From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Quebec

The pumpkin growing world has lost another great contributor to the growth of this sport. Through the years he has contributed to several Canadian sites with coordination of weigh offs, judging, volunteering and having the supernatural ability of solving problems. Former GPC committee member and long time member of the Hall Of Fame. He will be missed and his legacy will live on forever in the pumpkin growing world. Condolences to Barb and family.
Todd

1/13/2022 10:17:00 AM

Long Island,New York

Dave was always a pleasure to meet up with at pumpkin conventions. My condolences to Barb and Family. Sigh. Tough winter.

1/13/2022 11:09:36 AM

Colorado

RIP Dave.

1/13/2022 11:32:58 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Dear Friend and Mentor.
Thank you... Dave

1/13/2022 1:37:52 PM

Komoka, Ontario, Canada

RIP Dave. What a great guy, so sad to hear this news! He was truly a great ambassador of the hobby. Sincere condolences to the family.

1/13/2022 2:10:44 PM

Komoka, Ontario, Canada

Here is the link to the funeral home obituary:
https://www.mightonfuneralhome.ca/obituaries/2570/David-Dave-McCallum

1/13/2022 2:14:48 PM

Ontario

Still can't believe it. Dave will be missed by many in the pumpkin community.
My deepest condolences to Barb and Family.

1/13/2022 4:48:41 PM

Bethlehem CT

My condolences to the family. It seems we have lost so many growers recently.

1/13/2022 5:14:47 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Rest in peace Dave

1/13/2022 5:19:22 PM

Jericho Vermont

My condolences to the family.

1/13/2022 5:22:11 PM

Team Canuckle Heads

I'm very saddened by this news. He will surely be missed by everyone that knew
him.
The pumpkin world has lost another true pioneer of the sport.My condolences goes out to his family.
Rest in peace Dave

1/13/2022 5:29:06 PM

Western NY

What a huge loss. When I was getting started, he was already considered one of the respected old-timers. One of the nicest guys to chat with, and always had a laugh with him at Guelph and the falls. We'll miss you, Dave.

1/13/2022 5:31:04 PM

Lymington UK

What a sad day. He was such a lovely man and friend to so many in the pumpkin community. We’ve lost one of the best.
God bless him. Ian

1/13/2022 5:54:32 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Sorry to hear this sad news.

1/13/2022 6:04:19 PM

Saegertown Pa.

Very sad news, a loss to the pumpkin community. Rest in piece.

1/13/2022 6:21:22 PM

Dundee Michigan

Met Dave at Niagara in the very early 2000's. He treated this greenhorn and my wife like we were friends for years. What a kind and generous person he was. Our condolences to his family

1/13/2022 6:25:17 PM

St.thomas

Very sad news:( Dave was one of the first 'pumpkin buddies' I had when we moved to Ontario. He left a six pack of Bud in our hotel room at the first Pumpkinfest weighoff we attended more than 20 years ago...he could do no wrong in my eyes after that. Dave will be sorrely missed by our family, and our thoughts are with his family in this difficult time:(

Joel J.

1/13/2022 6:50:33 PM

Bottom of ohio

Thoughts and prayers

1/13/2022 6:52:05 PM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

First met Dave at the convention in Guelph in 2000. What a great guy. Always seemed to have a smile on his face and was a fantastic MC at the conventions for many years. Rest in peace Dave.

1/13/2022 7:43:22 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Very sad news. Dave was a great man and grower. Prayers go out to Barbara and their family.

1/13/2022 11:52:33 PM

Massachusetts

so sad!!

1/13/2022 11:54:50 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

So sad to hear this. Dave was always willing to help and I enjoyed messaging with him regularly. Condolences to the entire family and his extensive friend group. Lost another good one!!

1/14/2022 12:29:11 AM

Netherlands

Sorry to hear. He meant a lot to the community, especially in Ontario.

1/14/2022 3:11:56 AM

Nova Scotia

Very sad and shocked to hear this, a big loss to the giant pumpkin growing World and will surely be missed by all, especially in Ontario. Great tribute Todd! Dave was such a genuine gracious person and host at the Niagara GPC convention when he invited Dad and I back in 2003 and to present Dad the "Lifetime Achievement Award". A memory our family will never forget and displayed here at the farm. Our deepest condolences to Barb and family. Danny Dill

1/14/2022 8:44:05 AM

Quebec

We only met Dave a few times But from the first meeting he became a friend. He will missed by all. Our condolences to the family.

1/14/2022 10:48:57 AM

Connecticut, USA

Very sad news. Dave will be greatly missed. Condolences to his family.

