I created this Haiku Deck for my college roommate Robyn, whose amazing husband Dave Tremaine died earlier this year from colon cancer.

Although I never had a chance to meet Dave in person, I can tell by all of the articles and photos that he was truly an exceptional person and just a stellar human being. Here's one example, from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/in-fairfax-students-remember-...

More than anything, I wanted to capture his spirit and encourage people to help his legacy live on.

In the words of a friend, "Dave is remembered fondly for many things: the example he set as a wonderful husband and father, the heart and soul he put into his career as an educator, his athletic talent, his impressive height...and of course, his enthusiasm for sporting the color, orange."

Here's a beautiful photo of Dave and Robyn on their wedding day.

Dave and Robyn had 3 amazing kids -- Samantha, Grant, and Parker. Here's Dave taking Parker to a game just a couple of months before he passed away. You can just tell he didn't do anything halfway, parenting included.

From his sister-in-law Michelle Thompson: "Uncle Dave! Uncle Dave! Uncle Dave! This was the mantra my boys would repeat for hours on our drive from New Hampshire to Virginia. They loved him, we all loved him. Our trips to visit our Virginia family will not be the same without him....Starting today our family will wear lots of orange, we will say hello first, reach out to hug and hand shake first, be the first to share a smile. He had a gift of making everyone in his presence feel welcomed, loved and connected by always being the first to share his beautiful authentic soul. We miss our enthusiastic life and people loving gentle giant."

From the YouCaring site: "During his four years as the principal of Hayfield Secondary School, Dave changed the climate of the school through his emphasis on spirit, pride, and positivity."

“Dave was a bright, shining light that brought an amazing spirit of happiness and hope to Hayfield,” said School Board Vice Chairwoman Tammy Derenak Kaufax, whose Lee District includes Hayfield. “The kids loved him, the teachers loved him, and once you met Dave, you could understand why.”

Yes, that's an orange mohawk! He lived and breathed school spirit.

The students of Hayfield Secondary held a candlelight vigil to honor him, the day before graduation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/at-hayfield-graduation-princi...

In Robyn's words: "We would like to establish a scholarship at Hayfield for a graduating senior. This is something that I hope the kids and I will be able to continue on a yearly basis. Because this would mean that at least one time a year, the graduating seniors would get to hear about this incredibly tall, spirited man who was proud to be a hawk and found the good in all of his students.

We would like to make a one time donation to Hayfield, to the drama department in particular. Dave loved to attend ALL events but how many school principals actually take part in their school’s plays? He LOVED it. He loved the energy of the students and the thrill of being able to act, if even for a few moments.

Finally, we would like to be able to make a donation to a foundation that will bear his name. Dave grew up playing tennis for Bob Pass. Over the years, their coach/player relationship became a long lasting friendship. Dave coached for Bob after his tennis playing days were over. In recent years, they worked together to create a foundation that supports youth tennis. Bob has decided (with our enthusiastic approval) to rename his foundation to include Dave’s name.

See more at: http://www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/please-help-us-continue-dave-s-great-wo...

Robyn and Dave's neighborhood created a donation page for the family, to help reduce financial stress during their time of healing.

From the YouCaring site: "This village would do anything to support Dave's incredible wife, Robyn and their thee amazing children, Samantha, Grant and Parker. While a list of of specific areas where we can help is not yet available, please consider making a donation to this fund for the Tremaine family. Whether they use that money to put toward college savings or to just keep the refrigerator stocked, this is an opportunity to help remove as much financial stress as possible during a time when the Tremaines need to focus on healing.

Village Orange is for everyone who knew and loved Dave, knew of and admired Dave, or mourns the loss of their own loved one. It's about celebrating Dave's life by helping to support the people he loved most. It's about love and hope and an opportunity to do SOMETHING.

We can never fill the space Dave left in this world with freezer meals and fundraising, but we can show the Tremaines that he will NEVER be forgotten and that they will ALWAYS be in our hearts and prayers."

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/village-orange-support-/192883

Robyn writes a beautiful blog sharing her family's journey and healing here:

http://embracingtherollercoaster.wordpress.com/

In Robyn's words: "Here is my request – once you have your bracelet/magnet, people might ask you about it. After you tell them about how amazing Dave was, remind them about getting screened. Dave was 46 at age of diagnosis (too young for routine screening), healthy, exercised daily, ate right, and had no family history. By the time he started having symptoms, he was stage IV. Maybe together we can help someone."