Be a part of Us When The Former Proprietor Additionally Will Be Celebrated At Stonewood Grill On Monday, July 28, 1 P.M.-???
Despite the fact that I had met David (“Dave”) Rathbun when he managed the Carrabba’s Italian Grill on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace, I didn’t actually get to know him till 2002, when he opened the primary Stonewood Grill & Tavern within the Tampa Bay space.
There weren’t loads of nice eating places in our space at the moment — heck, there weren’t loads of eating places, interval — however Stonewood turned New Tampa’s favourite restaurant just about from the day it opened and there’s little question that Dave had as a lot to do with it because the restaurant’s steaks and seafood.
The best way Dave appeared to recollect everybody’s identify after one or, on the most, two instances assembly them, the best way he made positive his on the spot slew of regulars all the time obtained their favourite desk or seat on the bar — actually every thing in regards to the man was heat, humorous and real. He was the very definition of the phrase “hospitable” within the hospitality trade.
I didn’t know that Dave’s spouse Gina was affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, higher recognized to many as “Lou Gehrig’s Illness”) for the primary a number of years she was stricken with it, and it wasn’t as a result of Dave didn’t discuss Gina. It was as a result of he always talked about how fantastic she was, what a fantastic mother she was to her daughter (and Dave’s beloved stepdaughter) Emily and what a gifted artist Gina was. The primary time I discovered Gina was ailing was when Dave requested if I may publish an article about her within the paper to indicate a few of her artwork, which I did and I want I may’ve discovered the difficulty with that story earlier than I went to press with this concern.
Now, thoughts you, Dave Rathbun by no means requested me to jot down something about Stonewood. He actually had by no means requested me for something till that day. And, for the primary time ever, I noticed ache behind his ever-present, infectious smile.
When Dave left Stonewood, lots of people had been heartbroken. There have been some who informed me that they couldn’t hold going to their favourite place if Dave wasn’t there anymore.
The subsequent time I heard from Dave was in 2023, when he had accepted a place as a supervisor at Bella Brava New World Trattoria in The Hub at Bexley (off S.R. 54 in Lutz) , which opened a number of months later. He launched me to basic supervisor Tina Stormer and made positive the Neighborhood Information was on-hand for Bella Brava’s “Mates & Household” pre-opening and launched us to co-owner Thomas Sanborn, who was the unique chef at Stonewood when Dave opened it.
Dave appeared to thrive in his new place at Bella Brava, however in April, he was identified with an autoimmune illness that impacts the kidneys. Abruptly, after years as Gina’s main caregiver, Dave was receiving dialysis therapies three days every week for a number of weeks.
In June, Dave determined to work a full shift at Bella Brava, despite the fact that Emily — who’s a nurse with two levels — was involved that her stepdad wasn’t absolutely recovered from his weeks of dialysis therapy. He simply cherished the work.
However, when Dave obtained residence, he informed the caregiver that he wasn’t feeling nicely. He went to sleep…and by no means wakened.
At solely age 69, the person who cherished his spouse for 28 years and had taken care of her for the final 17 years as she struggled with ALS, was gone.
Tiny rapidly organized a Celebration of Life in Dave’s honor and reminiscence on July 14 and an estimated crowd of 300-400 individuals confirmed as much as hear his household and closest pals discuss what an exquisite husband, father, brother, pal and supervisor of individuals he was. Listed below are a number of excerpts from the speeches given about Dave that day:
Gina (Emily learn a letter from her Mother to her husband Dave): “From the second David got here into our lives, he turned a second father determine to Emily, loving her as if she had been his personal. He was endlessly devoted and constant not simply to me, however to our complete household. He confirmed his love by his energy and unwavering help by all the time placing us first. David, you carried your confidence and kindness with you. Wherever you went, your compassion touched numerous lives, and your love will all the time stay alive within the hearts of everybody who had the privilege to know you. However, you left me so quick and unexpectedly. I like you greater than you’ll ever know, and I’ll miss your radiant smile on a regular basis. Your love is the lasting legacy you left with me and your loved ones. Your kindness was a real present to everybody who had the possibility to know you.”
