pocket change and his trusty lime green F-150 to attend Nashville Auto Diesel College. From a young age he always had his head under the hood of a car. On June 30th, 1983 he received his original automotive mechanic certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. He soon began his long career of being prominent ASE certified mechanic in the Nashville Area.

Soon after graduation he was introduced to Teri Royce McDonough, a witty elementary school teacher. They would soon find themselves falling in love before marrying in June of 1988. David and Teri had two children, Michael David and Matthew Thomas Meister. They raised this family in their East Nashville home.

Over his time as a mechanic David primarily worked in the Madison area, a neighborhood of Metro Nashville. He started his career as an automotive technician at an Exxon garage, before moving to a BP garage just a couple of miles down the road in the 90s, then moving to Johnny B’s as a service manager in the 2000s. Eventually David ended his career in 2018 after spending several years as the garage manager at Madison Muffler & Automotive.

Upon retirement David and Teri sold their home in East Nashville and moved to Hendersonville, TN. Here they would work to create a true paradise to enjoy their retirement, hosting friends and family often for summer pool parties and holiday dinners. However, never one to slow down, David soon took a part time job for Autozone where he delivered parts to local garages all over Nashville, sharing his expertise and getting to see all of the mechanics he had come to know across the city over his 30 year career.

Among David’s favorite pass times were fishing with his friends and family, gardening, and riding his motorcycle. He was always up to challenges like jumping into freezing waters on Boy Scout camping trips. He could recite Bill Cosby and Cheech & Chong comedy routines verbatim from listening to them on vinyl albums at home. David had a tender heart and enjoyed sending cards to friends and family for every occasion, never forgetting to honor his mother with cards every Father’s Day.

David is survived by his wife, Teri Meister, two children, Matthew Meister and Michael Meister (Tricia Meister), siblings, Donna Meister-Smith, Rhonda Pikus, Amanda Naids, and Mark Pikus. Proceeded in death brother by Rik Boyce and mother Rita Knopf.