David Craig Althouse

David Craig Althouse was born on November 17, 1964, at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City and passed quietly in his sleep at Sonora Community Hospital on December 26, 2023. He grew up in Los Altos, CA and spent the final 20+ years of his life living unencumbered by the trappings of the modern world on the shores of Lake Tulloch in Copperopolis, CA.

 

At just 59 years old, David lived a storied life. While still just 17 years old, he secured a job on the Mississippi River working the river barges up and down the river. Although he suffered an injury that resulted in the amputation of his left leg below the knee, it did not slow him down. He was most at home near a body of water, on a boat and, often, with a fishing pole in his hand.

 

His passion for critters was also well known. While he had many dogs over his life, he also cared for various other exotic animals and it was not uncommon to see him with a python draped around his neck, or, when he was a boy, a blue belly or alligator lizard he found in the neighborhood or at Adobe Creek, tucked away in his pocket.

 

David, in a bygone time, would have been a true frontiersman, a trailblazer, an explorer, a discoverer and an inventor. He would make use of anything, repurpose everything; nothing, and, perhaps most importantly, no one was worthless to him. For those he loved and cared for, his loyalty was unmatched, and he was generous to a fault.

 

He loved the Grateful Dead, Mardi Gras and, in addition to his time working on the Mississippi River, spent much of his time in Louisiana and Mississippi on the Gulf Coast – fishing, crabbing, and exploring.

David is survived by a large loving family, including his parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors, many pets over the years, and most recently by his beloved rescue dog, Benji.

 

A celebration of life will be held in the Garden House at Shoup Park in Los Altos on January 27, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. – all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, David would appreciate that donations at a local animal rescue of your choice are made in his honor.