Emily: “David all the time had a favourite story that he like to share. Once I was 4 years outdated, I used to be sitting out in the lounge with him watching TV. My mother came visiting and jogged my memory that it was time to go to mattress. I appeared up at her and mentioned, ‘No, mommy, I can’t go to mattress. I’m watching baseball with my ‘little stepdaddy.’ From that day on, that’s what he was to me… my little step daddy. He immediately turned my bonus dad at a really younger age and supported me all through the remainder of my life.”
Paul (Dave’s brother): “Once I was 16 years outdated, and we lived in Boston. David, John myself and Dave’s pal Tim took us to see the Trammps, a disco band within the seventies, they usually had been fairly scorching on the time. There have been loads of issues with that night, not the least of which was that 4 of us had been underneath age. The 5 of us had been invited on stage to sing the finale, “Disco Inferno” with the group. It was superb. Okay, it was the seventies. Dave cherished his household, He cherished the restaurant. He cherished the individuals he labored with. He cherished his prospects. He simply cherished individuals.
“Dave cherished studying his devotionals. A latest one he shared was, ‘He’s Getting ready a Place for You.’ Jesus promised that he’s making ready a spot for us, a spot the place we will likely be with him without end. It’s not the dimensions of the room or how fancy it’s. It’s about being in his presence, the place there’s pleasure, peace and love that by no means ends. Dave, you have got fought the nice battle. You completed the race. You may have saved the religion. Properly achieved, my brother.”
John (Dave’s brother): “He and I talked in regards to the energy of optimistic pondering — within the stuff you do, the stuff you say, the stuff you suppose — all of it determines your future and the power you give off to individuals. Dave drastically valued his household, connecting together with his creator, and mentoring his coworkers. He cherished his prospects and clearly, his pals, and lots of of his prospects turned his pals.
“The French have a phrase “‘Joie de vivre,’ which suggests “the enjoyment of life.” I feel Dave possessed that. He put loads of effort into his relationships together with his coworkers and his prospects. and he introduced loads of pleasure to you guys and, to be sincere, you introduced loads of pleasure to him, too.”
Tim (Dave’s long-time pal): “Dave had gone to high school for bodily schooling however when he moved right here, he was going to nursing college and he was working in an Italian restaurant (Lorenzo’s). And I might come down from Tennessee to go to and you would simply inform that he cherished it. I quickly realized that he all of the issues that he may do as a P.E. instructor, he may do within the restaurant enterprise.
“He mentored so many individuals and was a fantastic coach. He was so inspirational to so many individuals. I’ll always remember that we had been engaged on a paint crew right here in Florida. I used to be going to high school, and I’m borrowing cash to go to high school and I didn’t know what I needed to do. And I used to be actually beating myself up and I had one dialog with Dave and he mentioned to me, ‘Timmy, don’t fear about it. Don’t put a lot stress on your self. You’re sensible, you’re a tough employee and other people such as you. Simply concentrate on doing one of the best you can day by day and deal with individuals round you the best way you wish to be handled, and also you’ll achieve success.”
Kelly (one other long-time pal): “I labored on the Olive Backyard in New Tampa, proper throughout the parking zone from Stonewood. Dave and I had labored collectively like 30 years earlier than that, and we find yourself working proper subsequent to one another. So, sooner or later I used to be consuming there and I’m simply watching him.
“I knew what he was like, however I by no means obtained outdated to look at him work a eating room. He is aware of all people by identify. And he is aware of one thing about every of them. It’s not like he’s simply on the market saying, ‘Hey, how’s your dinner?’ And the individual I used to be with was additionally within the restaurant enterprise. They usually mentioned, ‘Oh my God, he’s just like the Mayor of Stonewood!”
Tina (Bella Brava GM): We closed the restaurant at this time so all of our staff may very well be right here to have a good time Dave. He was the definition of hospitality at its greatest. They known as him ‘Diamond Dave’ for a motive. If he didn’t know who you had been if you walked in, he would undoubtedly know you by the point you left.”
Please be a part of us for a second Celebration of ‘Dimond Dave’ Rathbun’s life on Monday, July 28, 1 p.m., at Stonewood Grill & Tavern.
