David Durham Biggers

In memory of beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, David Durham Biggers who died March 11, 2006. We have loved him every day of this past year just as we loved him every day of his life. We miss him so.

David was born December 28, 1960, in Andrews, Texas, the son of James A. Biggers and Faye Miller Biggers. Until the age of 10, he lived with his family in Goldsmith, another small West Texas town. They then moved to Odessa where David graduated from Permian High School in 1979. David supported himself while attending the University of Texas, often juggling two jobs, attending classes, and caring for his mother during a long illness. He graduated from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in 1994, with a B.B.A. in marketing.

During those years, David worked - often simultaneously - as a waiter, a bartender, a caterer, and an investigator for the law firm of his sister and brother-in-law. His college degree brought him a coveted London internship with an international advertising agency. He then moved to San Francisco, working as an advertising account manager, first for Lowe & Partnerships and then Chiat/Day. He returned to Austin in 2000, working as account manager for Merkley, Newman, Harty/Partners, a New York-based advertising firm. In every job, he toiled long and hard, earning respect and admiration from his colleagues for his talent and his integrity.

David did so many things well. He was an artist, a photographer, a swimmer, a gardener, a fabulous cook. He loved good music, good wine, and good food - especially all at once and in the company of good friends. When we weren't with him, we would receive wonderfully outrageous and funny cards which often included recipes he thought we should try and the names of books he thought we should read and CDs he thought we should hear.

He also sent postcards from travels to London, Paris, Rome, Athens, and Moscow, and from diving trips to Mexico and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. David loved living and studying in London and Cuernavaca and for a short while in the Greek islands. Had he lived longer, he would have traveled to Singapore and Bangkok. Had he lived longer, we would have received more postcards and laughed at more outrageous stories and shared more delicious meals.

We were not prepared for David's sudden illness. Bronchitis became pneumonia. Unaware of the HIV lying in wait, he did not seek medical care until he was gravely ill. David spent his last two weeks in intensive care. Ultimately, he chose to remove the ventilator which had kept him alive. His last hours were spent encircled by loved ones. There was time, though not as much as we wished, to express our love for each other and to say goodbye. David did not want a funeral, but some of us gathered the next evening to comfort each other. This past summer, we scattered his ashes into the Seine, after retracing his favorite walk in Paris.

It is impossible to know another person completely, even one we so dearly loved. It is impossible to describe David's or anyone's life in a few words. Like all of us, David knew disappointment and sadness. It is a comfort that David believed he experienced accomplishment, joy and love in greater measure.

David is survived by his mother, Faye Biggers of Odessa; his sister, Cynthia Biggers; his brother-in-law, Willie Schmerler; his nephews, Sam Schmerler and Eli Schmerler; all of Austin; his cousins, Randy Biggers and wife, Ursula; and Ron Biggers and son Bradley, all of New Mexico. He was predeceased by his father, James A. Biggers.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Elliot Trester for his skillful, wise and compassionate care for David. We also wish to thank those who shared our last hours with David: Missy, Bill, Tammy, Anna, Leith, Coby, Tana, and Ani. They were great and loyal friends whom he loved very much. Much gratitude also to our friends who comforted and supported us during his illness and this past year.

We invite David's friends and ours to a memorial gathering Saturday, March 17, 2007. For more information, please contact Cynthia Biggers at 680-1382 or clbiggers@gmail.com Memorials may be made in David's name to AIDS Services of Austin.

Austin American-Statesman (TX) - March 11, 2007