David Leonard Dye

A devoted family man, Christian, & hero veteran 

David L Dye, 77, passed peacefully on July 31, with his wife of 24 years and daughter Amanda by his side,  after a two-year battle which left him paralyzed from a heart attack and stroke.  

He fought valiantly every single day and lived long enough to see all who he wanted to see , and say all the things he wanted to say.  It was a gift to have that time with his 2 beloved daughters Amanda 23 and Ava 15, and devoted wife of 24 years , Kathy, 57.  

He also had the opportunity to speak with and visit with his loving sister, Mary, sister, Kathy, and right-hand guy, his brother Asa who devotedly picked  up a lot of the slack while David was  unable to physically continue — yet his brilliant mind was as sharp as ever. His loving cousin Kathy was also here for many weeks over the past two years with total devotion and Care. Recounting stories of their many summers in upstate New York together with all the siblings was a highlight of the past two years.  

And his devoted, lifelong best friend Bill Peterson who made the trek all the way from Kentucky several times even recently surprising David on his 77th birthday July 11.. Jim Kemp, friend for 45 plus years , always there to pitch in & save the day before & after Davids Stroke.   And dedicated hospice volunteer Ayelet, whose parallel expertise with bomb detection (in the Israeli army) gave them an instant bond.  But more significantly, she kept coming back weekly for seven months. She and Hospice social Worker Sharon and highly skilled nurses Elizabeth and Danielle, were caring, devoted, and selfless — embracing the entire family not just David.  

Throughout his long and fruitful life, David devoted his time helping others.  As a private investigator for over 40 years, David was instrumental in freeing three wrongly- convicted men who had served collectively over 45 years in prison. Through his skill and investigations, he proved they had the wrong men in jail.  David also helped represent hundreds of other clients throughout his life, many pro bono, and taught firearm safety to over 10,000 Massachusetts residents.  

David also spent many years as a volunteer with the American Legion, Sherborn Lions club, and many other civic organizations in Natick and Sherborn. He was THE GUY that everyone called if they needed help or were in a crisis.   He also plowed everyone’s driveway in his neighborhood when he lived in Natick and even after moving to SHERBORN, continued to do for several years and then the next 23 years did so in Sherborn for free & and just out of the kindness of his heart .

At age 18, DAVID enlisted in the Army at the height of the Vietnam war , scoring high enough to become an officer candidate, but DAVID chose the front line instead and spent the next 2 years & 7 months in Vietnam completing 2 tours of duty. His MOS (military occupational service) was in bomb detection — One of the most dangerous jobs in the military.   He also took on another deadly job of searching enemy tunnels in total darkness becoming so good at it. He had the nickname in country of, “the Rat”. 

He was a Sergeant and was at Hamburger Hill, where he lost most of his men in one of the deadliest fighting days of Vietnam.  

Back in that era, veterans were spit on at the airport and he was flown home in the darkness of Night, returning home to a nation that turned their back on these brave men who gave everything. And returning home to an economy where jobs were nonexistent. 

After giving everything they had, these veterans were disrespected at every chance they were given.

Despite all these adversities, David enrolled in college and was also an undercover ATF agent for a while before becoming a private investigator for over 40 years.  He also became an expert witness in courtrooms throughout Massachusetts for explosives, firearms & ballistics. He was also a trained search & rescue team member with his certified  German Shepherd, Thor, even working trying to find Sarah Pryor when she went missing in Wayland.

He was well respected by every lawyer , judge & courtroom clerk he met and was often the one quoting the law, verbatim, using his photographic memory to assist the lawyers he worked with & a key strategist in every legal case he worked on. 

Yet, when asked, he said his greatest accomplishments and legacy were his two daughters who he loved with every fiber of his being. 

As a first time father at 54, David was available and present on a daily basis in raising his first born, Amanda. His depth of knowledge and wide-ranging experiences were shared on a daily basis with her and helped inform who she is today.  His IQ of 148 was also passed down to his children who benefited from his knowledge and brilliance.  

