Obituary of David Edward Proudman

“Top of the morning to you!”David Edward Proudman, loving husband and father of three children, died peacefully in his home at the age of 60 on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, following a courageous two-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.Dave was born on December 16, 1959, in Bayonne, New Jersey. He spent his early childhood in England, where both of his parents were born, eventually returning to New Jersey at the age of 5. He grew up in Old Bridge, New Jersey, where he went on to graduate from Old Bridge High School in 1978. Dave was always very proud of the fact that he started working at the age of 14 as a busboy at the Don Quixote Inn and the Pines Manor. He kept the family entertained with funny stories of those days working weddings and other events at quintessential New Jersey banquet halls. He took great pride in the fact that he worked continually from such a young age until his early retirement in 2019.In 1978, Dave’s beloved brother Ronald was tragically killed by a drunk driver. Though Dave was utterly devastated, he left to attend Florida International University in Miami a few months later. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Hotel and Restaurant Management. During college, he spent his summers back on the east coast working full-time for Amtrak as a porter, on routes that took him to Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. After graduation, he worked for several different companies, which led him to Florida, Virginia, and ultimately to Texas in 1986. It was while managing a Dalt’s Grill in Addison that David met Mary, the love of his life. Soon after, he returned home to work alongside his father at the family business, Windsor Designs, a Point of Purchase marketing company in North Plainfield, New Jersey. Mary soon followed him up north after finishing her graduate work in education. They married in 1991 and welcomed Katie and Charlie in 1993 and 1995. In 1997, he selflessly moved the business to Texas so Mary could be near her large family. They settled in Southlake, where their youngest son, Jack, was born in 1999. David worked for various companies in the P.O.P. industry throughout his career, but was happiest when self-employed at Proudman & Company, as he enjoyed the challenge, opportunity, and independence of relying on himself.Dave was a competitor and loved the challenge of sports. During high school he was a standout athlete in both soccer and wrestling. He was an avid golfer –and was especially good at putting. He was proud of the fact that he completed two triathlons. Skiing in Santa Fe was a highlight every winter. “Chin up, chest out” was something he would say to all the boys he coached in football, soccer and baseball.Dave always took note of beautiful sunsets and loved vacationing at Bethany Beach, Delaware.As anyone who knew him can attest to, Dave had an innate ability to connect with and understand people. He had a warm, powerful, and reassuring presence that resonated at all times. His enthusiasm for life carried over into everything he did, both big and small. He was gifted with an ability to find and appreciate the joy in each day and each moment. Nothing made this more evident than his unmistakable “Top of the morning to you!” greeting, which was always heartfelt and brimming with optimism, just like his outlook on life.He was both sensitive and resilient, and though he had more than his share of tragedies and struggles, he always chose to focus on and appreciate the bright side of life rather than dwell on the bad. To have him as a friend meant having a loyal, unwavering, and lifelong companion. Above all, his greatest pleasure was sharing the joys of life with those he cared for and loved. Even something trivial or inconsequential as going to the store, a family board game or even exercising was made better with Dave’s company. To be around him inevitably made one’s life richer, deeper, and more meaningful.Dave leaves behind his beloved wife, Mary and their children, Katie, Charlie and Jack. He is survived by his brothers, Mark, Barry, and Douglas Proudman; sisters, Tracy Pulaski, Jenny Proudman, and Sara Callen; stepfather Walter Kreiss; stepmother Margie Proudman; as well as many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brother, Ronald Proudman, niece Ashley Barton, father Ronald Proudman, and mother Lily Kriess.