Some lives are difficult to summarize because they were never meant to fit neatly into a few paragraphs. David “Dave” Houston lived one of those lives.
A sailor, woodworker, writer, storyteller, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and wonderfully eccentric character, Dave spent 94 years collecting experiences—and he was never short on words when it came time to tell you about them.
But the story Dave leaves behind is ultimately one of family.
Born August 6, 1932, in New York City to George and Mary Houston, Dave passed away September 1, 2026. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, George Houston.
But the story Dave leaves behind is ultimately one of family.
For 66 years, he shared his life with his beloved wife, Suzanne. Together they raised three children: David Houston and his wife, Nathalie; Suzy Eddy and her husband, John; and Rex Houston and his wife, Mary. Watching those children grow and build successful lives of their own was among Dave’s greatest sources of pride.
That pride extended into their businesses. Dave had the distinction of becoming the very first employee of his oldest son’s company, Houston Air. Eighteen years later, he did it again, becoming the first employee of his youngest son’s company, Rex Air.
“When his family was beginning something, he was there.”
In many ways, that says everything about Dave. When his family was beginning something, he was there.
His family eventually grew to include seven grandchildren—Ian Eddy, Taylor Eddy, Emilie Houston Kosiba, Alec Houston, Levi Houston, Payton Roth, and Juliana Rodriguez—and two great-grandchildren, Berkeley Eddy and Elijah Stevenson.
Beyond his family, there was the water.
Beyond his family, there was the water.
For more than 50 years, Dave was an avid sailor. Sailing wasn’t simply a weekend pastime; for 10 years, a sailboat was his home. It was perhaps the perfect life for someone so fiercely independent and comfortable charting his own course.
Later, Dave found enjoyment in woodworking, classical music and writing. Yet some of life’s simplest moments became some of the most meaningful—especially sitting on the back porch beside Suzanne, watching the birds and enjoying the quiet together.
Dave never needed a crowded room. Something of a recluse by nature, he kept a small circle of lifelong friends. Those fortunate enough to enter that circle discovered someone impossible to duplicate: intelligent, eccentric, fiercely individual and equipped with an extraordinary vocabulary—which, on occasion, included a few colorful words unlikely to appear in any dictionary.
And then there were his stories.
And then there were his stories.
Dave could tell one like few others. His stories were rarely short and certainly never lacking detail. Every person, observation, circumstance and side note mattered. By the time he finished, you hadn’t simply heard about an experience—you felt as though you had traveled back in time alongside him.
“If you listened closely, somewhere within those winding stories was often some pretty great life advice.”
Behind the humor and storytelling was something deeper: 94 years of perspective. If you listened closely, somewhere within those winding stories was often some pretty great life advice.
Thankfully, many of Dave’s words remain.
Thankfully, many of Dave’s words remain.
A prolific writer, he authored more than 800 blog posts under the name “Islander.” His stories, observations and unmistakable perspective on life remain for his family, friends and future generations to discover at thewalrussaid.net.
Dave Houston was one of a kind. He lived adventurously, loved his family deeply and remained unmistakably himself throughout it all.
He will be deeply missed, but disappearing quietly was never going to be Dave’s style. He leaves behind a family he helped build, countless stories, 66 years of marriage, a lifetime of memories—and hundreds of thousands of words ensuring that his voice can still be heard.
