David Chadwick died last night (February 23) in a hospital in Bali, Indonesia, while being treated for cancer. He had been with his wife Katrinka and his son Kelly. Much more will be said of David in coming days. Please email your feelings and memories to share on David’s Cuke Archives Memorial Page.
Gya te gya te.
I was going to leave it at that, but I want to say what a pleasure it has been helping David with Cuke Archives for many years. Although his passing was not totally unexpected, it happened much more quickly than we hoped. David was always working on various aspects of the archives. A couple of days ago when he was too weak to continue his chemo therapy, he sent me a number of corrections that he wanted to make sure were included in the next volume of Tassajara Stories. So, I think David would be happy if we continue “Preserving the legacy of Shunryu Suzuki and those whose path cross his.” — Peter Ford, 2/23/2026, email: pf@cuke2.com
David was the first person I met when we moved to Fort Worth from Dallas in 1953. We were friends from then on. David & I shared a love of folk music. In 1962 we went to Dallas to hear Doc Watson. He visited me on several occasions when I was at Tulane, and visited my wife when she was in Mexico City one summer. David was always a welcome visitor when, on occasion, he returned to Fort Worth. He had a wonderfully irreverent sense of humor and an infectious laugh. David was an original. I will miss him.
His book Crooked Cucumber warmed my heart and brought Shunruy Suzuki Roshi very close, as if I had known him. On April 12, a 49th-day funeral ceremony will be held for David at Green Gulch Farm. Online participation is possible.
https://www.sfzc.org/calendar/events/green-gulch-farm/funeral-ceremony-david-chadwick-green-gulch-farm-ggf-412
A rare individual, someone with truly, a good heart. Friends forever.
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