David Elliott Rae

David Elliott Rae was born to Dr. Harold Franklin and Mary Rankin in San Francisco on March 7, 1936. He was soon joined by his sister Sue and then twins Richard and James (Dick & Jim).

He attended elementary school in Long Beach and then matriculated to Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Here are several highlights from his study and sports participation at Poly High.

On March 15, 1951, Harold and Mary received a letter from the Principal of Long Beach Poly congratulating them on David’s scholastic accomplishments and membership in the Honor Scholarship Society of Polytechnic High School. He was one of a handful of members amongst 1,000 students to achieve this honor.

David played varsity baseball and football. As a running back, Dave recounted learning from a coach to run well past his target while carrying the ball. He would bowl across the goal line and dive into the end zone every time. That must have been something to see. That same coach later counseled young David that he could just run into the end zone without diving when the coverage was light.

Throughout his teens, Dave accumulated auto repair and restoration skills. These abilities moved with him and were used throughout the rest of his life.

Awarded a scholarship, Dave attended Whittier College (Go Poets!) where he played football under head coach George Allen and teed up on the golf team. Dave graduated with degrees in chemistry and biology.

Around this time, Dave met his future wife, Carol Lee Lester, in the neighborhood where they both lived. David was floating out in the Naples Canal when Carol passed by and drew his attention. He called out to Carol from his inflated craft and a relationship began. Dave and Carol were married in August of 1956 and would have celebrated their 70th anniversary this year. In 1960 they were blessed with their first child Stephen while living in Long Beach, CA.

With Whittier degree in his pocket, David was hired by Kordite Plastics, which soon became Mobil Chemical. “Mobile” was the word for the next few years. Dave and the family moved to Rochester, NY where the family, now featuring daughter Elaine, explored the Finger Lakes region of central New York.

A move to the Chicago area was next. While living in Hazel Crest, just south of the metropolis, David and Carol greeted another daughter, Karen. Kodachrome slides of a parade in Milwaukee, street ice hockey, tornado damage and Carol’s Ford Mustang bring the Chicago years to life even today.

Mobil relocated Dave to Woodland, California where there were memorable years lived and lifelong friendships formed in nearby Davis. There, a car restoration project first materialized. It looked like a 1950s Chevy Bel Air. Where did this car go?

Finally, Dave moved the family up to Boise for work, where he remained until he passed. In Boise, he took up handball, learning from a co-worker then playing regularly with Larry Lundin, John Falk and others. John and David won the 1991 Idaho State Doubles Handball Championship together. Dave was a gentleman to play with. The handball days lived on through a monthly coffee shop partnership with these three Amigos. Apparently, KT’s in Meridian is a pretty good spot to meet and eat.

Dave restored a 1947 Chevy Coupe, which some old-timers might remember seeing him rolling around town in on the way to his restaurants in downtown Boise. One of the restaurants, Dirty Little Roddy’s, became a very popular sandwich shop serving specials, pickled eggs and peanuts, with shells tossed onto the floor. It was the place to be, if you could find your way in.

There was also the cabin project outside Crouch, Idaho, which had a life of its own. Carol and David built a cabin in the woods, which turned into a family project. Many wonderful memories with friends, children and grandchildren were lived at the cabin. Dave did survive a 4th of July or two in Crouch proper, which is remarkable.

The Boise years are divided into dog eras for Dave. Each dog, Jessie, Lucy, Winnie, Dani and Pepper became his favorite companion in their time. He took them out wherever and however. Riding a bicycle on the greenbelt with Pepper tethered to the handlebars was worthy of a double-take and a prayer for the old daredevil. The band-aids and gauze found after his passing were proof these rides did not always go smoothly. Dave said he was leaving when Pepper was done here on earth and he meant it - Pepper was done last November.

David worked in many ways, often without compensation, to improve the lives of others. He was a witness to the difficulty men have upon release from incarceration and he was very dedicated to ensuring that those lucky enough to find him were provided with some of the tools needed to survive.

Dave was one of the finest, greatest men I ever met in my life” said one Amigo. “He was like a brother to me.” Powerful words from a good friend.

Dave outlived his younger sister Sue Ward and twin brothers Dick and Jim Rae, and dear friends Dan & Beverly Estes and Don & Kathy Watts. Others remain to carry his memory. Wife Carol Rae, son Stephen Rae (Sherri), daughters Elaine Leisten and Karen Morton (Jim) and grandchildren David, Samantha, Amanda, Alex, Megan, Tiernan and four great grandchildren also survive his loss.

The “Old Guy” a.k.a. “Grumpy Grandpa” will be missed.