I met Daryl through Ed Silverstein in 1987. We soon discovered that our points of connection were guns and cigars. Also Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money.” Daryl was my best friend who shared those two pursuits. Over the next 36 years he taught me how to shoot trap and skeet. We attended numerous meets in California and in Arizona particularly after he moved there in 2000.
Humor
He was one of my mentors. He taught me humor, something he reveled in as one of the most pithy people I’ve been privy to know. As the head of a Navy Legal Department how he distinguished himself is best illustrated by these two events. He had a fondness for funny ties and sparkle socks. In a meeting negotiating contracts for the San Diego Naval Hospital rebuilding the Captain in charge said, “XO, is counsel wearing a Three Stooges tie?” Answering, the XO said “Yes sir, he is.”
In another meeting, when the Navy took a singular position on a proposal, Daryl leaned forward and banged his head repeatedly on the conference table. He was someone who could tell you to “Go to Hell” and you would look forward to the trip.
My Shooting Buddy
Daryl taught me how to shoot a shotgun. We went to the range and he let me shoot a 12 gouge marine shotgun. I had a contusion tI bought my own shotgun with a recoil reducer and I became as enthusiastic has he. I visited him in Arizona nearly once a month and we shot trap, skeet, rifles and pistols.
My Cigar Buddy
Every visit to the range ended at the cigar lounge .
My Hot Dog and Slider and Chino Bandido Buddy
Lunch was either at the Chicago hot dog restaurant or the Chino Bandido which was recommend by Bruce.
My Daryl and Vivi Buddy
There was never just a “Daryl”. It was always “Daryl and Vivi”, They were “The Dawson’s”. They were one of the marriages I admired.
My Daisy and Cuttie Buddy
Daisy was his Black Labrador companion for a decade. Daisy took him on a walk on the golf course early every morning to get exercise and throw tennis balls. When she died he was cast adrift. He tried to get another Lab but Covid hit and there were no dogs to be had. He put his name on aq list and got a cat.
My favorite photo of Daryl.
We shared many moments with a good cigar.
We went to the Arizona State Shoot a dozen times. We shot 400 rounds of competition 12 gouge trap.
His birthday party at Goldie and Herm's house.
We shared a love of shooting.
Another birthday party moment.
We went to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility about once a month.
He often sighted a new rifle at BASF.
Before he moved to Arizona ewe shot at the San Diego Law Enforcement range. On this day he was sighting in a new pistol.
Onn his first shot with the new pistol he put the round directly in the X, the center of the target. I picked up the brass and had the target framed for his birthday.
On one visit we went to an indoor range and I treated him to a fully automatic rifle. It was his first time shooting one.
Vivi and Daryl. Married 50 years.
I wish this photo was larger. They adored each other and were one of the four marriages I envied.
Daryl bought Cuttie during Covid. Daisy, his black Labrador and constant companion for a decade died a few years before and Daryl couldn't get another Daisy so he got a cat.
They were visiting from Arizona and had a chance to see the OB fire station extinguishing the fire across the alley from my house.
