We are so sorry to share with you the passing of David McGowan one week ago today. David was a gentle, kind soul with a passion for plants and helping others. He came to the old garden frequently and we were all so happy to see him again at the fall dinner just a few months ago. A few of us visited David where he worked with native plants at Cure Nursery and we realized we had only just begun to learn all that David had to share about botony and plants. I was honored to give David a glowing recommendation from the garden when he applied to work at Cure. It was one of the easiest recommendations I’ve ever given as the combination of his botanical knowledge and graciousness with people made him perfect for the job. David was only 28 years old and we will miss him. If you would like to know more about David, the plans for his service or to share a memory with his family you can do so here.

David and Fred kept in touch across time and distance. With Fred’s permission I wanted to share his reflections about David with you:

I was one of the leaders at the first Simple Gifts Community Garden in Apex (2009-2021). David came to the garden often, and he and I chatted and worked together. I liked David very much. He had a kind, gentle nature, and he was a passionate gardener. Talking with him, I was struck by his sharp intelligence and avid curiosity. He spoke like a botanist or master gardener, and I always learned something new from our discussions. We had a strong connection; when I saw him working in the garden I always went over to where he was working so we could chat a bit. David did the same with me.

I have been away from the garden since Covid. But I saw David at a Garden Supper last October. He came up to me after dinner. When I saw him, I was delighted and I gave him a warm hug. He asked me what I was up to these days. I told him I was a science writer for young adults and I had just finished a series of books on Indigenous science and engineering, particularly in the areas of farming, botany, and ecology. We got into an enthusiastic discussion, and David told me some exciting facts about Native Americans’ scientific knowledge that I hadn’t uncovered after almost four years of research. He promised to send me references to these achievements. And he did! A couple weeks after the garden supper he emailed me and listed every item in our discussion and a book he had read and liked about the Native American “George Washington” — Tecumseh, Chief of the Shawnee in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

When I received the news about David from our garden leader Anne last night, I was shocked and immediately began grieving David’s loss. David was such a kind, intelligent, and sweet person. He had so much to offer us. I will add his contributions to my books and I will cite David as my source and contributor.

Fred D’Ignazio