Cancer victim, 49, was pilot, marathon runner, motorbike fanatic – and ‘beloved’ father

A father who lost his life to cancer aged just 49 was a pilot, motorcycle race fanatic, marathon runner – and, most importantly, was “beloved” by all those around him.
David SleithDavid Sleith
David Sleith

That was the message delivered to mourners at the funeral of David James Sleith this week, following his death at home last Friday.

In an oration delivered by one of his own relatives, the Rev Dr Allen Sleith, he was described as a man who was “literally and metaphorically as a pilot a high flyer – but always down to Earth”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A coterie of uniformed fellow Aer Lingus staff formed a guard of honour outside Banbridge’s Ballydown Presbyterian Church on Monday.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions the number of mourners was capped at 25.

Rev Sleith (of Hillsborough Presbyterian Church) said he “didn’t realise the end was as close as it proved to be” and that he was “floored and devastated” by his death from lymphoma.

David was the firstborn child of Rev Jim and Phyllis Sleith (Allan Sleith’s aunt and uncle).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He attended Glaskermore Primary School south of Banbridge, Banbridge Academy, and the Royal School, Armagh, where he played rugby.

A BB member, he became a flying cadet, and went on to fly commercially – ultimately meeting his future wife Kathy while in Logan Airport, USA, in 1993.

“They got talking, became an item, and you know the history of the story thereafter –25 years of devoted loving marriage,” said Rev Sleith.

They had two children, Peter and Lauren.

David was a keen cyclist, and ran marathons in Belfast, Rome and New York.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Wherever he went to work he would always seek out a place to go for an early morning run before a flight” – but “motorbikes were his great passion and love beyond hid loved ones”.

“Every year that he could he’d go to the Isle of Man, because the lure of the TT and the excitement of those races just did something for him,” said Rev Sleith.

“He went with his friends for many years often to spectate and that was good enough, but also to participate.”

Dubbing him “ebullient and life-loving,” he adhered to the credo: “Just give it a go.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Throughout those last two and a half years, David showed grace under pressure in an exemplary way. He never felt sorry for himself.”

David had “a genuine Christian faith,” said Rev Sleith, adding that ultimately he will be remembered as: “Our beloved.”

Featured prominently in the funeral was a poem by American writer Raymond Carver, who also died aged just 49 of cancer.

Rev Sleith said: “It’s an intriguing poem, because your not sure if the speaker the poet Raymond Carver is speaking to himself, God, or the beloved people around him.”

The poem reads:

‘And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so?

I did.

And what did you want?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To call myself beloved, to feel myself beloved on the earth.’

A death notice for David calls for donations for the benefit of Leukaemia and Lymphoma NI.

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor

Related topics: