David Shriver

David Perry Shriver was born October 8, 1939 in Jersey City, NJ. He died peacefully, early Saturday morning, October 6, 2012, at the Cleveland Clinic, from complications of leukemia. David was holding the hand of Elizabeth, his wife of fifty years. David was the son of George Edward Shriver and Alice Mary Shriver nee Goble. He grew up in Nutley, NJ with his younger brother Douglas. After graduating from Nutley High School in 1957, he attended a post-graduate year at Asheville School, in North Carolina. David attended the College of Wooster in Ohio, graduating with a B.A. degree in history in 1962. It was at Wooster where he met Elizabeth Ann Nelson of Mankato, MN. They were married July 23, 1962, in the garden of the minister, College of Wooster Vice President, Winslow Drummond. They immediately settled in Cleveland, Ohio where David attended graduate school at Western Reserve University while his bride taught in the Cleveland city schools. The couple celebrated 50 years of marriage in the summer of 2012. The occasion marked their golden anniversary, as well as many aspects of 50 years of life in Cleveland, Ohio. A two-hour anniversary trolley tour traced the local geography of the couple's life including their time as residents of the City of Cleveland, and David's post-collegiate life as a graduate student at Western Reserve University M.A. 1964 and Case Western Reserve University Ph.D. 1974. During graduate school, David began teaching at Cuyahoga Community College, embarking on a career that spanned 50 years of teaching history and urban studies at CCC. David "officially" retired from the college in 2001, which he embraced by continuing to teach, including a class in the Fall Semester of 2012. David believed in the niche that the community college fills as a means of impacting people's lives and was gratified by the daily work that mission entailed. His career investment in Tri-C included extensive work as principal author of a written history of the college, Cuyahoga Community College: Responding to the Challenge: The First Twenty Five Years, Cleveland, 1991. He also served briefly as an adjunct professor of urban studies at Cleveland State University. David and Elizabeth made The Church of the Covenant on Euclid Avenue their church home in 1962. David held a genuine love for the traditions of the Presbyterian faith, as evident in his memorial service, which he planned well in advance of his death. Beyond his appreciation for the musical excellence, heritage and architecture of the Church of the Covenant, David valued the people who have embodied the Church of the Covenant over those fifty years. He served the church in many capacities as an Elder, by being extensively involved with planning the direction of adult seminars, teaching Sunday school, running the youth program and serving on numerous committees throughout his years of membership. David held in high regard the mission of United Protestant Campus Ministries. He served as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director at a critical time for UPCaM. David's involvement with The Church of the Covenant and UPCaM are represented at his memorial service by the honorable clergy who David also considers among his closest friends: Dr. Robert J. Campbell, Rev. Laury W. Larson, Rev. Jonyrma R. Singleton and Rev. Eileen Vizcaino from the Church of the Covenant as well as Rev. Donna Hughes, Executive Director of UPCaM. In 1966, Dave and Liz took the trip of a lifetime to England. For David, it was the ultimate capstone of his endeavors to learn about the history, culture and politics of England. Rather than quenching the thirst for Britain, the trip ignited a shared interest that the Shrivers would pursue with a year-long family experience in 1977-78. David's sabbatical combined the cultural experience of living in Britain, with the opportunity for research, some of which contributed to completion of his dissertation. In 1967, David and Elizabeth purchased a home in the Shakerwood neighborhood of Warrensville Heights. The move was an intentional commitment to support racially integrated neighborhoods, which in the early seventies was a novel concept in urban development and reflected a looming sea change in social justice. The house on Wickfield Avenue was home to Dave and Liz, daughter, Jennifer born in 1967, and Andrew born in 1968. The arrival of Peter in 1972 prompted a move to Cleveland Heights. When Kirsten was born in 1975, the home on Stillman continued to serve the family of six for the next forty years and counting. True to his belief in civic responsibility, David also served on the Cleveland Heights citizens advisory committee. David valued the academic, social and extra-curricular education that all four children experienced through the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. He made it a priority to share in the lives of his children. Like many parents, David loved attending his kids' events, making it to more games, concerts and school programs than he ever missed. Through his sons and grandsons, David had a presence in