David was born in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York in a small town called Star Lake to Sue and the late Todd St Louis. David cherished his time growing up in Star Lake – playing ice hockey, baseball, fishing – and spending time with extended family – aunts, uncles and cousins – and friends. David attended middle school and high school in Canton, NY, before attending SUNY Potsdam, where he studied economics and was a proud member of the varsity soccer team.
After college, David moved south to Raleigh, NC, where he worked in the tech industry for many years. A few years after the dot-com bubble burst, he left the world of tech start-ups and pursued a variety of entrepreneurial ventures in real estate and the building trades – successfully building and selling 3 companies and building/managing a property portfolio. An entrepreneur at heart, David truly enjoyed both the operational as well as the financial aspects of managing a business and building strong business relationships with people who became close friends.
David met Julia Hontz in Raleigh in 1996 at an end of season party for his adult soccer team. They ran into each other (literally) when both were jogging laps around Lake Lynn and a friendship blossomed into love and marriage in 1999.
Julia and David were excited to begin a family of their own. Madeline was born in 2001 and Michael followed in 2003. David was a committed, hands-on dad, coaching many of their youth soccer teams at the YMCA and at CASL. He taught his kids to ice skate, color Easter Eggs and love travel among other life lessons. He made it a priority to show his children his love of the Adirondack Mountains – and we have many happy memories of fishing and vacationing in Cranberry and Star Lake. He also taught them how to snow ski – and now both kids are living out West near big mountains and powder. He is so proud of both of his children and the unique paths they have had the courage to follow – he deeply regrets that he will not be there to root for them and to cheer them on.
Everyone who knew David knew how much he loved playing street/ball/deck hockey and how much he wanted to see the sport grow. A self-confessed “gym rat” (title confirmed by his Orthopedic surgeon), David played with the Raleigh Ball Hockey League for the past 20 some years. He served as a board member for the organization for the past four years – and has devoted his considerable energy and passion to helping grow the sport in Raleigh.
David was larger than life to his family – and a huge presence in their lives – full of advice, suggestions and random historical facts. He challenged them to dream big and to not be afraid of making mistakes because that’s where life and learning happens. David had an enormous heart and cared more about all of you reading this than you will ever know. Julia is especially grateful to him for his true partnership over the years as husband, father and teammate in all things. We will miss him – though his memory will live on in our hearts and we are comforted by the thought that his is now surrounded by God’s love and no longer in pain.
A special thanks to the team at Rex Digestive Health, UNC Lineberger Cancer and UNC Hospice whose excellent care and support was immensely appreciated by David and our family. And just a reminder to all of you — please get your cancer screening colonoscopies. Cancer is no joke and early detection can save lives.
David is survived by his wife, Julia; children, Madeline and Michael; mother, Sue Twyman and step-dad Lance Twyman; step-mom Patty St Louis; and brothers, Michael St Louis, and his wife, Teresa, Todd St Louis and his wife, Molly.
David was preceded in death by his father, Todd in 1999; as well as several aunts, uncles, a niece, a nephew and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 1:00 pm at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 11401 Leesville Road, Raleigh.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in David’s name may be directed to a Hospice organization, or Cancer charity of your choice.
If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of David, or a message of condolence for his family, you may do so below, within ‘Add a Memory’.
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