By Jackie Deal
Dave Sawaya lived life to the fullest even after losing a leg to cancer in 1992. We knew him as a man on crutches hopping circles around us and laughingly piloting his electric cart wherever he wanted. He played games in the clubhouse and loved pot lucks.
Dave was born in San Francisco, February 4, 1942. In 1981 he met Pam at a Parents Without Partners event; they married one year later in Woodside, California. Dave lived in San Carlos, San Mateo and Redding, Oregon before he and Pam moved to Azalea, Oregon. In Azalea they had an emu farm and had 10 breeding pairs of emus. It was during that time in 1992 that Dave lost a leg to cancer.
He was a contractor and owned several rental properties in Sutherlin. He and Pam moved from Sutherlin to the Green District in Roseburg where he lost the ultimate battle with cancer. Dave and Pam enjoyed 40 years of marriage. Dave passed away Oct. 6, 2022. Those of us who knew him, will remember his ready smile and his cheerful nature.