David "Cool Syl" Sieber

August 5th, 1943 - September 22nd, 2020

David was born in Pittsburgh, PA to second generation Americans Joseph and Mary Sieber. He spent his childhood surrounded by his four older brothers: Robert, Joe, Pete, and Paul, and his little sister Jeanie. Dave was very proud of his nickname growing up (Cool Sly) and was encouraged early on by his siblings to be the first of his family to pursue a higher education, which indeed he did, earning a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University. He played basketball and always felt a deep connection to sports and the camaraderie of team games.

A proud Army veteran, he served overseas in Korea and often spoke of it as one of the best times in his life. He met and married Barbara Jean Fahey soon after, and began work for the Flour Company. Early in their marriage they spent significant time abroad in Venezuela, Germany, Holland and South Africa.

In 1978, they welcomed the birth of their first son, Michael Joseph Sieber. Dave remembered riding Michael around on his bike and often recounted the way his son would close his eyes and welcome the wind, feeling safe with his father at the helm. In 1980, while living in Holland, they welcomed their second son, David Sean Sieber. Though he spent his first few weeks in the hospital, underweight, Sean quickly grew strong and healthy, eventually becoming the tallest member of their family.

They settled down in Irvine, CA, where they would spend the next decade raising their boys on Bragg Street, surrounded by new friends and neighbors. Dave worked tirelessly to proudly provide for his family, also taking the time to coach his boys’ soccer and baseball teams. He was an endlessly supportive and encouraging father to his sons, recognizing their individuality (as long as they rooted for the Steelers).

Even after their divorce in 1994, Dave and Barb focused all their attention on creating safe spaces for their sons to thrive and become good men. Dave moved to Lake Forest, CA and soon met his partner Patti Lee, with whom he would spend the rest of their lives together in mutual support and love, as they traveled the world or stayed closer to home, enjoying Laguna Beach, Shabu Shabu, and the movies. Patti would often tell him “Darling, our song will always be ‘Bésame Mucho 💕’”.

Dave continued to find joy in his quiet moments fishing, as well as the louder ones, as he cooked chili and brats for his boys. He retired from Flour Daniel in 2013. He regularly ventured up to Seattle to watch Michael in plays and even travelled back to Pittsburgh with his sons to see where he grew up, enjoy some Iron City beer, and see the Steelers beat the Eagles.

In 2015, he saw Sean marry Lauren Oates and later welcomed his grandchildren Charlotte and Rogan. In 2018, he saw Michael marry Keiko Green in a beautiful ceremony that would become the final time their whole family was together.

As a father, he instilled in his boys the qualities of great kindness, unending generosity, gentleness, respect, and an appreciation for a well timed off-color joke (sometimes not so well timed). In his last days, he was surrounded by his family and showered with love and memories of a happy, well-lived life.

He loved John Wayne movies, Pepsi and pretzels, the art of storytelling, the skill of a well-played ball game, and sinking a hole in one. But his proudest achievements were his sons, who will hold his memory and spread his generosity for generations to come. He will be missed forever by all those who knew and worked with him.

He is survived by his partner Patti, his sons Michael and Sean and their wives Keiko and Lauren, his grandchildren Charlotte, Rogan and Gus, his siblings Pete, Paul, and Jeanie, and their families.

He will be remembered best by an offhand comment he made once after telling a joke: “You’ve got to keep it funny, otherwise it gets to be too much of a drag.”

Cool Syl was never a drag.

Please see online links below if you would like to make a contribution in David's honor to Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation and Wounded Warriors Project.