the Cleveland Heights hockey community from 1974 through the most recent games in 2012. Sports have always been a pastime as a participant and a fan. Like many kids growing up in the forties, David played various recreational sports such as baseball and football. Health concerns occasionally restricted full participation in these sports. He served as a manager for the basketball team at Asheville, and enjoyed a recreational brand of tennis into his early adult life. David always followed the Indians and Browns with an interest and knowledge level that allowed him to fully experience life as an optimistic, yet realistic, Cleveland sports fan. Cleveland allegiance notwithstanding, his heart had a special place for the Brooklyn Dodgers. David's love of the team and its history fondly connected his memories of childhood with the "Bums." Growing up, David's family enjoyed golf as members of the Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield, NJ and as the centerpiece of many vacations at places like Forest Hills resort in New Hampshire. David, his brother Douglas and Mom and Dad would often play as a foursome making recreation a family affair. David played on the College of Wooster golf team, captaining the squad his senior year. That passion for golf was a thread that wove through every era of David's life. David's golf partners and opponents have included his parents, brother, wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren, friends, colleagues, sons and daughters in-law, and countless, wonderful combinations of those people. On more than one occasion, David's foursome included players spanning 3 generations, a phenomenon whose significance he appreciated even in the moment. Perhaps inspired by his father's backyard putting green, David realized a vision of building a putting green in his own backyard on Stillman Road. The project combined his appreciation of golf with a passion for working in the yard. David thoroughly enjoyed the process of caring for the property on which his family lived. The results of his passion, skill and expertise were evident to all who enjoyed the beauty that was the product of his work. Many have commented on the quality of his lawn, some have tried to contract him. A few even succeeded. David Shriver was a gentle, humble, loving man. Known by his loved ones to be nostalgic and sentimental, he recognized that we all come from somewhere, which fueled his passion for all things historic. A teacher himself, he was also a lifelong learner who read voraciously on a wide array of topics. His father, G.E. "Ned" Shriver, gave an impromptu speech at his own 90th birthday celebration. The speech was simple, outlining three keys to a good, long life: 1 "Get off your duff," which David did through his yard work and golfing; 2 "Give something back," which David did through the church and in his career as a professor; 3 "Family is the most important thing," a mantra which David lived with intent. Everything David treasured most derived from his fifty years of marriage to Elizabeth. He was most happy when surrounded by his wife, kids and grandchildren at his home and he made sure those gatherings occurred as often as possible. When asked in March of 2012 about how he feels about his life David said, "I've had a good life. I have a wonderful family, I have no regrets and I can count on one hand the days that I didn't love going to work." David chose the following quote to be shared at his memorial service: "Modern people need to recover connections between memory and hope. The past we applaud pre-enacts the future we hope for, and the past we deplore forms our obligation, in the present, to make a different future. In a time when young people find it hard to envision a long human future the connection of history and ethics are indispensable. The forging of such connections is my vocation as an educator." Statement by Donald Shriver, former President of Union Theological Seminary, and enthusiastically endorsed by David P. Shriver. David is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth A. Shriver nee Nelson. Dear father of Jennifer A. Lang Tim of Cleveland Hts., OH, Andrew N. Shriver Joani Nielson of Alexandria, MN, Peter H. Shriver Marnie of Cleveland Hts., OH and Kirsten E. DeLambo Jim of Streetsboro, OH. Grandfather of Emily, Stephen, Owen and Brendan; Alexis, Chase and Brock; Maren; Andrew, Gabby and Jack. Also survived by his brother Douglas Roanne of Wayne, NJ and a niece, Corinne. Those who wish may make contributions in David Shriver's name to: The David P. and Elizabeth A. Shriver Fund at The Cleveland Foundation, 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH 44115 or to The Church of the Covenant, 11205 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106. Memorial Service will be held at the Church of the Covenant, 11205 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 on Sunday, October 14 at 2 PM. The interment will be at The Church of the Covenant, in the All Saints Chapel Columbarium in a private ceremony.


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