1/14/2022 11:42:34 AM

Salem, Ohio USA

A good man- will be missed by all. Alan and Joan Gibson

1/14/2022 2:02:01 PM

Ontario, Canada

A sad day indeed. Dave was giant in the giant pumpkin community here in Ontario. He was a dedicated family man, community leader & a guy you could count on whenever he was needed. He was also a good friend & will be missed by many. Our condolences to Barb & family.

1/14/2022 2:19:49 PM

Syracuse, NY

A genuinely happy guy and enlightening in his pumpkin knowledge and achievements - I am sorry to hear of his passing and may he rest in peace - eric g

1/14/2022 2:59:24 PM

eastern Ontario

What sad and sudden news! Dave was an outstanding supporter and tireless worker in the giant growing hobby for about 40 years. He was a great man who always seemed to have a smile on his face. I can't say much more than to agree with the many positive comments already posted. I bet he was smiling right to the end.

1/14/2022 4:04:40 PM

Lymington UK

That’s it! It was his infectious smile that I will remember forever.

1/14/2022 4:40:58 PM

Lymington UK

That’s it! It was his infectious smile that I will remember forever.

1/14/2022 4:57:47 PM

Peosta, Iowa

Condolences to his family, rest in peace Dave

1/14/2022 5:19:19 PM

Cheshire Ma USA

RIP Dave .

1/14/2022 7:15:12 PM

Ontario

One of the nicest gentlemen I ever met Rest In Peace Dave

1/14/2022 7:17:18 PM

Central Illinois

Condolences to his family

1/15/2022 4:45:48 AM

no.scituate R I

Dave was a genuinely great guy friend to all he met. Will be sadly missed RIP my friend . Condolences to his family.

1/15/2022 8:48:17 AM

Canada

A great Canadian member of the GPC Hall of Fame.
A true ambassador and friend to the giant vegetable growing community.
My condolences to the family. Rest in peace Dave.

1/15/2022 2:08:26 PM

sad to read this ate breakfast with him few times Niagara real nice guy

1/15/2022 3:52:25 PM

Kakabeka Falls,On. Canada.

So sorry to hear:(
My condolences to the family.

1/16/2022 8:50:15 AM

President - GPC

Very Sad News, I met Dave at Niagara and on a couple of cruises, his constant Smile is what I remember. Rest in Peace Dave...

Wizzy

1/16/2022 10:07:58 AM

ipswich, ma usa

Sad to hear...Many times was greeted with his smile in the Niagara days...Rest in Peace Dave.

1/17/2022 9:24:10 AM

Coventry RI USA

Very sad news, a huge loss to the pumpkin community. Our condolences to Dave's family and friend's. Ron & Pap

1/17/2022 6:25:41 PM

Winnipeg, Manitoba

I made a diary post on this with a photo of Dave & I, but after being told about this thread, I wanted to add my condolences here as well. I only found out about Dave’s passing yesterday through the latest GPC Common Ground newsletter (not as active on this site as I once was). I only met Dave once back at the 2017 Niagara Convention, but his conversation with me certainly had a lasting impact that I won’t forget.

One evening, we found ourselves seated at the same table. Upon hearing that I was trying to learn all I could (about growing ‘the big one’), Dave gladly spent the evening sharing all his knowledge and expertise with me. To me, at 14 years of age, this meant the world. I thought it was such an honour to ask questions and get advice from one of the greats. I even think I still have some notes from that conversation somewhere in the closet. Plus, seeing from his jacket that he was a Hall of Fame member, I assumed he clearly knew his stuff! Though, over the five years since that day, I never actually knew his story and why he was in the Hall of Fame… Well, now I learned he was too humble to tell me that he spent nearly 30 years of his life advancing and promoting the hobby. I’ll be frank in saying that I felt as if some growers didn’t take me seriously as a 14-year-old trying to learn all the techniques and practices… but Dave did. He shared such a vast amount of information with me – though yes, I know my 14-year-old self didn’t quite understand everything!! The subsequent year I set my pb at 1369.5 (2018, my last year growing … it was nice to try and enjoy and normal teenage life for a change).

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2/15/2022 10:08:54 PM

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Many thanks to Bob & Elaine MacKenzie for their write-up on Dave featured in the Common Ground newsletter. It is one thing to grow record setting pumpkins and get all the fame & prizes, but it’s another thing to share your knowledge and promote the hobby (let alone for decades as Dave had done). I’m sure Dave probably forgot that evening not long after – as I’m sure he’s mentored so many people it was hard to remember all the instances – but I certainly never forgot. My deepest condolences to Dave’s family and those that were fortunate to know him.

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2/15/2022 10:09:08 PM