Hi Gulassas, and Barrett and others,

(Hi David!) Today I am teaching at TEVA (Pharmaceutics) in La Défense, and I was telling one of my students about my clock that David fixed for me, and how he made a perfect little fender to replace the original one that was so perfect that it is impossible to
distinguish it from the original, and that the clock still works today, even though it was made in 1938 (it's a MasterCrafter - it has a faux fireplace in it that looks really real when it's running). And I started remembering Snohomish, and the waterfall near Index -
what's it called? and sushi and champagne there - remember Barrett? -
and the party at the shop in Freemont when 12 year old Hannah thought all those cute fashion boys were straight (poor disappointed girl), and the few beautiful things I have here in Paris that David made, and I'm glad to be carrying all these things with me today, in my heart still, after so long. David was many things (and many I wouldn't mention here), and though I miss him, it's nice that he's still here living inside my heart.

My name is Christine Russo and I worked with David 10 years ago when I was at J. Crew. I moved to Kenneth Cole 9 years ago and he and I spoke about doing work together. It seems like yesterday that we spoke about it and tried to set up a meeting in New York. I went on-line today to see about calling him and am in utter shock at what I saw.

I lost someone close to me tragically (also in 2001) and I can only imagine what life was like for all of you in the winter of 2001. I'm only now feeling like myself again and hope that all of you, his coworkers and his family, are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

What a tragedy.

My thoughts are with you.

Dear Tracy,
I am sending heartfelt support for you and your daughter. My son lost his dad when he was four yrs old. I hope your daughter is doing as well. The little ones have an uncanny ability to take life as it is, and can give us adults the strength to carry on.

I am remodeling in Malibu. Came across the Co ad in one of the house magazines. The circumstances that befell GULASSA are tragic. I will be proud to house your designs as a testament to David's beauty and spirit.

Dear Gulassa family and company,

I was shocked to learn of your loss and would like to wish you all long life and strength. It is a great loss to humanity and to the design world.

I met David at his workshop many years ago and worked there as an apprentice for design school credits. I was a foreign student from Israel - then Ruth Rabinowitz- and I just loved working at the workshop. David and his crew where a fantastic inspiration and a huge boiling pot of creativity and individuality. The energy was all positive and the kindness and generosity filled the work space. I couldn't wait for my Gulassa days....

His work and attitude have influenced me in my work ever since.

Please accept my deepest condolences and I wish you all much strength and much mourn your great loss.....

Be strong

Ruth M'Rav-Jankelowitz
Interior Designer

I am sorry to hear about David. I work at a similar fabrication company in New York and came accross his obituary by chance.

I know the Gulassa family from a long time ago when I lived in the Bay Area. I only met David twice but his whole family made a huge impression on me with their genuine warmth and the closeness between them. My thoughts go out to all of you.

6/13/02

Dear Gulassa family,

It has been many years since I have seen any of you, but the influence your
family has had on my life, is so strong, still to this day. I remember, as if
it were yesterday running up and down the stairs of your magical home,
feeling as though I had been transformed into the pages of some wonderful Victorian novel. I think that if I had not had the opportunity to attend the Renaissance school and become friends with Lise and David I would have
traveled I much different road. Certainly one less colorful, less filled with appreciation for the subtle beauty and feelings that everyday objects, and things from the past can bestow on us. I am sorry that I did not hear of the memorial service in time to attend. Please accept my belated sympathy for
your loss.

David of course, will always hold for me, that most special of places in a woman's heart, of, my first romance. I still have some sweet, beautiful letters, that he wrote as part of our make believe Victorian world, I was "Kate" he was "Robert" and Lise was "Victoria"(?). Dancing with David in the moonlight, dressed in gowns and uniforms, in the monastery is one of my most cherished memories. Until very recently I had the jacket that he had worn on those evenings.Unfortunatly the moths finally got the better of it, if they had not, I would have sent it to Ava.

Although we had not remained close, I had heard of David's works and success
throughout the years, both from old friends and new. I was never surprised to hear how respected he was. I feel extremely lucky to have known, even for a brief time such a bright star as his.

My heart goes out to all of you, his family, friends, and beautiful wife and
daughter. I know his spirit will shine on and on.

Sincerely,

Hollyce (Fagerhaugh)
Jeffriess

My name is Kathleen Barry and in 1998, David and his team created a train bed for my then-3 year old son, EJ, who was recovering from cancer. David was such a joy. It was clear he was having enormous fun designing and building this beautiful bed. I remember having to remind some of the guys we weren't building a real train, but the bed that resulted is truly breathtaking. It looks like a real train!

At the time we were working with Make A Wish and David on the train bed, EJ was still very ill. He could hardly walk, but David and the team kept saying things like: "when he's ready he'll want to climb up there . . . remember to make it strong enough to hold a six year old . . . " and things like that, which gave me the idea David believed my son would live and thrive. Just that belief in the life of my kid was an enormous gift for me then. Happily, David was right. EJ is growing and climbing all over his bed. When he's in trouble, EJ loves to run into his room and straddle the train's smoke stack because he thinks I can't get him down from there (he's wrong, by the way)! I hope you can open the attached .jpg file picture of EJ, taken last fall at the beach at La Push. Maybe the folks who worked on his bed at Gulassa and Co. will want to see it.

