David Tobias, 83

WARWICK, R.I. – David “Tobey” W. Tobias, a longtime Warwick resident, went to the great ballfield in the sky on Aug. 7.  Born on April 15, 1937 in Forest Hills, Massachusetts to Norman and Helen (Mazur) Tobias, he spent his youth in the Brookline, Massachusetts area, graduating from Brighton High School in 1954.  He moved to Cranston in 1965, after the birth of his second daughter.

David was a salesman, working first in Boston for his father selling furniture.  Upon relocation to Cranston, he started his career selling office supplies at Atlas Stationery.  He worked for Paramount Office Supply for many years and then moved to MacIsaac, which became Staples.  David retired from WB Mason (Who But, as he fondly called it) after more than 40 years in the industry.  However, he gathered pens wherever his retirement took him, and he always had one to share.

Ever the sports fan, his passions were the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.  He could also watch a Celtics or Bruins game.  As long as the team was from Boston, he was a fan.

David was a member for more than 20 years at Bonnet Shores in Narragansett.  After retirement, he wintered for 10 years in Florida.  He was quite the socializer and made friends very easily wherever he went.

David is survived by two daughters: Debbie, of Cranston; and Sharon, of Cary, North Carolina.  He was the brother of Janet (the late Dr. Alvin) Morris of Sarasota, Florida, and the late Stuart (the late Lois) of Indianapolis, Indiana.  He leaves two nieces and two nephews, and multiple four-legged furry grandchildren. 

Debbie would like to thank the staff at Greenwich Farms at Warwick for the great care and companionship they afforded David the past three years.  Thanks also go to the staff at Beacon Hospice and The Cedars.

Gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 (www.jimmyfund.org/gift) or the International Essential Tremor Foundation, PO Box 14005, Lenexa, Kansas 66285-4005 (www.essentialtremor.org/about-the-ietf/forms/memorial-donation/).