David Light
1944-07-07 2006-02-01
DAVID GERALD LIGHT
David Gerald Light, 61, passed away after a brief illness on February 1, 2006, at his home in Nairobi, Kenya. David is survived by his wife, Wendy Stone and their eleven year old daughter, Mara, whom he loved so very much. He was predeceased by his father, Ben Light, who passed away in 1971, and is survived by his mother, LaVerne. He is also survived by his brother Gordon and Gordon's children, Kimberly (Kiki) and Cory; his brother Charles; and his brother Terry (Amina), and Terry and Amina's children, Sabah and Abi; and many cousins, friends and colleagues too numerous to mention.
Born in Ithaca in 1944, David graduated from Ithaca High School in 1962. A talented musician, he studied violin and then the guitar. After high school he could be found playing with bands at venues throughout Ithaca. Called into the Army in the late 1960's, he was first stationed in Asmara, Ethiopia (now Eritrea). He formed a small band there, which became a favorite of then Emperor Haile Selassie. After a year in Viet Nam, where he earned the bronze star, David returned to Ithaca College to obtain his degree. He studied guitar with Professor Steve Brown, and became a highly accomplished classical and jazz guitarist.
After graduating in 1972, David bought some camping equipment and set out to explore Ethiopia. While wandering the mountains and high deserts, he met his future employer, and accepted employment with Service & Supply International, a logistics company doing business in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, ultimately becoming Managing Director of SSI. His brother Terry joined him as a camp manager, also quickly becoming a vital part of the company.
In the 1980's, David left SSI and joined a company started by Terry in Kenya, Africa Expeditions, Ltd., initially provided tented safaris in East Africa. David brought his business skills to the company and he and Terry expanded its mission to serve relief organizations in East Africa, including most recently in the Darfur region of the Sudan. David met Wendy, a professional photographer, in Nairobi, and Mara was born there.
David was laid to rest in Laikipia, in the foothills of the Aberdare mountains north of Nairobi. He was buried under a boscia tree, known as the Tree of Life, for the shelter and sustenance it provides to humans and animals in that beautiful part of the world that David came to love so much. He will be deeply missed by his family and all those who knew and loved his gentle soul and warm smile.
Published in The Ithaca Journal (Ithaca, New York) · Mon, Feb 20, 2006 · Page 4
David Gerald Light, 61, passed away after a brief illness on February 1, 2006, at his home in Nairobi, Kenya. David is survived by his wife, Wendy Stone and their eleven year old daughter, Mara, whom he loved so very much. He was predeceased by his father, Ben Light, who passed away in 1971, and is survived by his mother, LaVerne. He is also survived by his brother Gordon and Gordon's children, Kimberly (Kiki) and Cory; his brother Charles; and his brother Terry (Amina), and Terry and Amina's children, Sabah and Abi; and many cousins, friends and colleagues too numerous to mention.
Born in Ithaca in 1944, David graduated from Ithaca High School in 1962. A talented musician, he studied violin and then the guitar. After high school he could be found playing with bands at venues throughout Ithaca. Called into the Army in the late 1960's, he was first stationed in Asmara, Ethiopia (now Eritrea). He formed a small band there, which became a favorite of then Emperor Haile Selassie. After a year in Viet Nam, where he earned the bronze star, David returned to Ithaca College to obtain his degree. He studied guitar with Professor Steve Brown, and became a highly accomplished classical and jazz guitarist.
After graduating in 1972, David bought some camping equipment and set out to explore Ethiopia. While wandering the mountains and high deserts, he met his future employer, and accepted employment with Service & Supply International, a logistics company doing business in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, ultimately becoming Managing Director of SSI. His brother Terry joined him as a camp manager, also quickly becoming a vital part of the company.
In the 1980's, David left SSI and joined a company started by Terry in Kenya, Africa Expeditions, Ltd., initially provided tented safaris in East Africa. David brought his business skills to the company and he and Terry expanded its mission to serve relief organizations in East Africa, including most recently in the Darfur region of the Sudan. David met Wendy, a professional photographer, in Nairobi, and Mara was born there.
David was laid to rest in Laikipia, in the foothills of the Aberdare mountains north of Nairobi. He was buried under a boscia tree, known as the Tree of Life, for the shelter and sustenance it provides to humans and animals in that beautiful part of the world that David came to love so much. He will be deeply missed by his family and all those who knew and loved his gentle soul and warm smile.
Published in The Ithaca Journal (Ithaca, New York) · Mon, Feb 20, 2006 · Page 4