The "In Recognition Of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The entire Sunday newspaper was in pink ink in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month which made the small photograph in the upper right-hand corner of the "Living" section standout.  That's also the way it was with the 6"X8" color photo on page B3 of the paper.  Photo of the same guy on both pages.  

Dave Holt

Then it struck me...I known that guy!  The wrinkles in his cheeks and lines on his forehead may be a bit deeper, but the slight smile gave him away.  When I finally read the name, I realized he was a student of mine when he was in high school.  Dave Holt will be 65 years old soon, but was in his mid-teens when I had him in my Graphic Arts/Photography classes.  And, the more I thought about it, I think he even might have been a photographer for the yearbook for which I was the adviser.  So what has he been up to and why is his photograph in the newspaper next to the big headline that reads: "DAVE HOLT RETURNS".  Newspaper story tells of his being born and raised in Neffsville, Pennsylvania which is a few miles from the center of Lancaster.  He got married about 30 years ago and he and his wife, Sarah, began their love affair with the city of New Orleans.  Visited the town yearly to take in Mardi Gras, the French Quarter and other musical venues.  In 1998 he fronted the popular Dave Holt Band and brought the sounds of New Orleans to Lancaster County.  But, evidently his heart was in New Orleans, since he and his wife up and moved to the city 12 years ago.  He still gets to see his old band members when they head to New Orleans each year to celebrate Dave's birthday with him.  Down in New Orleans he initially intended to lead a band as he had in Lancaster, but in a city rich in piano players he wondered if it would work as it did in Lancaster.  Then he met a gentleman by the name of Lawrence Cotton who is a 91-year-old piano-playing legend in New Orleans.  

New Orleans legend Lawrence Cotton

Dave began playing upright bass with Mr. Cotton and they now play at private parties and happy hours in New Orleans.  But, Dave has plans to return to Lancaster County for a perfor- mance at Millersville University's Ware Center in downtown Lancaster on October 21 when Dave will get together with his old bandmates for a performance to raise money for "Defeat Breast Cancer".  Seems that Dave was a friend of Diana Denenberg who died of breast cancer.  Diana's brother, Dennis Denenberg, a retired Millersville University professor as well as Asst. Superintendent at Manheim Towship School District where I taught and where Dave was a student, started an endowment at Millersville to honor his sister Diana.  Dennis got the idea to have Dave and his old bandmates play a concert to raise money for the endowment.  Up to $10,000 in ticket sales for the event will be matched by Dennis to honor his sister.  I'm sure the event will go well and Dave's Band will perform well.  It certainly can't be for a better cause!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.