Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

David Alan Lantz was born to Evarose and Ben Lantz in Chicago in 1949. With one sister, Barbara, David was raised in a close family. His father was an office worker, while his mother was a stay-at-home mom. He was greatly influenced by his mother and father, who were gentle and caring. David had a wonderful childhood as he was raised in the Judaic tradition attending Sunday School. The family observed all of the Jewish holidays. At home, it was a time in history when everyone was sheltered in a nurturing community. Neighbors were friends with each other on the block as the kids walked to school. In the neighborhood were many wonderful relatives including Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Leo and cousins Allen, Richard, Mickey, and Bob. Living next door were Uncle High and Auntie Juliet, who was like a second mother. In fact, they shared the holidays and went in and out of the two homes as one big extended family. And, with Barry, Ricky and Eugene, David made friendships that would last a lifetime.

When David and Barbara were young, their mother read to them. They always took the kids to the public library. As a family, they'd read books until 1 or 2 in the morning. David always liked reading his Westerns. As a result, David earned wonderful grades in school. His success came easily. He loved playing the guitar. When it came to athletics, David was gifted. He played baseball and basketball in neighborhood leagues. He won a ping-pong championship in Chicago once and he was an excellent swimmer. As his parents belonged to the Lakewood Country Club, his talents for golf were nurtured and as a teenager, he became a wonderful golfer.

He graduated from Bowen High School in Chicago and went on to University of Illinois in Champagne, where he earned his undergraduate degree. To finish his education, David earned his advanced degrees while attending medical school in Mexico. He loved living in Mexico as languages came easily to him and he was fluent in Spanish. Before, during and after Mexico, David was an explorer. He was adventurous. He once asked to use the family car. His parents were shocked when David phoned from South America. It was David calling to ask for the title to the car. Someone wanted to buy it so David sold the car and flew home. One time he came home in a beat up car with only a stick for a gas pedal. Somehow, he made it work. Another time when he went to Florida with three friends, he woke up early one morning at the beach and his friends were gone. They had left without him. He only had a pair of shorts so he walked to a motel and called home. His mother spoke to the manager who found him some clothes in lost and found. His parents wired him enough money so he could get home. David always had a heart for animals. When David was living in Mexico, he inherited a dog for one year while he lived in a trailer. One year later, the dog owners returned and took the dog. In Mexico, Barry visited him and they traveled together. David traveled to Thailand a few times with Barry. He also traveled to South America, Central America, Columbia, and Rio De Janeiro. When he traveled to the Amazon, he lived with the natives and made friends as he ate rats with them. Years later, he still kept in touch with some of the people he met, including friends from Mexico who were practicing medicine in Texas. After becoming a doctor, David lived on a Reservation for six months, as he was paid by the federal government to help the Native Americans.

More than 20 years ago, he followed Barry to Los Angeles. After working at Kaiser, David started his own private practice with Dr. Emerson Buckhalter. Emerson remembers that the patients loved David and he always had a good rapport. He was also fluent in Spanish, which was an asset.

In November 1999, David met Belinda, a pediatrician, and they started dating. They had a lot in common. They liked to take long walks, sit by the ocean and relax. In November 2001, the couple married in a lovely outdoor ceremony at the Marriott in Woodland Hills. Barry was David's best man. With David's friends and Belinda's family, the wedding party included many doctors. If anyone got sick, the group was certainly covered. In 2004, they bought their home in Los Angeles, creating their future together.

The greatest love of David's life was his family, especially his twins, Amy and Brian, who were born on August 10, 2007. David was in the room for the delivery, as the babies weighed just over 4 pounds each. He chose all of the toys for the kids, as he really was a big kid in man's clothes. He loved playing with both of his children. He liked to read to the kids, especially the book "Rainbow Fish."

David had many favorites in life. He liked giving out candy to the neighborhood kids at Halloween. He loved movies, especially westerns or action films. He enjoyed watching golf on television, especially Tiger Woods. Always active and on the go, when he went home to Chicago, he always took his golf clubs. Barry remembers that David was just happy to be near the golf course. He liked to hit golf balls to practice, he'd practice at the driving range, twice a weekend he'd go to the golf course or he'd practice putting in the house. David liked taking short trips to Palm Springs for golfing weekends. His favorite foods were Spanish dishes and Thai, along with steak and potatoes. His favorite beverage was coffee.

Even with the distance, David and his sister Barbara shared holidays and special occasions. Barbara remembers David used to call her on the phone saying, "Hey, big sistah." He was the best brother. David had a great love of life and was looking forward to the future with his wife, Belinda, and the kids. Devoted to his mother, he called her every day to check on her as he grew more appreciative every day. With each conversation, he closed with the words, "I love you." His mother and Barbara made numerous trips to California and the family is grateful for all of those who visited David from out of town, including cousin Michael and his wife Harriet; Eugene and his wife Susan; Aunt Juliet, who is 94, and cousin Cristy; cousin Richard and his wife Josie; along with the people who visited in Los Angeles.

David will best be remembered as adventurous, eccentric, unique, loving and compassionate. The best part of his life was always family, friends and golf. He was really natural and simple. He didn't judge people. He loved the little moments in life such as sitting in the garden surrounded by pretty flowers and he liked to buy annuals every year.

