Robert "Dave" David Morrissey Jr.

Born of love in 1955 Albuquerque, Robert David Morrissey Jr, Dave as he preferred, was the first of four children in the family of Lt. Col Robert David and Billie Ann Morrissey. Living the typical military life of frequent moves from Air Force base to base, the family stretched living from S. Carolina to Alaska. Continually being a “new kid” in the numerous schools he attended, Dave sought a sense of “belonging” through sports. Very athletic, he was a welcome addition to track and football programs. Before Lt. Col Morrissey left home on what would be his third and final tour of Vietnam, he cheered on 17-year-old defenseman Dave, “Beat Rancho!”. His father never returned, presumed POW/MIA after flight communications ceased. To help his grieving mother, Dave stepped up to assume a father figure role.

In March 1976, in possibly his proudest moment, Dave joined his largest family, the Phoenix fire Dept, helmet #736. For 35 years thereafter as Firefighter/Paramedic/Captain, he studied hard, taught, and rescued; fully engaged in a career that demands sacrifice of body and mind. Stemming from lessons learned from his father, “Duty, Honor, Country”, Dave was always standing up for ideals in which he believed. When 20 years after his father’s disappearance, Dave found his father’s name in books referring to a possible capture of POWs, he actively pressured the government for information and the truth. Steadfast in attempts to honor his family’s sacrifice and father’s commitment, he encountered mostly obfuscation and frustration.

Living a decidedly adventurous life, Dave married Sandy, a mother of two children, Lea and Brenden. In 1986 and 1987 their loving sons Mat and Sean entered his world. With an appreciation of nature, he at times combined hobbies of photography, travel, and biking. An avid music lover, he enjoyed many concerts and was excited on each road trip, to play DJ in his truck, selecting just the right songs for the moment. An admirer of the elements: water, wind, earth, fire, sky; Dave was an enthusiast of sailing, wind and kite surfing, skiing (a Sunrise ski patroller), flying stunt kites, soaring, playing hockey and SCUBA diving. He learned helicopter maneuvers in mountain and swift water rescues. He spent innumerable hours looking up at full moons and planets, clouds, meteor showers, ORION, ISS flyovers, and monsoon lightning storms. Compassionate by nature, he loved animals, especially octopuses, whales, dolphins, and turtles. His spirituality deepened as he listened to a whale communicate with her baby in his watery paradise, Maui.

To the very end – always referring to March as the month of celebrations: his wedding anniversary, his birthday, his anniversary of becoming a firefighter; treasuring love from Lea and her family; marveling at the intelligence of his sons and grandkids, who all deeply delighted him, knowing sorrowfully he wouldn’t have much more time to watch them grow up or “get them all on the ice” or ride a firetruck, he would say, “Next life, I want to learn to surf!”. Watch for him catching a gnarly wave!