Super Dave

Below is an article published in this week's edition of Tar Heels Today.  It is a personal story, so I thought I'd share.

It was around 8 am on May 21^st when she walked into my hospital room.  Her name was Carolyn and she was a welcomed face.  It was the day of my son’s birth, but after several hours of labor with several more to come, I was not ready to celebrate.  Shift change brought on a new crew and the nurse Carolyn would guide me through an intense labor and ultimately, a joyful birth.  She was a veteran and had been in the same hospital for almost 30 years. 

Much credit (and money) is given to doctors who deliver babies, but ask a woman who has given birth and she will tell you that it is the nurses who make the difference.  Leading a woman through a drug-free birth is no walk in the park, but Carolyn did it with calmness, compassion, and a smile on her face.

Carolyn holds a special place in our hearts.  So does her husband, Dave Harder.

Dave Harder passed away on October 7, 2011.  Known affectionately as “Super Dave,” he was the bus driver for the men’s basketball team.  Wherever the team went, Dave was there.  Like his wife, he was a veteran, and loyally served the Tar Heels for the past 25 years.

Anyone who knew Dave knew he was someone special.  The team may be flying, but Dave would drive.  He’d meet the team in the city in which they were playing. By the time he picked up the Heels, he had already checked into the hotel and picked up the keys for the team, one less thing for them to worry about.  Dave had already scoped out the best routes, resolved not to let any unknown detour take him by surprise.  Dave would be waiting on the runway with a full tank of gas and a welcoming smile.

My husband rode with Dave for over a decade, and when I asked him what made Dave special, I wasn’t sure he’d stop talking.  Dave would make a special trip before each game to transport Woody, Jones, and Eric to the arena so they didn’t have to take a taxi.  He always knew the weather.  He’d pick up the band equipment before the NCAA tournament so Jeff Fuchs and his crew would not have to lug it on to the plane.  He could reverse in to the Smith Center tunnel like he was driving a Honda Accord.

Dave Harder was a blessing for men’s basketball team, but I fear he will also be a curse. 

See, someone else must take his place, but who can measure up to Dave?  How is the next guy supposed to know that he should leave the game early to go pick up the post-game food for the team?  How is he to know he should keep a cold Sprite Zero in his personal cooler to hand Coach Williams as he boards the bus?

Dave was one of our earliest visitors in the hospital, dropping by the day after Brady was born to deliver a card and well wishes.  It was a thoughtful gesture, but certainly not a surprising one, made by a thoughtful man.

A nurse and a bus driver.  It’s fitting, really, that Carolyn and Dave Harder united.  Two noble professions, but professions held by people who often fade into the background and do not seek or receive the glory.

The 2011-2012 men’s basketball season is shaping up to be an exciting one.  On November 11, the journey will begin in San Diego.  I, for one, am excited for the ride, but it won’t be quite the same, now that Dave’s not driving.