David (Dave) Matthew Hopkins
July 29, 1958 – February 3, 2023
David (Dave) Matthew Hopkins was proud to have been born in Seattle, WA July 29, 1958. He passed away peacefully at home in Woodinville, WA on February 3, 2023. His mother Kay Myrtle Hopkins predeceased him (1978). He is survived by his father Anthony Matthew Prentice who resides with his wife Beth Prentice in West Orange, NJ. Dave moved from the west coast to New Jersey as a child, graduated from Columbia High School in 1975 (Maplewood, NJ), received his Bachelor’s Degree (Pre Med) from Rutgers University in 1980 (Newark, NJ) where Dave played on their varsity soccer team, was a brother and the treasurer for Alpha Delta Mu fraternity, and sports writer for the school newspaper (under the pen name David England); he received his M.B.A. in computer science from Seton Hall University in 1988 (South Orange, NJ) where he was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma (national business honor society). Dave worked as a computer programmer, most proudly, for 30 years before retirement in Snohomish County Information Services office, where he achieved the rank of applications manager before his 2020 retirement.
Dave is survived by his wife of 41+ years Kathleen Joan Hopkins (McCann), sons Neil Anthony Hopkins (Seattle, WA) and Ian Frank Hopkins and his wife Dr. Colleen Hui (Lake Stevens, WA) and the light of his life, grandson Luke David Hopkins. Dave was also the oldest sibling of a combined family of seven: John Prybys (NYC), Dr. Katherine Prybys Melville (Davidsonville, MD), Philip Prentice (Chatham, NJ), Leslie Prentice (Glen Ridge, NJ), Sam Prentice (South Orange, NJ) and Benjamin Prentice (Cranbury, NJ). As Dave met his wife when she was only 18, he was considered the “big brother” to her five younger siblings and they grieve the loss of their big brother: Dr. Stephanie Reynolds (Eatontown, NJ), Elizabeth Johnson (Neptune, NJ), Mary Portway (Red Bank, NJ), Frank McCann (Ocean Township, NJ) and Dr. Ellen Sfecla (Lorton, VA). Dave’s passing has also left a heart shaped hole for his numerous extended family members, friends, teammates, mentees, and colleagues.
Dave excelled in any sport or physical challenge he encountered. For example, he was a “walk-on” starter for the Rutgers Univ. Soccer Team, climbed Mt. Rainier, competed in the Seattle-to-Portland bicycle race, tackled the Olympic bobsled course in Whistler, BC, hiked the Zion N.P. Narrows, simultaneously played on three adult soccer leagues until a few years ago, ran the Seattle Marathon (for his 50th birthday!), and also ran more than 75 half-marathons (including during his first 3 years of chemo therapy).
Of all Dave’s accomplishments he is proudest of his two sons and how they grew into such fine professionals: Neil (Network Administrator for the Snohomish County District Court System) and Ian (a Snohomish County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney). For a brief period before Dave’s retirement, Dave and both sons worked together for Snohomish County Government.
More important than his professional career, Dave valued his community service work. For at least 25 years, Dave worked in the local community coaching youth teams, primarily soccer, but he also happily volunteered to coach other sports where another coach could not be found.
Anyone who knew him, knew Dave was a die-hard fan of professional sports. He was a season ticket holder for the Seattle Seahawks and when his sons were younger took them on regular pilgrimages to Seahawks training camps (Dave will be interred, of course, in his Seattle Seahawks #12 fan jersey). As a soccer player himself, he was a huge Seattle Sounders F.C. fan and supporter (from the 1970s through today), and passed along that enthusiasm to his wife and sons.
Dave was a life-long music aficionado and accomplished musician. He started playing piano as a young child and continued his whole life, and upon moving to Seattle in 1988 mastered the bagpipes. He also enjoyed attending a wide variety of live theatre and live music performances; variously subscribing to Seattle Symphony, 5th Avenue Theatre, attending Broadway shows whenever he visited his east coast family; Dave made it a point to enjoy a variety music genre, attending concerts as various as John Denver to, his favorite, David Bowie.
Dave also loved to travel. This included numerous trips to US and Canadian national parks, attending Soccer World Cups in California, Germany and South Africa, several European adventures, and innumerable trips to Disneyworld and Disneyland. Dave and Kathleen also came to consider Kaua’i, Hawai’i a “second home,” spending a couple weeks a year on the beach indulging his wife Kathleen’s love of surf and sand.
Dave finally lost his battle with colon cancer, after being a cancer warrior and having the upper hand for over six years. Dave’s family is grateful to the medical professionals at Kaiser Permanente, Swedish Hospital and Providence Hospice for providing him with excellent care and, just as important, allowing Dave to maintain a high quality of life during his battle, which permitted him to continue engaging in numerous adventures during the six years of treatment. Dave passed on to heaven in his sleep, peacefully and painlessly in his home, after having spent his last days visited by close family and friends, including giving his grandson numerous hugs and kisses.
Dave will be profoundly missed.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
Memorial Mass: Friday, July 7, 2023 10:30 am at St. James Catholic Church, 94 Broad Street, Red Bank, N.J.
Lunch Reception and Celebration of Dave’s Life for Family & Friends: Immediately after memorial mass, Dave’s family and friends are invited to gather for lunch at a restaurant adjacent to church parking lot. The exact location will be provided at the mass. Dave’s wife, children, grandson and extended family look forward to hearing your fond memories of good times spent with Dave so as to celebrate a life lived to the fullest.
FLOWERS & DONATIONS
So many beautiful flowers decorated his funeral service in February. Since Kathleen is flying in from Seattle, in lieu of flowers at the memorial mass, Dave’s wishes were to be remembered by donations in his name to Northshore Youth Soccer Association (“NYSA”) which is a 501c3 charitable organization where Dave volunteered for over 25 years coaching young boys and men. Their contact information:
NYSA 12810 NE 178th St., Suite 202 Woodinville, WA 98072
425-486-5106