David Bagby Springgate

David Bagby Springgate passed away unexpectedly Friday, June 16, 2017 at home in Kalamazoo, Mi. Like a shooting star, Dave soared through life fast and bright. He was adored by his family and friends from across the world - amusing them with his quick wit, amazing them with his razor sharp intelligence, and nurturing them with his deep love. He was born November 4, 1959 to Roland and Marjorie (Willis) Springgate in Ann Arbor, Mi. He was accompanied into this world by his twin, Nancy (Pete) Kushner, who pushed him out of the womb first and with whom he shared a special bond. Older siblings Susan Springgate and Stephen (Vanessa Adams) Springgate pretended to welcome the twins into the family. Dave became the quintessential middle child with the birth of brother Scott (Debbie) Springgate. Dave and his former wife Judi (Farber) Springgate were blessed with amazing children, Madison Paige Springgate of Austin, Tx and Sterling Price Springgate of San Francisco, Ca who survive him and Samantha and Griffin Springgate who welcomed him to heaven. Dave's big heart resulted in him "adopting" Don (Kathleen) DeLong and the Culver clan (Jill (Gill) Jameson, Helvi Sandvik, John (Kathy) Culver, Casey (Liz) Culver, Josh (Robin) Culver, Lois (Patty Maher) Plantefaber, Mary (Terry) Hamlin) as those he considered his siblings. He was "Da" to his nieces and nephews Anna Kushner, and Wendy, Jack and Scout Springgate; "Uncle Pig" to Eiren (Mike) Hendrie, Kristin (Scott) Davidson, and RJ and Colin DeLong; "Uncle Dog" to Jessica Igielnik and Joey and Jared Farber and Dave to many other "adopted" "youngins" including Robinson, Katy, and Peter Culver. Dave grew up in Kalamazoo - sparring in the back yard with his siblings, canoeing the Black River in South Haven, performing the Queen Anne salute on the lawn at Barbour Hall Military Academy, betting millions of dollars on the outcome of sporting events with his father, skating the hockey front line, and being trained by Coaches Rapasz and Soisson on the football field for Hackett High School. After 2 ½ years at that green and white school in East Lansing, Dave returned to the city of his birth to graduate from the University of Michigan-Ross School of Business in1983. He was a rabid Michigan fan and years of brainwashing his children resulted in them following in his footsteps to graduate from U of M. Dave's career path took him around the world to Houston, Melbourne, Chicago, Memphis, Morgantown, Anchorage, Perth and Frankenmuth. At each stop he threw himself 100% into his work and applied his sharp intelligence to enhance publically traded corporations (Accenture, ServiceMaster, Mylan Chemical, Deloitte Consulting), Alaskan native corporations (NANA Development Corp), and family owned businesses (Frankenmuth Brewery, MPI and ECaribou). Dave was extremely passionate about providing all kids the opportunity to succeed. He was an active volunteer in the Anchorage community with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Anchorage based School Business Partnership; in Morgantown with the high school athletic stadium facility; and in Memphis with Ronald MacDonald House Charities, March of Dimes and St Jude. He made his home a mecca for his children's friends hosting football and soccer team dinners, roasting marshmallows around the fire pit and boating on the lake. He coached and attended his kids sporting events, golfed, studied Abraham Lincoln, biked, collected wine, learned beer brewing and spent time with a wide range of friends and family across the world. He took his family on amazing adventures to Alaska, Peru, France, China and Civil War battlefields. Dave would literally give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was always the first one to make plans for everyone and pick up the check; money to him was just a thing to acquire so he could use it to share and enjoy his life with family and friends. You can honor him by living his core values: don't worry about the small stuff in life, just work to make a real difference. A private memorial service has occurred. The family would like to thank his many friends for sharing stories about how he touched their lives. Memorial contributions to Springgate Family Fund at Kalamazoo Community Foundation (www.kalfound.org) will continue his legacy of making a difference.