David R. (Dave) Hagen

Born on September 24, 1938 in Allegany, New York
Departed on August 12, 2021 in Melbourne, Florida

David R. (Dave) Hagen, 82, of Micco, FL passed away on Thursday, August 12, 2021. He was born on September 24, 1938 in Allegany, NY.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 42 years, Sylvia, daughter Ruth, and sister Florence Luzier. He is survived by children Lillian (Dan Sommers) of Potomac, MD, Margaret (Jim) McCormick of Baldwinsville, NY, and Dorothy of Buffalo, NY; grandchildren Shelita Ellis, Stephen Ellis, and Ben Sommers; great grandchild Haylee Glenn; and partner Carol Litts of Micco, FL.

Dave was valedictorian of the 1956 graduating class of Rushford Central School in Rushford, NY. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years, where he flew reconnaissance missions over Korea after learning Mandarin Chinese at Yale University in New Haven, CT. Dave spent most of his career in the emerging fields of computer science and information technology and told many stories of the early days of giant computer mainframes and writing code. He retired from Gibraltar Steel Corporation in Buffalo, NY in 1999 as an Assistant Vice President of Management Information Systems.

Dave was a long-time resident of Franklinville, NY where he and Sylvia raised their four daughters. He was a regular at his daughters’ events, from concerts, art shows, and plays, to basketball games and track meets. He taught his daughters the importance of working hard and thinking for themselves and was their biggest supporter.

Dave enjoyed fishing and was an avid gardener. He loved nature and would often be seen building bird feeders or bat houses, planting and nurturing butterfly gardens and even raising and releasing monarch butterflies. He was an expert at growing flowers, particularly roses. Dave was a lifelong learner and a prolific reader who particularly enjoyed a good detective novel.

Dave will be remembered for his generous nature, dedication to helping those in need, warm smile, infectious laugh and wonderful sense of humor. He will be dearly missed but will live on forever in our hearts.

Due to COVID, a private service was held. A public memorial service will take place at a later date.

Guestbook Entry

 
 
 
 
 
 
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4 entries.
Courtney Walsh from Buffalo wrote on September 27, 2021:
Mr. Hagen will be greatly missed by those of us who knew him through his daughters. Sending my love and prayers to all. Courtney
Richard Kellogg from Alfred, New York wrote on September 11, 2021:
Dave Hagen was a proud member of the graduating class at Rushford Central School in 1956. He was a close friend of mine, and we enjoyed sharing stories about books, movies, hunting, and fishing. Dave was a voracious reader who soaked up knowledge like a sponge. He always loved to learn. Dave and I shared the rigors of boot camp at Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio after high school. We both ended up working in the Air Force Intelligence Service, Dave as a language specialist and me as a radio traffic analyst. We even helped to win the Cold War! At least, we liked to think so. Dave was a friend for many years and he will be sorely missed by all of his high-school classmates. My sympathy goes out to his entire family and to his many friends.
Doris m hadley from bowling green wrote on September 11, 2021:
I will miss Dave. I loved him as one of my brothers. He will always have a place in my heart and never forgotten. love, Doris
Kelley Thompson from Kersey, PA wrote on September 11, 2021:
So sorry for your loss. The family is in my thoughts and prayers.
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