David Lindsay Baxter, Dave, Davey Dawg, Moondoggie, Commodore, “Grumpadore”, Papa, Salty Dawg, Baxter Dave, Brother, Señor, Babe, Hubby, Mr. Baxter, Captain, …. but for us it was just Dad. He may have had many nicknames, but all that truly means is that he meant so much to so many people.

“Leaving my sorrows at the door” …. I have nothing but incredible memories. Dad raised us to value experiences over things. What that meant was we never drove the nicest cars, or had the fanciest clothes, but he believed traveling the world and gifting his kids memories of experiencing new countries, wild adventures, and different cultures was more valuable than anything. And it was.

We have troves of pictures, scrapbooks, inside jokes, and memories that will last a lifetime; how do you pick just one. Everywhere we went Dad had the ability to navigate us to never-seen-before travel destinations, like the deserted Baths in Virgin Gorda in the BVIs during the heart of COVID. or finding the reggae radio DJ booth at the top of the island in the Grenadine Islands. Or hiking the Hanakapiai Falls in Kauai wading through rivers and dunking our heads in the waterfall. Or floating the Narrows in Lake Nacimiento in our Sea Ray “Rock Ravey & Roll” blasting Little Village cassette tapes. Life lessons we hope to now carry into our parenthood.

He was such an honest man, Dave couldn’t tell a lie to save his life. One time we were traveling back as a family from the Caribbean, in our attempt to smuggle our Conch shells back from island-heaven, Jan coached us all into easily maneuvering through airport security with the rehearsed response, “No Sir, Only Souvenirs”. Until they finally got to Dave, for which his panicked response was “.... Sea Shells! I HAVE SEA SHELLS!!!!”. his admission of guilt resulting in full confiscation of all of his souvenirs. His honesty carried with him throughout his whole life, whether he snuck payment for an after-dark round of glow-golf, or how he’d help Jan tell the REAL-story. He was a truthful, honest man, and because of that people honored and trusted him.

But that’s just it, it was really about the people we met along the way. Dave would befriend anyone and EVERYONE! If a waiter had a nametag on, you bet by the end of dinner we had their full life’s story, we’re quickly best friends and they’re somehow now part of the family (Yeager 😉) . Because of that, Jan, Colin and I have friends and family for LIFE…. All around the GLOBE (SB, Eden, Alaska, Austria, Australia, UK, Caribbean, and more)! The reason he had so many nicknames was because everyone’s lives were meaningfully touched by Dave. Whether he turned you onto new music (probably the Blues), or shared a game of cribbage with him, or sailed the waters with The Captain, or traveled somewhere inspiring, you will have memories for life.

That was the impetus for Pure Stoke. It started as a casual conversation over lunch with Dave, a meaningful and committed (and yes, long-winded) business pitch by him of this grand idea that he had, a logo, a feeling, an essence. He knew exactly what Pure Stoke was; that feeling you get when you experience a great moment, a perfect adventure, with amazing people. The way Dave told stories.