David Yearsley
Marsh Man
February 2, 1946 – September 5, 2011
TESTIMONIALS:
David Yearsley:
You guided us through the backwaters of the Marsh.
You taught us that sharing the wonders of the River is an act of conservation.
You practiced a gospel of Yes!
You hunted and fished the River and listened to its rich silence.
You were a small kid messing around in boats and a big kid building them.
You filled the Livery Stable with music and joy.
You gloried in the mud.
You included us – Friends, board, community – in your vision, and we honor you.
You have passed the stewardship on to us.
May we be worthy.
~ Patrick Campbell for the Board of the Friends of the Petaluma River
I do indeed feel moved to contribute, because of David’s greatness, and in spite of my feeling of inadequacy to do justice to him and his remarkable life. I think for me it boils down to some very basic things I’ll always treasure about David:
First, he was so positive and such a gentle soul. I never heard David say a bad word about anyone (except the Redwood Landfill – which really isn’t a person, so it doesn’t count). Just being around David took all of us to a higher level of humanity because you could tell he had no use for negativism or sniping, so around David you stuck to your better angels. But it was more than that: David genuinely saw the best in the people around him, and when someone sees you that way despite all your flaws, it has a way of making you better.
David was very focused and determined — potent qualities when you pair them with that positive/gentle stuff above. It made him the kind of advocate that builds trust, friendship, and success over time. Not big, flashy in-your-face victories, but steady incremental progress. Because of the way he operated, there were no losers in David’s victories, so his circle of friends just kept expanding without adding any enemies.
I’m struck by the quality of the people David gathered around him in that circle of friends: talented, thoughtful, peaceful people who you just like to be around. And by the larger community he built around his love for the river and the Petaluma Marsh and his vision of how they should be better understood, used, valued and embraced as unique public trust assets.
Last, David was spiritual. I never discussed religion with him and I have no idea what particular faith or type of spiritualism he held, but there was something so calm and grounded in him that I know he must have spent a good deal of time reflecting, praying, or otherwise connecting with higher sources.
I count myself blessed to have had several long boat rides on the marsh with him; lots of big blue sky conversations about water and rivers; and a few unforgettable group music sessions at the River Heritage Center where David on his dobro contributed the soulful classic “Deep Elem Blues.” I will truly miss David and am so glad to be part of his circle of friends.
~ Jared Huffman
David Yearsley was a wonderful friend, storyteller, musician, river guardian, craftsman, and community builder. He brought a deep spiritual and natural awareness to our landscape and our regional culture. David was an outdoorsman, a hunter, and a man of practical action- all infused with an artist’s sensibility. His deep wisdom allowed him to speak softly while reaching down below the surface into our fundamental connections with life on earth and with each other. His profound ecological vision helped him, and helped us, to re-connect the pieces of our fast paced lives and to settle into a rich appreciation of the Present we have all been given, right here on the muddy banks of the Petaluma River- “the greatest slough on Earth”.
~ Scott Hess, Photographer
Just the thought was soothing, to have a perpetual four-day outdoor fire starting on David’s last day. And to reinforce our warm thoughts of and experiences with David, we circled the fire in the dark bringing up images of how David would have enjoyed the outdoor theme as he poked at the coals.
Always an unwritten fellowship between people who love wood and its working, and its contribution to new creation. I appreciated David when we first met. His enthusiasm for building things was elicited when I told about the original Petaluma cart. ”Let’s build one” was David’s startling reply. Let alone his frequent proposal to build a Petaluma version of the Alma.
What a team you have made to foster the amenities of Petaluma and its river. A constant advocate for exposing people to the Petaluma River and its complex of marshes, David’s enthusiasm spilled over to a persistent drumbeat to put the River Heritage Center on Petaluma’s McNear Peninsula.
From legislators to city council person, David practiced his persuasion. The many friends and advocates expressed their appreciation and fondness for David at the Lakeville riverside gathering and, despite his illness, he participated with his last public presentation, to the admiration of all.
David understood the importance of music to bring people together and its combining with enthusiasm, innovation, and love of place has finally put the River in the consciousness of Petaluma citizens.
Not many Davids in the world, we truly miss his presence.
~ Bill Kortum
