I am very sad to inform you that David, a board member since the founding of the Foundation, passed away suddenly last Friday, of a massive heart attack. He had never had coronary symptoms previously. David designed the logo for the National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain.

David will live forever in the hearts of all who knew him. He was the sweetest, most gentle and most generous friend anyone could have. He is survived by his wife, Judy, and his three children; Odessa, Hanna and Cheyenne. He loved them more than words can describe, and they were enormously proud of him.

It is truly ironic that a man with a heart as large as David's should die from a myocardial infarction. There are some of us, however, for whom the world's weight is more than we can bear endlessly. Now each time I look at that bird soaring against a crimson sky, a tear will come to my eye for my close and wonderful friend, David Sawyer. He was profoundly concerned for all who suffer pain, as he knew their plight so intimately. I hope we can establish a David Sawyer memorial fund for the Foundation. He earned our love so very, very well. JSH

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
SEPTEMBER 4, 2002

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

I am writing to apologize to David, Judy and all their friends. As the "E.D." I have always tried to get it absolutely right. But, in reality, I have discovered time and time again that perfection is elusive. On the other hand, as David showed us all, being great is more than enough.

I simply got it wrong about David's early life. I certainly did not do it to embellish on David. Everyone who knew him, and he most of all, knew that he needed no embellishment. What he was, himself, was more than enough. I suffered a memory mixup about David.

I knew David from, I think it was, the late 70's, when we both lived in Santa Fe. We met at a party hosted by John Morris and Sue Taylor. The error, about John and the Eagles, came out of my memory mixing two stories that occurred about the same time. John was NOT involved in the early Eagles.

Further, the cause of David's chronic pain, his chronic phlebitis, arose out of a flagrant instance of medical malpractice, not a car accident. The car wreck and the osteomyelitis was also another's story. (I know you¹d forgive my mistakes, David.)

We'll have David's official history soon. Judy is preparing a biography about him as soon as she can. It will be posted to David's site, along with photos. In the interim, everything else I said about David - I got perfect.

Anyone who wants to add to his site needs simply send it to me, at jfshmd@houston.rr.com

J.S.Hochman MD