This is the third feature in People of Tacoma, a new series inspired by “Humans of New York” — an Instagram page and website that captures stories and photos of people from New York City. People of Tacoma aims to celebrate human connection and explore what it means to be human through conversations with strangers in our community.
David Stewart calls the University of Puget Sound’s Collins Memorial Library his “second home.” Although he didn’t attend the University, living minutes away from the library, he always spent time there. Throughout various phases of his life — whether he was hungover and studying for exams four decades ago, or years later doing his taxes while his son worked on homework next to him — Dave says, “The library was always a safe place for me.”
Dave was constantly moving around as a kid but ended up back in Tacoma at age 12. He was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin, but moved to Tacoma shortly after, so he never had the chance to get to know the city. His father, a busy executive, was often relocated, so he, his mother, and his three younger brothers were always on the move. Over the course of his childhood, Dave lived in Wisconsin, Washington, California, New Jersey and finally back in Tacoma, where he has stayed ever since.
As the oldest in the family, Dave felt a lot of pressure to act as a role model for his younger brothers. “I was asked to set an example, being the oldest for three younger brothers. So that meant I had to parent them,” Dave said. While both of his parents were great, they were often preoccupied with their careers — his dad with business and his mom with marine biology. Due to his parents’ focus and hard work, his adolescence was comfortable. “We were upper middle class, right? We had country clubs. We had a brand-new home everywhere we lived. We were in good public schools, but we could have gone to private schools. We were told we could go to any college. So, from that angle, my life was cake,” he reflected. However, he never felt truly settled. “There was a lot of good, and then there was a lot of bad moving around,” Dave recalls. Reflecting on it, he wishes there were more memories he could hold onto, but due to all the moves, most of them have faded.
After years of moving from place to place, Dave was drawn to the stability and outdoor lifestyle of the Pacific Northwest. Surfing, biking and hiking were all passions that compelled him to stay in Washington for college. He attended Washington State University, where he studied business and economics. Dave fondly remembers his time there, saying, “We set records on everything as far as fun.” He adds, “Picture the sense of community with 10,000 students out in the middle of a wheat field. There are two things to do: study or have fun. And we learned how to make our own fun.” During college, Dave was part of a fraternity, where he found a strong sense of community that he still feels connected to today.
Although Dave considered graduate school, he was burnt out by his senior year and decided to jump straight into the workforce. His career followed a similar pattern to his childhood — he was often moving from job to job. He started at a Fortune 500 company, but after a round of layoffs, he got a job with a family business back in Tacoma, where he worked for 22 years. After that, he received a job offer as a territory sales manager and lived in Alki, Seattle, but he was only there for two years due to the recession.
Having spent years building his career, Dave realized he needed a better balance to spend more time with his son. He found a new, local job back in Tacoma that offered the flexibility he wanted, and the two made it a routine to visit Collins Library together. “It was a solid three years where my son and I would meet after school at Collins, and we’d work together.” His son had struggled in high school, and Dave wanted to help him catch up. His support paid off, and his son graduated from Washington State University, following in his dad’s footsteps. Dave recalls his son expressing gratitude at the graduation ceremony: “He said, ‘Thanks so much, I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t taken me to the library.’” After graduation, his son landed a job as a top salesman at a tech company. Dave also proudly remarks, “He picked the right woman.” They’ve been together for 10 years, living in Seattle, and Dave predicts he might become a grandfather in the next few years.
Dave shared his excitement about the prospect of grandchildren, but also the surreal feeling of already being at this stage in life: “I’m young at heart.” He makes sure to stay active.“I was born a skier, and then surfing came along later. It’s a great year-round adventure,” he said. Dave heads to Oregon during Memorial Day weekend to ski and returns in the summer to surf. Not only does he ski and surf, but he also has a passion for hip-hop dance. He takes classes with the Pacific Northwest Dance Foundation and deeply appreciates RDG, the University’s repertory dance group, and the strong support the students show for each other. With his part-time work at a nonprofit in Gig Harbor, outside activities, dance and time spent in Diversions Cafe and Collins Memorial Library, Dave keeps his days busy.
Having moved constantly throughout his childhood and continuing that pattern into adulthood, Dave reflects, “I’m not a homebody at all. My version of having a home is just having a place to stay.” He continues, “I have a roll-top desk that belonged to my mother, a queen-size bed frame that I can disassemble, a Sleep Number bed I can take apart, and everything else I can fit in the back of my car.” A minimalist seeking out adventure and new experiences, Dave reflects on his relationships, sharing, “I think what’s becoming more important to me over time is reciprocity.” He’s always been a giver — helping his parents raise his younger brothers, bringing his son to the library every day to ensure he could build a good future and answering students’ questions and needs. Now, as he seeks out connections, Dave hopes to find relationships built on mutual give and take. Although he misses certain people from his past, Dave says, “I don’t tend to look back on things and think, ‘This didn’t go my way,’ or ‘I failed that,’ or ‘I didn’t get that job.’ I don’t let that bother me.”
Through all the moves, the challenges and the years of growth, Dave’s journey has been one of embracing change and making the most of every chapter, always looking forward rather than dwelling on the past.