David William Horvath

David William Horvath (Age 69) of Greensboro, NC, died on Friday, July 17, 2020. He was born in Steubenville, OH, on June 26, 1951, because no hospital was built yet in his hometown of Weirton, WV. He was the first-born child of John and Norma Horvath. His favorite family nickname was “Primo.”

David graduated from Weirton Madonna High School in 1969. In addition to being valedictorian and senior class president, he served as editor of the school newspaper and statistician for the varsity basketball team. He participated in numerous school clubs, including the National Honor Society, and intramural basketball.

David won numerous scholastic honors and awards during high school. He was selected to participate in the National Science Foundation summer programs between his sophomore and junior years. In 1967, he attended Asbury College in Wilmore, KY. In 1968, he attended Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, where he studied abstract algebra and computer programming.

David accepted a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Always full of surprises, David then enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY.

From the mid-1970’s to early- 1980’s, David worked as a chef in Florida, up and down the East Coast, and the Midwest, including the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva, WI. At the Playboy Club, David met and married Christine Thompsen in 1978. Pursuing his dream of owning his own restaurant, David and Chrissy opened Sherlock’s Restaurant at the Bilmar Beach Resort in Treasure Island, FL. When Maren, their daughter, was born, David closed Sherlock’s and accepted a position with Darryl’s Restaurants. With Darryl’s, the young family first moved to Durham, NC, then to Richmond, VA, and finally to Greensboro, NC. Chrissy passed away in 1992, leaving David to raise a young daughter.

Through mutual friends at Christ Lutheran Church in Greensboro, David met and fell madly in love with Susie Rothlisberger Ramirez and her young twin daughters, Heather and Natalie. After a whirlwind romance, David and Susie wed in 1993. For the next 27 years – until David’s untimely passing – David and Susie were a match made in heaven.

David and Susie raised their three young daughters together in a blended family filled with love, laughter, and dedication. That their daughters have become smart, independent, kind women, wives, and mothers is a living testament to David and Susie’s love, faith, and resilience. David’s fondest wish was to continue to show those qualities to his grandchildren, all of whom lit up with love, smiles, and laughter whenever “Grampy” entered the room. As one cousin said on his passing, “David made us feel like family should feel.”

David returned to higher education and earned a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of North Carolina Greensboro in 1996. He was a member of the National Honor Society and Kappa Omicron Nu, and he graduated Magna Cum Laude. After earning this degree, David found his true career calling as a food service director and chef in retirement and assisted living communities across the U.S. for Morrison Living, a division of Compass USA. He parlayed his natural aptitude in math and science, keen sense of observation, understanding of the human psyche, expertise on food and nutrition, business acumen, and artistic flair for presentation into a job that he loved. He remained employed by Morrison Living until the time of his death.

David often spoke of the joy it brought him to plan, prepare, cook, and serve senior citizens because “food is something that they all look forward to each and every day, each and every meal. At that stage of life, there just is not much more that brings people joy like delicious, nutritious food.” He also cooked and served meals at dinners for the homeless and at church functions.

David was a lifelong Christian, having been raised by his parents in St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church and school in Weirton. Later in life, David worshipped for many years at Christ Lutheran Church in Greensboro. At the time of his death, David had rejoined the Catholic Church in Greensboro and was a member of St. Paul the Apostle and Knights of Columbus Council 13236.

David was preceded in death by his father, John Horvath. He will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by his wife, Susie; his daughters, Maren Horvath Irvin (James) of Henderson, NC, Heather Braddy (Phillip) of Greensboro, and Natalie Ramirez Cain (Dory) of Springfield, VA; his mother, Norma Schiavone Horvath of Inverness, FL; his two siblings, Daniel Horvath of Greensboro and Diane Horvath (Khlaire Parré) of Portland, ME; his grandchildren, Brody Baucom, Andrew and Madison Irvin, Tyler Braddy, Oliver Cain and Zoey; and a host of family, friends, and foodies across the U.S., Puerto Rico and England.

David’s cremains were laid to rest at St. Paul’s columbarium in a private funeral mass on July 24, 2020. A Memorial Mass in celebration of David’s well-lived, well-loved life is planned for a time when it is safe for family and friends to gather in Greensboro.

Memorial contributions in David’s name may be made to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro, NC 27410, the Barrett-Wieloh Fund at Madonna High School, 150 Michael Way, Weirton, WV 26062, or to the charity of one’s choice.

Until we meet again, David William Horvath, rest in peace and rise in glory.