NAPA - David Nunn, 42, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 14, 1967, in Vallejo, to Jerry and Judy Nunn. He moved to Napa in 1970 and attended St. John’s Catholic School, Ridgeview, St. Apollinaris and Napa High School, graduating in 1985. He had many favorite teachers throughout his years who impacted his life. David played basketball and starred under the coaching of Denny Lewis at Napa High School. He ran track, coached by Frank Dephillipis, excelled as a golfer under Coach Norman Kincaid, and was inspired by his art teacher, Chuck Svenson.

While in high school, David worked at the family business, Nunn’s Cheese Barn, and cooked at the Yellow Brick Road Restaurant with his dad. David was accepted to the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco but chose to stay in Napa and work at the family business. After the business closed in 1986, he opened his own private investigation business. He worked the West Coast states and had a very successful business until he was diagnosed with his first brain tumor in 1998. He fought a long courageous battle for the last 11 1/2 years, always with a positive attitude.

David has four sons: Tyler, Kevin, Kyle and Dylan. While battling his brain tumor, he remained very active with his boys. He coached T-Ball, Napa Little League and was the equipment manager for the Napa Saints Football team.

David loved Donner Lake where he and his family enjoyed many vacations. He also loved ducks and enjoyed fishing, hunting, drawing and cooking. He had a green thumb for gardening and made many birdhouses and candelabras out of wine barrels. But the best part of his life was spending time with his four boys.

With a desire to give back to his community, David volunteered at the Queen of the Valley Hospital enjoying many fun moments with the other volunteers. He also volunteered for the National Brain Tumor Research Institute with their experimental program to help future patients.

David received excellent care over the years from Dr. Susan Chang at UCSF, and Dr. Margaret Schlatter and Dr. Paul Dugan of Napa, and most recently Home Health Care and Hospice of Napa Valley.

David is survived by his parents, Jerry and Judy Nunn; sons Tyler, Kevin, Kyle and Dylan; sister Michelle Nunn Mitchell;  nieces Megan and Katie; brother Dan (Stephanie) Nunn; nephews Thomas and Timothy; and grandparents Howard and Anne Nunn. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Bill and Helen Lopes. David was also looking forward to meeting his first grandchild in July.

On June 7, there was a fundraiser held in Napa for David and he was overwhelmed by the love and support he felt from everyone. He was able to attend for an hour and was greeted by so many old friends. Everyone who knew David loved him and was impacted by his smile and warm words. David was so fortunate to be cared for by his loving parents, who since March rarely ever left his side. He will be greatly missed by his family.

David was always helping others and had an infectious sense of humor and an incredibly strong will to live. His legacy of helping others will live on via the David Nunn Foundation to help other families of brain tumor patients. Donations can be made in his honor at Bank of America #0031374045.

A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, July 7, at 10 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with graveside committal to follow at Tulocay Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday, July 5, from 2-5 p.m., and Monday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the rosary at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Tulocay Funeral Home.

Words of sympathy may be sent to the family at Tulocay Funeral Home, P.O. Box 7, Napa, CA 94559 or e-mailed to jnunn101@aol.com.