Former Democratic Town Committee Chair Dave Roberson Remembered

About 125 Democratic party faithful filled the fog-shrouded clambake area of Greenwich Point Sunday afternoon to remember their late leader, Dave Roberson.

The 42-year-old Roberson died March 9, 2010 while driving back to the Old Greenwich home he shared with his mother Charlene Roberson.

With the mournful call of a distant fog horn cutting through the mid-day fog that enveloped Greenwich Point Park on Long Island Sound, friends, family and a veritable who's who in Greenwich Democratic politics paid homage to the man who lead their party.

There were nearly a dozen speakers and a trumpet solo of Aaron Copland's 'Fanfare for the Common Man' by Greenwich High School junior and GHS Jazz Band member Warren Bein during the 45-minute tribute to Roberson. The ceremony was highlighted with the planting of an 18-foot red oak tree near the waterfront walking path, that was donated in partnership with the Greenwich Tree Conservancy.

Attendees were a veritable Who's Who in Democratic town politics including former First Selectman Dick Bergstresser, First Selectman candidate John Blankley, former First Selectman candidate Lin Lavery, Representative Town Meeting member Christine Edwards, former candidate for state representative Ed Krumeich, Justice of the Peace Betty Bonsal and incumbent Selectman Drew Marzullo.

"I miss him ... and I am just grateful of a living reminder of a terrific guy ... a living memorial to a guy we all loved and miss," said Congressman Jim Himes (D-4) of Cos Cob, whom Roberson succeeded as the DTC chair.

DTC Chairman Frank Farricker lead the tree-planting memorial. He said Roberson, a former scientist for NASA, worked "uncounted hours in 2008 working for Jim Himes, not because he was a Deorat but because of his deep abiding belief that he was making a better world.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said that Roberson had a "passion and compassion that were inspiring and moving. His spirit was never to give up ... a very healthy instinct  for a Democrat in Greenwich."

With the outpouring of support, Roberson's mother, who was accompanied by her daughter Kathy, said of the ceremony, "I can say with certainty, well done my son."