David Drinker
Nov. 8, 1958 - July 5, 2018
David Drinker, journeyman carpenter, skier, fisherman and musician, died in Twain Harte July 5, 2018. He was born in Chicago, IL, to Dr. Henry Drinker and his wife, Joy Wilson Drinker, on Nov. 8, 1958. The Drinker family with his sister, Kimberly and brother, Russ soon moved to Palo Alto, where Henry joined the Palo Alto Medical Clinic and moved to Saratoga 4 years later where brother John was born. David was an active boy, always in a hurry to explore and have an adventure earning him the nickname “Bull”. He was outgoing and gregarious.
He attended local elementary schools and went to Saratoga High where he made lifelong friends. There he picked up a black puppy, Sage, who became a great companion and family pet. After high school David took classes at WVC, enjoyed family time at Lake Tahoe and the mountains swimming, water skiing, backpacking and skiing. David felt at home in and loved the mountains. In 1986 David married Emma Garrod of Saratoga and they lived at the Garrod Ranch. He began his career as a woodworker and journeyman carpenter and worked on local construction projects. He moved to Tahoe and worked as a member of a construction team building luxury houses. His favorite new project was for the Old Greenwood Golf Resort. He met and married Linda Nicholas in 2005. They lived in Truckee with her daughters Monica and Krista.
Returning to Saratoga in 2010, David reconnected with friends and completed a WVC program in energy management and got a certificate in Solar Technology. Playing his acoustic bass with small groups was fun and satisfying. He was knowledgeable about sports and an enthusiastic Giants and Warriors fan. Wanting to get away from the fast pace of Silicon Valley David moved to Sonora, then Twain Harte, to enjoy the gold country setting. Family and friends remember David’s smile, his kindness and humor. He was a good storyteller. Tough passages were a part of David’s life, but he was smart and resilient and always had his family and friends who encouraged, loved and supported him.
He will be missed. A family service has been held. David is survived by his mother and father, Joy and Henry Drinker of Saratoga, his sister, Kim Drinker of Carmel, brothers Russ Drinker of Oakland and John Drinker and brother in law Duane of Los Angeles, nieces Eliza Drinker and Catherine Drinker and nephews Devin Pearson and Jack Drinker.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to ARF, which connects rescue dogs and veterans for service dog training at ARF, 2980 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, Ca 94590 or the Sugar Pine Foundation, which plants Sugar Pine Seedlings to replace trees in the Tahoe Basin. sugarpineinformation.org or 1458 Mt. Rainier Dr., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.