Grassroots Vol 21 No 4 | Page 43

OBITUARY that ran to some 17 years !! It was to be the best of times and worst of times in David ’ s life . It thrilled his intellect and sapped his health , he revelled in the oral traditions he encountered and despaired at the political and social forces ranged up to thwart the cultural sensitivities he sought to preserve . Ultimately , David was shyly proud of the community-run , commercial game and hunting ranch that emerged from his efforts and which remains to date , the only current example of a successful historical land claim in southern Africa .

The breadth of David ’ s mentorship is particularly noteworthy , giving guidance and job shadow opportunities at schools and providing lifetime memories . Along the way , David quietly supported many deserving youngsters and oldsters as well . He paid for cataract surgery , covered the tuition fees for nature conservation students and as Elly says , ‘ gave bits and pieces all over to those in need . He never told me most of it , because he knew I would be cross ’.
David was active in the GSSA and contributed immensely in getting ecology on the map within the GSSA . He served as vice president in 1990 / 91 , president in 1991 / 1992 and immediate-past president in 1992 / 1993 . In his Presidential address , he declared himself President in perpetuity !!
David had an amazing sense of adventure and wonderment about everything natural , wherever it was : be it the Brazilian rain forest , a sacred American Indian pool in the USA , the Seychelles at the Val de Mai heritage site and all over in Africa . I remember him describing a visit to the Cunene River as being deeply spiritual . The place spoke and he heard .
His adventurous spirit and wicked sense of humour is legendary and we recall some incidents here .
Surrounded by lions in our tents in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin , David outsprinting my brother John and I to the car and then locking the door with us on the outside ;
Leaving a bit late in the day to fly to
Messina experimental farm and David navigating on a 1:250 000 map by lighter to make sure we cleared the Soutpansberg and then a slight miscalculation as we soared over the Limpopo into Zimbabwe ( a not so friendly country at that stage );
Elly remembers coming home from work one day to find all the bean bags and cushions in the lounge removed . He used them in the back of the red bakkie so that the three boys job-shadowing Dave could make themselves comfy on the five day expedition . They came back rather the worse for wear , the bean bags and cushions that is !
Elly , thanks for keeping David on the straight and narrow and for sharing him with us . A big tree has fallen .
David leaves his wife Elly , the constant in David ’ s life and who he loved so dearly , thank you for sharing him with us , brother Jonathan and the extended Grossman , Kaales , Henton , Nathan and Mill families .
Figure 1 . David Grossman ( left ) with friends he made along his fruitful career .
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