I stumbled across this web site today, researching something completely different. I am deeply saddened by David's loss and I wanted his family to know how much he touched us, and that his work still adds beauty and fun to our lives every day. God bless.

Courage

Though, for many years, I had not met David Gulassa, I felt like I new him well through his family and friends. Stories about his way, evidence of his past works in and on the family house and ongoing news of his works up in Seattle gave David almost legendary status in my mind. He was not only described as a great creator, but also as one who had boundless enthusiasm that encouraged others to create as freely.

A couple of years ago, at Kirk and Lesli van Moon’s wedding, I had installed a series of totems meant to lead people to the wedding site. Everything had gone well and I was pleased with the result. …Until David approached me.

He asked, "Hey, are you the guy who made the sculptures?"

Suddenly, I lost my ground. I figured I was gonna get a good Gulassa style dressing down. Surely David wouldn’t be offering anything positive. These things must look like child’s play to him. Hell, I was admiring the bronzed medallions he did for the City of San Francisco out at Ocean beach for years before I started getting serious about my art. Plus, us guys don’t just solicit free encouragement to each other that freely. No… here comes my first scathing critique I told myself, and from a critic who I respect – Damn. I leaned in a little and braced,

"Yeah, I’m the guy who did the sculpture."

David smiled widely and said, "I really like them."

Good luck on your next journey David.

-Alex.

I will never forget the first time I met David on a tour of his metal shop with a professor of mine from the University of Washington.

My first thought was, "I have to get a job here." there was something about the place that just oozed energy and intrigue, that I couldn't put into words, but I absolutely felt. I got a job there that summer after a short conversation with David from the roof of the woodshop, that went like this:

"Do you know how to weld?"
"No, not yet, but I push a mean broom"
"I like your attitude, you're hired"

Soon after starting to work there I realized the source of energy was David.

I later learned how to weld and grind, fold, cut, crush, stretch, torch, and break things, and generally have an incredible experience making things in that artists playground. I also received an impromptu class in the meaning of material, as David would relate his manifesto for design in the form of one liners and short anecdotes.

The source of that energy has left the building, but the collection of material in the "outdoor employee lounge" reminds me of him each time I walk by. On some days, I think I see his cowboy hat wandering through the forest of pitted steel holding that trademark cup of tea.

He will be greatly missed.I had so much more to learn from him.

I knew the Gulassa family from my time at Chabot Elementary School and Renaissance School.

David was something of a trendsetter at Renaissance. A lot of kids started to imitate his draughting style, the way art students will imitate the work of a beloved instructor's. He was such a soft-spoken boy, but not out of insecurity. Some of us budding artists there had a tendency to be loud attention-getters, but David was a quiet little genius, going about his projects without need of approval. He had a lot of artistic integrity. His sweet and friendly way was a virtue so rarely practiced in a world that is riddled with competition, greed, and reproach.

At Renaissance, the Gulassas helped set a tone of fantasy and freedom. David's sister Lise was arguably the most admired female student there, and David brought his own wealth of ideas and thirst for exploration of all kinds. Some junior high trends directly traceable to the Gulassas: Victorian ballroom dancing (imagine a linoleum-floor classroom filled with 13 year olds in Edwardian dress, waltzing to the Blue Danube), Rapidograph 5x0 pens, cloth Rapidograph pen holders worn round the neck, usually of crazy quilt design; and Sgt Pepper-style jackets. That school was full of interesting, creative kids who introduced each other to new ideas, and David was part of that ingenuous energy. I would guess that for most of us, those few years were the peak of our great innocence and idealism. It is obvious that David really never stopped exploring, never limited the reach of his creative skills.

My mother, who still lives in Rockridge, recently sent me a clipping of David's obituary notice, written by Cyril in the community circular. I was so shocked and saddened. But because I had lost touch with Lise sometime between her trip to Japan and my own move here to Hong Kong, I had known nothing of David's successful design and fabricating business.

Reading Cyril's memorium of David, and visiting this website, I have realized that David led a life far fuller than the average person. I have now learned about his amazing life after Renaissance. He traveled, collected, invented, dreamed, wore cool hats, fathered a beloved little girl, married a gorgeous and warm woman, celebrated life. While I am sorry that I never got to know this extraordinary man, I treasure my memories of this extraordinary boy.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Dear Cyril and Harriet and the Gulassa Family,

Thank you SO much for sharing your memories of David with us. I can't even begin to describe how deeply affected, and moved I felt after visiting his memorial website. The pictures and memories of David tell the story of his warmth, his generousity, his compassion, and his appreciation of life and the beautiy around him. I feel deeply saddened that I never had the chance to meet him, for it is only now that I have learned what a truely magical and inspiring person he was. You have an amazing family. So expressive, creative, and supportive. I would love very much to spend more time getting to know the two of you and your family, and to hear more inspiring tales of David.

Love, --Dean Wolf 5442 Boyd Ave Oakland CA 94618

D.Wolf
"Live life with no regrets!"