Obituary of David G. Bishop

David G Bishop
July 25, 1950 - October 2, 2023

Gone too soon. Gregarious with a great laugh, the best story teller with a gentle soul David G. Bishop, 73, aka Bish passed in his sleep on October 2, to leiomyosarcoma a rare aggressive muscle cancer for which there is no known cure. He learned his fate at Dana Farber Cancer Center on September 20th and that was followed up with a brief stay at Hulitar Hope Heath Hospice Center in Providence, RI.

The son of Gordon and Pricilla Drew Bishop, Dave grew up in South Glastonbury, CT. After graduation, as a younger man Dave traveled overland throughout Europe, favoring the Netherlands and their people, continuing into the Middle East all the way into Pakistan and India. Not done with traveling Dave traveled through Mexico into Central America, where he loved Costa Rica for its land diversity.

Dave attained a BA degree from UMass University Amherst and later on a second degree from Central CT University with a BA in special education. Dave spent his life working with kids. Twenty plus years with Connecticut’s DCYS Riverview Hospital then twenty plus years as a special education teacher. Dave even worked into this summer with the kids in Colchester summer school. He devoted his life to making a difference in kids’ lives. He enjoyed his time educating students while encouraging them also to become good readers and taking an interest in books. Dave was appreciated by both students and coworkers for his kindness and his passion for his work which he had tenfold.

Dave is survived by his soulmate of 40 years Deby Bishop and their two adult children, Jared and Haley Bishop. Also, his sister Janet Bishop Roche, her husband Vince Roche from New Hampshire and their children and grandchildren. A predeceased sister Sally Bishop Vestewig, her daughter and her children from Texas.

Dave had a great sense of humor, a joyous and hearty laugh which could not be ignored, and a kind gentle soul.  He loved taking visits to libraries, loved reading, and enjoyed listening to a variety of music. He shared his love of various forms of media with those close to him, as well as engaging with natural phenomena such as sunrises, sunsets and lunar eclipses. He relished learning about other cultures while engaging with their people. Dave loved telling stories about all his life experiences.

Dave is and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Donations in Dave’s name can be made to Dana Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, dana-farber.org, for research into leiomyoscarcoma or to Hulitar Hope Health Hospice, Providence, RI, www.hopehealthco.org