At 61, he became a father again to his beloved Ava who kept him young and on his toes.  Driving her to school in the morning was one of his favorite activities and they enjoyed singing songs as varied as Andrea Bocelli, "the Prayer” Tiffany, “I think we’re alone now” and Laura Branigan “Gloria”, Whitney Houston “I will always love you”, and of course Lee Greenwood, “God bless the USA.” He instilled a love of country and patriotism in his daughters and wife that will live on forever.

Over the past two years, seeing his daughter Amanda graduate from college with her bachelor’s degree Magna Cum Laude & inducted into 3 honor societies, sitting in the audience in his wheelchair was one of the proudest moments of his life.  And then he fought hard every day to be part of her graduation from her master’s degree on May 19 which he did.  He was also a cheerleader to his wife Kathy, who was diligently working on her second master’s degree, this one in social work, to help future Veterans — knowing she would be on her own at some point soon.

He then fought to see daughter Ava graduate from 8th grade, and celebrate his 77th birthday on July 11. And fought even harder to be here to celebrate Amanda‘s 23rd birthday on July 29th which he did with pride and love and tenacity.. Amanda was there for her dad almost every day over the past two years, the most devoted daughter I’ve ever seen.

DAVID was a magnificent bright light and force in this world — and as one of the polytrauma doctors at the veteran's administration stated,” David is the toughest guy I’ve ever met.”  He would meet with this wonderful doctor Charles for many many months, also bringing relief and peace to David.

His tenacity and strength and love of life was shown to all of us over the past 2 years as he fought so valiantly to try to walk again, to regain his independence, to remain engaged and involved and part of the conversation, to get back on his beloved Kubota tractor, and to continue as a private investigator.  We are very grateful to the many amazing  therapists at Community Rehab in Waltham who worked with him for nine long months 3 to 4 days per week — Never giving up.

We can ALL learn something from DAVID, whether it’s devotion to Family, grit and determination, love of country, a firm grasp  on the laws of the United States, the importance of firearm safety and wilderness survival, and the act of service to others.

David was a Christian, who believed in God, the father, and Jesus Christ, who died for his sins. Therefore, we know that we will see him again in heaven where we will probably find him riding his Kabota tractor with his beloved dog, Thor running alongside him.  Or he will be eating ice cream with his beloved cousin Maryann who he also loved dearly, along with his many cats throughout the years, Smokey, Patchy, Mortimer, and so many more.   And his dogs who adored him Zeus & Hercy.  Animals of all kinds loved David as they saw and felt his kind spirit and soul under that John Wayne exterior. 

David also leaves behind  many nieces and nephews who he was proud to call his family. Ryan, Andy, Heather , Kristin, Becca, Rick, Cameron, Kayla, Timmy, and Little Cameron.  Mother-in-law Jean, who spent the past two years doing all the food shopping and any request that David had.  Devoted friends of Kathy who helped sustain her over these past two years., especially Carolyn, Tracy, Bethany, Shana, Linda & her daughter Sara Who has been amazing with Ava.

And David’s friend Al Michaud across the street, and Ray Murray Next Door, — both so thoughtful, caring, and always available to help when needed.

A celebration of life will be held in the near future, where David will receive full military honors and will be buried with honors at the Veteran’s Cemetary in Bourne (a beautiful resting place that DAVID was instrumental in helping to build when he was in the National Guard).

In the past 10 days, David was able to meet with Pastor Rick and talk about his belief in Jesus and forgiveness of our sins and redemption & life after death. This brought him great peace, and also helped him to let go as his pain level increased exponentially.

He knew John 3:16 which says that “God so loved this world that he gave his only son that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We shall see you again, healthy, healed, and riding your Kubota.

In lieu of flowers, if you are so inclined, a donation for his beloved daughter Ava, 15, with Down Syndrome's future care, can be sent to:

Middlesex Savings Bank c/o Ava Dye, 31 North Main Street, Sherborn MA 01770.

P.s. Everyone that knows David knows that he loved frogs & toads and he and Daughter Amanda talked about them all the time and had even discussed that that would be a sign from him.  

Just 3 hours after his passing, for the first time in 25 years of living here, when I returned home & opened my car door, looked down & there was a frog sitting right next to my car door, waiting to greet me.  

God bless you, David. 

To reach the family, feel free to email:

Kathyhorigan@icloud.com