Wildcats Forever

[Bengalzona]

Sad news, gang. We lost a member of our board. Wildcats Forever passed away according to his family. His obituary is attached below:

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/NKY/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=191130693&fbclid=IwAR0ylIVSJso1MDGulx84YrZO8U011tngVGNV9RI8_i665A1ystYrBLdn6bA

There is a visitation service tonight at Floral Hills Funeral Home in Covington, KY between 7 and 8PM tonight.

May his memory always be a blessing.

[*bengalfan74*]

Oh my so sad. I've talked with him quite a bit going back pretty far on the old board. Helluva good guy

Rest easy friend

[Bengalzona]

Some details. Dave was having open heart surgery, his second this year. He died after complications from the surgery on 12/30. His family said he passed peacefully in his sleep.

Dave had three passions in life: playing the drums, the Bengals, and the Wildcats. He played drums with the rock group Ram Jam in the late seventies and on their recording of "Black Betty".

[*bengalfan74*]

(01-03-2019, 07:41 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: Some details. Dave was having open heart surgery, his second this year. He died after complications from the surgery on 12/30. His family said he passed peacefully in his sleep.

Dave had three passions in life: playing the drums, the Bengals, and the Wildcats. He played drums with the rock group Ram Jam in the late seventies and on their recording of "Black Betty".

Didn't know that, wow. I just watched a video of Black Betty on youtube a week or so ago, it was filmed in somebodies backyard.

[Bengalzona]

Here is a link to the funeral home if you would like to leave a written tribute:

https://www.floralhillsmemorialgardens.com/?fbclid=IwAR3L0vPbsi7wzpe8b2Gd1CzNp-9s2rJPlg3Dj5xyccRYpN1aKiZjU5yNXME

[Bengalzona]

(01-03-2019, 07:44 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Didn't know that, wow. I just watched a video of Black Betty on youtube a week or so ago, it was filmed in somebodies backyard.

Here is a picture of him with the band back in the day:



He wasn't part of their original line up, or the ending line up. But he was there when they had their big hit. He preferred not to tell people about his previous fame.

[SunsetBengal]

Going to miss you, old friend.

Dave reached out to me at a pivotal point in my life.  My old career as a tradesman had pretty much vanished from the great recession, I had taken the step of going back to school to learn the Surveying profession.  Being so many years removed from formal education, I was struggling to keep up with the curriculum, and keep the bill collectors at bay.



In our conversations, he gave me encouragement, guidance and advice, all while appearing to not be trying to do so.  He had a way about him where he could just speak with a person, and never let it show that he was speaking from a perspective.  It wasn't until years later that I even realized that he was 20 years older than I. 


Dave/Wildcats Forever wasn't just a casual fan and board member, he took a genuine interest in the people he associated with.  The type of person that never looked to draw attention to himself, but sought to avail himself to the service of others.  Rest in peace, brother David Fleeman, aka Wildcats Forever.

[*bengalfan74*]

(01-03-2019, 07:57 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: Here is a picture of him with the band back in the day:



He wasn't part of their original line up, or the ending line up. But he was there when they had their big hit. He preferred not to tell people about his previous fame.

I wonder if that's him in video ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_2D8Eo15wE

[Bengalzona]

(01-03-2019, 08:01 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I wonder if that's him in video ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_2D8Eo15wE

I think that is Pete Charles playing the drums in the video. He took over after David left.

Here's the Wikipedia write up, which includes David:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_Jam

[Bengalzona]

Sorry, that was the late band picture I posted before with Pete Charles in it.

Here is one of the pictures when Dave was in the band:



I believe David is on the far right according to the write-up.

http://rqsretrouniverse.blogspot.com/2009/02/ram-jams-rollicking-rock-anthem.html

https://www.buckeyebeat.com/starstruck.html

[Arturo Bandini]

David always has been a very good fellow and very friendly to me.

I didn't expect that.

RIP buddy. I'll think about you everytime I'll watch a Bengal game.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

Man....I just read this on Facebook. I'm floored. I knew about his bypass, but he did pretty well the first go around. It's awfully tough on one's body to go through two in a year, I'm sure. 



David and I always talked a lot on here, and later on FB, via private message. We discovered his old house was right up the road from my current residence. We had planned to meet up when he recovered for some locally famous dry rub buffalo wings. Such a great man to bullshit with, and such a nice guy. We had a lot of the same interests in music and introduced local and lesser known bands to each other. I considered him a true friend. As you mentioned zona, he would never let on about his famous life. I had to find out elsewhere. Godspeed friend.... I'm gonna miss swapping YouTube links on PM. I hated to read this today....

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

Anyone know how to reach xxlt? They were pretty good friends.

[BengalHawk62]

Sad news indeed. Rest easy fellow Bengal brother.

[HarleyDog]

A great guy. You could sometimes read his heart in his posts. His humbleness was rich and his resolve was unmeasurable. I can only imagine the weight of this loss to the family. I am honored to have had him in my life, if only in words. Take care Wildcats Forever, you will truly be missed.

[Bengalzona]

(01-03-2019, 08:47 PM)Wyche Wrote: Anyone know how to reach xxlt? They were pretty good friends.

I sent him a PM. Hopefully he has it set to send an email that he got the PM.

[Bengalzona]

David was 69, BTW.

[Tiger Teeth]

What a sad loss. He was one of the most friendly guys on here. I'll miss you buddy, RIP.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(01-03-2019, 10:33 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: I sent him a PM. Hopefully he has it set to send an email that he got the PM.

Good deal. I hope so too. We were also friends on FB, but he left there too. I'll see if I have any contact info on him in messenger.

[Benton]

When the mothership abandoned us and before holic made us a new home, Dave was one of (if not the the first) person to reach out and say 'hey, don't be a stranger.' from getting to know him through the board and social media, I genuinely believe he was a good guy. I hope for the best for his family through this time.