A tribute provided by David's loving family David S. Stirk of Shrewsbury A devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away peacefully after battling pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife Susan, his children, brother Roger Stirk and wife Ann, and his large extended family. David was born September 11, 1943 and grew up in Northborough, the son of Beatrice E. Stone and Robert F. Stirk. He was predeceased in death by his Mother and Father and two younger brothers Steven and Gregory. He is survived and will be missed by his loving wife Susan; his three children Cheryl-Lynn Silverberg, Kevin-David Stirk, and David Robert Stirk and his life partner Francine O'Brien; his admiring daughter-in-law Christine and her husband Thomas Sider; his five grandchildren Viki-Sue Paquette, Kristal Jurgilewicz and husband John, Evan Silverberg and wife Gabi, Ryan and Braden Stirk; six great-grandchildren - Raelyn, Gavin and Mason Paquette, Brooke Depari, and Hailie and Logan Jurgilewicz. David also leaves his brother Roger Stirk and wife Ann (Chisolm), his brother Bill Warren and wife Lane, sister Elizabeth LuAnn Warren and partner Butch Poore, sister Linda Henry and Jeannie Connors and family as well as many nieces, nephews and many friends. As a young child it was discovered he could not see on his left side. He was diagnosed with optical cancer and had his left eye removed. He became the first child and first person, at the young age of 7 years old, to have magnets implanted in the optical muscle to have his glass eye follow his other eye. His mother said he was a devilish but very helpful child. He once painted her brand new flowered couch white because she loved white and he wanted her happy. He graduated from Algonquin Regional High School in 1962. After graduation, he attended and received a Certificate of Completion from the Gale Institute of Mechanical Design in Minneapolis Minnesota. He married his high school sweetheart - the love of his life, Susan Warren, in 1963, and began a family, welcoming his daughter, Cheryl - Lynn, in 1963, his son, Kevin-David, in 1965 and his second son, David Robert, in 1967. In 1965 he began working in Worcester, Mass. for John Moynagh and Company as a Fire Protection Designer for the many commercial buildings in the city and surrounding towns. At his interview, John Snow was his interviewer and gave him a manual. Mr. Snow told him to read the manual and he would hire him after. Well John be damned, David read the entire manual and returned. John Snow was shocked that he was actually the first person to read the whole manual! David thoroughly enjoyed working and learning all there was to know in any field he entered. In 1970 he began his 5 year apprenticeship program with the Road Sprinkler Fitters UA Local Union 669. He even received his 50 Year Recognition Award for Continuous Service and participation in 2020. In 1973 he became church school superintendent at Trinity Church in Northborough. The youth program grew so big under his guidance that he established double sessions for Trinity youth to have Bible school. He also became a baseball coach and a Boy Scout leader for Pack 31, sponsored by the Lion's Club. In 1974 he began and organized paper collections at the local town dump to raise money for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in town. He also became a committee member and baseball manager for Northborough Little League; his team took town championship! The year 1975 saw David become a Journeyman for Union Local 669 and he worked on the Daniel Webster Inn located in Sandwich MA and the State Mutual building in Worcester. In the 1980's, David was the project manager for all Fire protection Systems. He enjoyed his work of saving lives and property, working in all of the New England states, as well as New Jersey, Virginia and New York, all while making many lifelong friends in the Fire Protection Industry along the way, including at the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Waterford, CT. and at UMASS Hospital school. In 1980 Susan and David purchased the family home that became the central location for all family events. It has seen many holiday celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries, cookouts and family visits enjoyed by all, including family and friends from all over the country and beyond. Over the years he helped to build Worcester Common and Worcester Common Garage, Mechanics Tower in Worcester, Auburn Mall, Chicopee Grocery Warehouse, Saint Vincent Hospital, Memorial Hospital, Clarke University, UMASS Hospital School and many other projects throughout New England. He told many stories of his work on Mechanics Hall and being part of the restoration and discoveries made. (He loved history) In 1986 he worked for Boiler Fitters of R.I.; his only stint as a 3rd shift worker. From 1987 to 1990 he partnered with Ralph Faladeau doing federal taxes and taking many tax classes. David returned to Fire Protection Design in Albany N.Y. for RBM. He worked and lived in both MA and N.Y. from 1991 thru 1998. In 2000 he went to work for the John Canastrano Company in Waltham, as a warehouse manager. He separated the warehouse into 3 distinct divisions; Plumbing, Fire Protecting and HVAC. He retired in 2005. David also had a candy distribution business for a few years. He had a candy room that his adult children and grandchildren loved to raid during their visits to the family home. 2007 to 2008 saw David working as an estimator for Heritage Home Carpentry. In 2008 he went to work as a bookkeeper for his sons and their company. He loved being able to work with his sons and traveling with his wife. They spent many years traveling to the Cape for time together, enjoying part of each summer as a family vacation. They spent time in Hawaii, with a dear friend Robert Ahia who served in Vietnam with his brother Roger. He visited all of the New England states, Niagara Falls, and Florida. They also vacationed in the Dominican Republic. He enjoyed traveling to Georgia to see his best friend, brother in law Bill Warren and family. and South Carolina to visit with Jeanne Conners and family.. David enjoyed learning, reading a good book, being part of Shrewsbury Dull Men's club, and a proud union member of Union Local 669. He participated in many programs at the Shrewsbury Senior Center and historical societies. He loved visiting diners with his cousins, going to historical sites with his son Kevin, watching the Sox and other sports with family. He loved having dinner with his son David and Francine. He took great pride in his children and grandchildren and finally, great-grandchildren - reading with them and teaching them chess/checkers and other games. David endured a long struggle with pancreatic cancer, battling alongside his brother in law, Danny Henry, throughout 2019 and was in remission by mid summer of 2019. In late fall of 2020, David received news that his cancer was back, and was not to be beaten; ultimately losing his battle in November of 2021. He was very proud of his family, and he left feeling he had accomplished a life to feel good about. David was not afraid of what would come next for him, knowing that he would be going home with Jesus, rejoicing, and was ready. Enjoy your renewed life David, Dad, Papa. We love you, and will miss you. We will carry you with us always. If you have a story to share, the family would love to read them. Please consider a memorial contribution to Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Out team link is https://events.lustgarten.org/fundraiser/3620161 . Please copy and paste this link into your browser. At this time there are no planned public services planned for David.