R.I.P. Dave Hatfield

[Dave the Cook]

We're very sorry to announce the passing of long-time member Dave Hatfield. We received this email from his wife Linda this morning:

Dear Egullet friends of David Hatfield,

It is with great sadness that I must tell you that David, my beloved husband, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday 24th October. Please read my letter sent out after the funeral on Wednesday.

My dear Friends

Your love and support have really sustained me through the fog of my bereaved pain during this last week. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

The week before My Darling David died he was in very good form and had enjoyed our wine tasting evening at Ruve and Michaels, several dinners with friends, writing for Egullet and even played 18 holes of golf the day before he died!

He was delighted to have been qualified to join the Fifi History Group. With a promise to do a talk on local food during the war and serve the same dishes for a history Group lunch, he was accepted. He was so looking forward to the History tour on Thursday afternoon and was busy organising his day, when in the middle of writing a food article for Egullet he died. The auto save showed his work was saved at 9:47am. Rupert and I found him looking peaceful and asleep on the sofa.

My one solace is that David did not suffer and left us very quickly.

As I contemplate this last week, our nearest and dearest friends have loved me like their own, each showing it in a different way. Your letters, emails and cards are all around me reminding me how much you care. The sea of faces at the crematorium took my breath away, so many of you were able to celebrate my David's life and will be forever remembered.

Life without David will be tough but in his memory I will continue living my life as best I can. I will remain in France and continue my friendships, work and singing. I will take over David's role of keeping in touch with our very dear international friends.

Sore as I am, I know I am blessed with a blanket of love.

Linda

Dave not only impressed the membership with his thoughtfulness, experience, and palate, he shared them with us through his three eG Foodblogs: the first in 2007, La France Profonde in 2012, and his last, A Food Adventure, just a few weeks ago.

We'll miss you, Dave.

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[Plantes Vertes]

Linda and other friends of Dave, I am sorry. I enjoyed his contributions here very much but they can only have been a small fraction of what he brought to those he knew.

[Anna N]

How very, very sad. My heart goes out to Linda and to Rupert. He will surely be missed on eGullet. Anna N

[Panaderia Canadiense]

How tremendously sad. My condolences to Linda and Rupert - Dave touched all our lives, even if only briefly, and he will be sorely missed.

[Jaymes]

A life well-lived with food, friends, travel, words, love.

A death quick with no pain or suffering.

It is all that can be wished for our time here on Earth.

Godspeed.

[FrogPrincesse]

Very sad to read about Dave's passing. My thoughts go to his family and friends. I feel lucky that I got to read about his adventures in France, including recently with his blog.

[dcarch]

This is not happening! I can't believe my eyes. Tell me this is not true!

So very sorry!

dcarch

[annabelle]

My condolences, Linda. We will all miss Dave and his wit. Godspeed.

[nickrey]

This is very sad news. Dave gave us all so much pleasure with his writings. It was a privilege to be taken into his world. Condolences to family and friends. He will be missed.

[Mjx]

My condolences to Dave's family, and I'm glad we have one last blog to remember him by.

[andiesenji]

This is sad news indeed. His writing was so great and so evocative of the places of which he wrote that one had the feeling of being right there next to him.

He will be profoundly missed.

[Martin Fisher]

Wow!

I am so very sorry!!!

[rotuts]

Im sad, very very sad.

he gave me and others a great view on French Life and Country Life. Much missed and I wish you and Rupert happiness from now on.

to me, and I say this with great respect, he understood: Great Cheese, Fine Wine, Crusty Bread and many

friends to enjoy it with.

Edited November 1, 2013 by rotuts (log)

[weinoo]

Much sadness here. But happy to have been able to read his wonderful writings.

My sincere condolences, Linda; to you and your family and friends.

And Dave - Adieu and rest in peace.

[heidih]

Linda -

I enjoyed working with Dave on his last two eGullet foodblogs. For this latest one, he stepped up to the plate when nobody else volunteered, and displayed enthusiasm and joy about sharing his food life. Thank you also for sharing that he was in a state of happiness with respect to the other areas of his life. He leaves a hole here at eGullet, but he left on a high note. I send you and your family all my best thoughts and wishes.

[barolo]

My condolences. Dave was a very generous contributor here and I'm so glad we able to share in his many interests and delights. I'm sorry to lose him and his voice.

[Kerry Beal]

He shall be missed.

[liuzhou]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Dave will be missed by many people who never met him but benefited from his many contributions here, but my thoughts today are more with his family and close ones.

[cdh]

Sad news. He had an interesting perspective on many things. He'll be missed.

[gfweb]

Yes indeed. A level head and a fine palate. Wish we d met.

[patrickamory]

I'm so sorry to read this. I very much enjoyed his blogs, bursting with happiness, humor and appreciation of life. My heart goes out to his family.

[C. sapidus]

Very sad news indeed, and heartfelt condolences to Dave's family and friends. His presence will be felt and missed.

[huiray]

Sorry to hear of this. Condolences to his family and friends.

[mgaretz]

Sad indeed

[Pierogi]

I can't add much to what others have said.....only that I am feeling the same. Sadness, shock, gratitude that I had a chance to share his world through his writings here, and an inexplicable sense of loss for someone I never "met". How strangely wonderful that this group has given us the opportunity to know each other's lives and passions, and how strangely wonderful that I type this with tears in my eyes for someone I never knew in person, but felt I knew very well, indeed.

Thank you Linda and Rupert for sharing Dave with us. My thoughts are with you as you navigate through the world without his physical presence, but with him in your hearts and minds forever.