Dr. David S. "Dave" Frech

Dr. FRECH, David S. "Dave" (PhD), age 59, of Kettering, formerly of Oakwood and Denver, passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer. Dave was a fourth generation Daytonian and was proceeded in death by his parents Myrtle Bie Frech and Jack E. Frech. He is survived by his loving wife Susan Gaeke Frech, step-sons Daniel Frost and David Frost, brother Dan Frech, uncle Eugene Bie and family, and his first cousins Barbara Vierling, Judy Frech, Wendy Frech Kramer, Pete Frech, Connie McAninch, Dr. Steve Love, Melissa White, Jimmy White and their families. Special thanks to the large Gaeke and Hecht families who made him one of their own. Dave graduated from Oakwood High School where he was elected "All-Around Freshman Boy," V.P. Student Body, Sr. Class President; earned 4 Varsity Letters, played leading roles in many of the school plays, and was a successful Jr. Varsity debater. Very active in the Boy Scouts (BSA), he attended the 1971 World Jamboree in Japan, was a counselor at Woodland Trails BSA camp, and was the 1972-73 Lodge Chief of the Miami Valley Order of the Arrow. Dave graduated from the University of Denver (DU). As an undergraduate, he traveled to Europe to study comparative governments, was President of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, President of the DU Alpine Club, Treasure of the Order of Omega, and elected to honoraries including Omicron Delta Kappa and Scarab. At graduation, he received the 1977 DU "Office of Student Life Award" and was elected to "Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges." At the age of 40, DU awarded him full-ride, academic/teaching scholarships to complete both his MA and PhD in Communications, received in 1998 and 2005. He taught at the University of Denver for five years and was its Asst. Director of Constituent Relations for one year. Dave was essentially a serial entrepreneur. He founded ten companies and evolved into an independent petroleum landman, executive communications consultant, award-winning video and TV producer, and international training courseware developer. He was also a published author, research scholar, professional graphic designer, multimedia website producer, corporate live-events director and producer, and product inventor. After 27 years in Denver, Dave moved back to Dayton to be close to family. In Dayton he spent 10 years producing and writing for ThinkTV (Dayton PBS), Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003 the Centennial Celebration, and the Kettering Foundation. His TV documentaries on the building of the Schuster Center, the Wright Brothers, STEM careers, "Inventing Flight," and others, have been and still can be seen on local and national PBS stations, websites, and learning programs. Recently, Dave was the Director of the Oakwood High School Alumni Association. Dave's life was full of adventure and accomplishments. He was an experienced western river rafter and guide, technical caver, expert snow skier, and rock climber. At 17 and 18 yrs., he hitch-hiked and drove throughout the southern and western U.S. by himself and with best friends. He earned the BSA "God and Country" Award, qualified for Sectionals and Districts in high school wrestling, and was a finalist for the ATO Fraternity's top national award (1 of 33 men selected from 112 Universities). As an Independent Petroleum Landman, he lived and worked throughout the West, including California. At one time he and a partner personally controlled over 57, 000 mineral acres in Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. He was especially proud of the sale of his first package of oil and gas leases to the 90th oil company he called on, with only 10 days left on his options. Dave's 25 years of communication experience included writing, directing, and producing videos, training programs, and international live events for over twenty "Fortune 500" companies. His accomplishments in TV and video included producer, director, and creative director of "The Cyber City Diner, " an award-winning children's show distributed to 127 million homes per week in the USA and Europe through the international Knowledge TV cable network, later merged into the Discovery Channel. Dave has been awarded many national "Telly Awards," 2 Regional "Emmy" nominations, and a "Hermes Award" for his video work and copywriting. His "Inventing Flight" video/print project for ThinkTV won "Best Instructional Program" and "Best of Show" at the 2004 National Educational Telecommunications Assoc. national conference representing a gathering of America's PBS and other Educational TV networks (Washington, DC). Family will greet friends from 5:00-8:00pm on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at Routsong Funeral Home, Kettering, 2100 E. Stroop Rd. A memorial service will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, May 29, 2014 also at the funeral home. Burial will be held in the Woodland Cemetery Lookout Columbarium (Terrace Wall). Dave thought highly of the principles, goals, and people at ThinkTV, Dayton PBS Channels 14 & 16. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to ThinkTV in Dave's name, 110 S. Jefferson St, Dayton, OH 45402.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429