David R. Toole

David Roe Toole, age 92, passed away on November 8, 2023.  He was the beloved husband for 67 years of Lois, before her passing in 2021; loving father of Brad (wife Georgiann) and Jeffrey (wife Sheri); devoted grandfather of Stephanie (Ryan Schliesman) and Mark (wife Emily); cherished son of the late Charles and Gertrude (nee Roe) Toole; beloved brother-in-law of Walter Salmon, Verna Salmon Dugan and Edward Salmon (deceased); step brother of Gene Krohn and Jenny Rose (husband Shep); and dear uncle, cousin, and friend of many.

Born in Auburn, New York, in 1931, as a youth Dave lived in Brooklyn and upstate New York.  He played trombone and excelled in sports, especially baseball and basketball.  He also worked at The Bright Spot, a local soda fountain, and loved to tell the story of serving the very inebriated but celebrated actor, Burgess Meredith.

Following graduation from Suffern (NY) High School, Dave attended Rutgers University.  He joined the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and continued to play intramural sports. While at Rutgers, he met, fell in love with, and became engaged to Lois Salmon.  Following graduation, Dave served in the Army Signal Corp. in Ethiopia.  He was discharged honorably as a First Lieutenant.  He married Lois in 1953.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in animal husbandry, Dave initially worked in the agricultural industry for Agway and Ciba-Geigy.  Ultimately, he and Lois settled in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where they lived for more than 50 years and raised their two sons.  In 1978, Dave switched careers to become a successful life insurance agent with New York Life Insurance Company.  He also immersed himself in numerous civic activities, becoming (at various times) president of the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce, president of the Chagrin Valley Rotary, and the Lay Leader (and later the chairman of the Board of Trustees) of the United Methodist Church of Chagrin Falls.  Dave also served on the UMC Foundation Board, among others.  For 9 years, Dave served as a Trustee of the Geauga Hospital, through the time when it joined the University Hospital system.

Dave’s wife Lois became a nationally-recognized watercolor painter.  He relished assisting Lois in displaying her art work annually at various local, regional, and national art shows, such as Art by The Falls in Chagrin Falls, the Boston Mills Artfest, and Cain Park Arts Festival.  Through these and other activities, Dave came to know many of her artist colleagues, including those affiliated with the Valley Art Center of Chagrin Falls.  Dave became a trustee for the VAC, ultimately serving as the VAC’s president during the years of its major renovation.  In 2017, he and Lois were honorary co-chairs for a VAC fundraiser at which they were recognized for their many years of service.  Dave enjoyed other fine arts too.  Lois and he ushered at the Chagrin Valley Little Theater for 45 years, and they subscribed for 50 years to the Cleveland Orchestra’s concerts at Severance Hall and Blossom Music Center.

Donations may be made in memory of Dave to the Cleveland Orchestra or to the Valley Art Center in Chagrin Falls.  Family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, November 17, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATIONS CENTER OF CHESTERLAND, 12811 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, Ohio.  Funeral service will be on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 10AM at THE FUNERAL HOME.  Burial will follow at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Chagrin Falls.