David Allan Bobak

Donor: Family and friends of Dave Bobak
Tree Species: Buckeye

Cleveland Metroparks gratefully acknowledges the friends and family of Dave Allan Bobak for contributing to the Legacy Fund. This gift supports reforestation in Cleveland Metroparks now and in the future.

This beautiful buckeye tree is planted in memory of David “Dave” Allan Bobak, MD, as a collective contribution from family and friends. A buckeye was chosen to honor Dave’s proud legacy as a graduate of The Ohio State University’s medical school. There is plenty of space near the tree to bring a blanket and picnic. When you’re finished picnicking, walk the trail past the old quarry and down to the Aurora Branch of the Chagrin River. Dave would explore many paths in South Chagrin Reservation, but this location was a favorite for hiking with family.
 
Dave was born October 24, 1954, and died September 11, 2021. Although death is the cessation of the biological functions of an organism, it is not the absolute end. Everything in the universe continues to exist in some form. Energy cannot be created nor destroyed; rather, it can only be changed from one form to another. While Dave did not know what happens to our conscious mind when we die (none of us can know for sure), he was a man of science and knew this law to be true. His energy still exists in this universe, and it always will. We would like to think his energy stems from nature and continues to exist in nature, particularly in a tree. Dave embodied Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree". He was a sensitive and caring father, son, brother, husband, grandpa, friend, and physician. He was never happy unless others were happy. His compassion to see every person as a human being above all was the greatest lesson a parent could teach his children. Dave's commitment to supporting and accepting people for simply what they are made him truly a special soul. He never gave up on giving everything he had to others so that they could live better lives.
 
We are happy to honor Dave’s legacy with a legacy tree in the Cleveland Metroparks. We encourage those who picnic beneath its shade to think how they can be like Dave: accept others for who they are, be compassionate, and send your positive energy out in the world to energize others.