In his final days, David was surrounded by family. His family will miss spending time with him; they'll miss him not being able to play with the kids. His mother will miss the daily phone calls and her son's presence. Barbara will miss everything about him, just knowing he was there to talk to and spend time with. She remembers David was always willing to listen. For his wife, she will tell the kids that their father was a loving person, her best friend, and that he would want them to earn an education and be happy in life. David's advice to his friends and family would be to live your lives and be brave. He will be laid to rest wearing his favorite golf clothes. A golf club, two golf balls and the book he liked reading to his children, "Rainbow Fish," will also be by his side. The family feels David is at peace.

David was preceded in death by his father, Ben. He is remembered by his wife Belinda; children Amy and Brian; mother Evarose; sister Barbara and her husband Mel; Belinda's parents Lizzy and William; brother-in-law Anthony and his wife Debra; brother-in-law Carson; sister-in-law Delia and her husband Henry; nieces and nephews Eric, Jennifer, Lauren, Brandon, Justin, Cody and Austin; good friends Barry, Ricky, and Eugene; aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends.

May David rest in peace…

David's Eulogy by Barry

My friendship with David began some 55 years ago shortly after we were out of diapers. I cannot remember when or where we first began hanging out together, but I do know that once we started we were the best of friends. We grew up on the same street just a few houses from each other. Our families were close and our sisters were also best friends.

Getting together to play in those years was easier than now. Who needed a play date? We did not have fancy expensive toys, so we had to be creative. We would line up our little toy soldiers and try to knock them down with anything we could throw at them. Although our soldiers were strong and survived the attacks, our parents' furniture did not. In grade school, our attention focused on sports. After school, the kids in our neighborhood would meet in the streets to play. David was an excellent athlete and a top player in little league baseball; still he was an incredibly nice guy with a gentle warm personality. I met many people through him and it was his popularity that got me in our high school fraternity.

During our childhood, most of us took our health for granted, but David was beginning to have medical problems that would resurface throughout his life. I believe it was these turn of events that helped shape David's special attributes. David had an uncanny ability to live in the moment and enjoy life. He was the definition of "mellow". His laid back style combined with his positive attitude was the remedy for uptight friends like myself. He loved adventure and traveled extensively. He attended medical school in Quaxaca, Mexico, and became immersed in the language and culture. I visited him while he was in school and again many years later with my wife, Patty, and our childhood friend, Ricky. David was our guru to this fascinating place.

David, while gentle and easy going, could also be strong willed and determined. He listened to the beat of his own drum and although at times we found it difficult to understand the music, his unique rhythm made us all gravitate towards him. This also led to some bumps in our friendship as well as some very entertaining stories. I still remember some twenty-five years ago during a return flight home from one of our adventures in South America. A passenger had become sick and the pilot made an emergency stop on an island in the middle of the Caribbean to seek medical care. I was suffering from traveler's diarrhea and needed to get back to my bathroom. David had recently finished medical school and was eager to try out his new skills. One minute he was sitting next to me and the next minute he pulled out his stethoscope and jumped off the plane running down the runway to see the ill passenger. His unannounced departure not only caused some excitement among the passengers and crew, but a delay in the flight. Thinking of my own dilemma, I asked him abruptly when he returned, "Why did you leave the plane?" He simply said, "You must examine the patient."

When I moved to Los Angeles, David was soon to follow. Once again, we were neighbors. We continued to share many good times. When I got married and had children, David embraced my wife and kids. He was a big brother to my wife, Patty and was only known as Uncle Dave to our children. He shared many family events and became part of our family. He had his weekly seat at our dinner table. He was generous with his time and gifts. For my son's high school graduation, he bought him a laptop computer.

David and I shared a passion for golf. His determination to conquer this difficult game was legendary. Although he will not be in the Guinness book of records for the greatest golfer, he could be in for the most golf balls hit at the driving range in a single day. We shared many golf adventures and while life had its ups and downs, the golf course became our sanctuary.

David's passing was much too soon. He will be missed dearly by all of us. I do not pretend to understand God's way, but I do know that when it is time for me to leave this world, it will be easier knowing that I will meet up once again with my best friend, David.

David's Eulogy by his sister Barbara

In later years - when David and I talked - he called me "Big SisTAH"- and in turn, I called him, "Little Brother." I'm going to miss that.

DAVID was MANY things to MANY people! He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, brother-in-law, son-in-law, uncle, cousin, friend, physician, colleague and employer.

He touched the lives of all these people and the thing I admire most and the common denominator is that he brought Happiness into all those lives!

David knows how I felt about him so I will just speak very briefly here. I look back with fondness at the memories of our shared childhood years. We grew up together in one home. Our family gathered around the dinner table and together we celebrated the significant and meaningful occasions in our lives with family and friends. The bonds we forged in our childhood became even stronger as we matured and appreciated what we meant to each other. Though we were separated by distance, I always knew his love was constant – and that we could rely on each other.

DAVID, without you there is a void in my life… But, to comfort myself, I will picture you "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," up in heaven playing a round of golf!

So, GOODBYE little brother… your Big SisTAH is going to miss you and your physical presence, but you will always be with me in my heart!