Born November 18, 1954, at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas, David Wayne Leite sought adventure and speed until his passing in Manor, Texas, on April 18, 2018. Whether he was sailing his Hobie Cat, cruising on his jet skis, competing in motocross, or popping wheelies on his Italian racing machine, Dave had a thirst for living life full-throttle. Perhaps paradoxically, he was also a kind and gentle soul who cared quietly but deeply about people—whether they be family, friends, or strangers—and about our world.
The only son of Val and June Leite, Dave grew up as a military service brat, living in Germany, Texas, Guam, Wyoming, and Colorado, but the home of his childhood heart was Dime Box, Texas, where his maternal grandparents lived. Vacations and summers spent there fueled his soul. He spent his early high school years at Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs and his senior year at McCallum High School in Austin, graduating in 1972 and forging life-long friendships at both schools. Dave earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1978 and remained an avid Longhorn fan throughout his life.
Dave was introduced to his future wife, Deanna, by mutual friends in the late seventies. Their official first date was to an Emmylou Harris concert, an occasion commemorated by the framed tickets that set on their dresser throughout their marriage. Dave was the lone person Deanna remembered and pined for during the latter stages of her dementia. Over their 36 years together, Dave and Deanna provided a home to an abundance of cats and horses.
Dave’s career spanned two decades in sales at Milstead Plumbing Supply and two decades as an accountant for the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services until his recent retirement. Former colleagues and bosses characterized him as knowledgeable, conscientious, team-oriented, and caring. He was certainly all of those, but mostly, he was a man perennially seeking opportunities to cruise down the road Easy-Rider style.
Dave is survived by his father, Valmore Leite of Austin; his sister and brother-in-law, Valorie Carson and Scott Carson of Leander; his niece Rachel Carson and husband Andrew Cole of Montclair, NJ; his niece Rebecca Shah and her husband Nirav Shah of Austin; his great niece; two great nephews; and a host of beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Dave is preceded in death by his wife, Deanna Leite of Manor; his mother, June Leite of Austin; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wallace Benefiel and Frances Benefiel of Harlingen; and a host of beloved cats.
Dave's life is being celebrated on Saturday, May 12, at 1:00 p.m. in The Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville, Texas. Dress is casual. Wear your jeans or wear your leathers, your choice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the Arthritis Foundation or to the Wounded Warrior Project in David’s memory.
You're invited to join us at Threadgill’s on North Lamar immediately following the service for a late lunch and an opportunity to share stories, laugh, and celebrate Dave and the life he led. Maps will be available in the lobby.
