David Wayne Andrews

David Wayne Andrews, born June 21, 1951 to Bobby and Helen Andrews passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2020. Beloved husband to his high school sweetheart, Cindy, and loving father to his daughter Melissa (Austin) and son Hunter (My-Ly), Dave was blessed with five grandchildren who adored their Papa: Teagan, Sam, Owen, William, and Helena.

Dave started his life on a chicken farm in Bedford, Pennsylvania before his dad reenlisted in the Marines. From there, his childhood was spent exploring the country with his family, including his sister Sharon and brother Terry as they moved where the Marine Corps sent them. Throughout the many moves, he remained close with his favorite cousin, Karen. The family’s time in Oceanside, California provided him with some of his fondest childhood memories where he surfed the Pacific Ocean with a longboard in the mid-60s. It was their last move, however, that changed the trajectory of his life. That move brought him to Virginia and George Washington High School where he met the love of his life, Cindy, in a car ride with friends after a high school football game. The story, told countless times over the 52 years since, involved limited seating in a crowded car. Guess who sat on Dave’s lap in the car. The rest, as they say, is history.

Dave spent his career in software and systems engineering, working for Amtrak, WMATA, and finally, Cubic, where he helped transform public transportation. He was one of the brilliant minds behind contactless Metro travel in DC, converting NYC Transit from tokens to farecards and traveled to places like Sydney and London to support their system transformations. His work brought him satisfaction and pride and he could spend hours talking farecard systems with anyone who would listen.

An avid fisherman, Dave loved the Outer Banks, North Carolina’s intracoastal waterway, and fishing the Gulf coast of Florida. His happy place was four-wheeling with his 1982 Jeep to surf fish or spending time out on his beloved boat tossing his line out, waiting for the next big one.

But his truest love was his family. He loved Cindy unconditionally and was a constant source of support and steady counsel for his children. His absence in our lives feels massive and will be achingly felt as we find our way forward without him.

Dave was a gentle giant who led with kindness and love. The king of dad jokes, not a haircut went by without him asking why we didn’t get them all cut. He was secret handshakes, boisterous laughs, and a 60s rock n’ roll air drummer extraordinaire. The Andrews stubborn streak ran strong in him and he worried with the best of them. So well, in fact, that he was dubbed the “Designated Worrier.” He had an ability to see the best in people. He believed in always giving whatever task was at hand your very best. And that he did, every day.

We are so grateful to the medical staff at Duke University for the care and hope they provided Dave and our family. To the friends and family who so generously gave each of us love and support, thank you. We know you miss and love him too. We think we can speak on behalf of all who knew Dave when we say, we’re so grateful to have had the gift of him in our lives.

In lieu of flowers, should you feel so inclined, please send donations in memory of David Andrews to Duke Cancer Institute at: 300 W. Morgan Street, Suite 1200, Durham, NC 27701.