In most ways, David Robert Hume (Cap’n Dave) was a lucky man. He was a first-born son with well-educated parents who encouraged excellence. Dave delivered. His favorite activities involved being in the water, being in the air, and playing music. He got to do a lot of all three over the course of his life.

The Cap’n spent his early years outside of Cleveland with his parents and sister Lynn. He was a remarkably gifted self-taught magician, delighting friends and family with tricks throughout his life. At age 12, he moved with his father, much loved step-mother, Helen, and step-brothers to Georgia and Florida where his tales of trapping racoons, camping in the wilderness where Disney World now sits, learning to ride a bicycle backwards on the handlebars, and becoming a champion water-skier to impress girls never failed to entertain. He began to play the trumpet in middle school, practicing for hours each day.

His love of music and pursuit of excellence never left him. He paid for college at the University of Florida (his adored Gators!) by leading a dance band, 1950s style, dressing in a suit every weekend even when the band had to be protected behind a cage from flying beer bottles. A striking claim to fame was the band touring Havana, Cuba in 1959 just weeks before Castro’s revolution. The stories from that trip were epic.

While at University, Dave was in ROTC, and the Army taught him to fly upon graduation. He met his wife, Judith Hudson, a fellow officer, during this time. During his tour of Vietnam in ’64-’65, he piloted transport planes such as the Otter and Caribou and even unofficially learned how to fly helicopters. He received numerous commendations and awards, including the Bronze Star, and was honorably discharged, despite his stories of covert supply runs to Hong Kong to pick up bar stools and hooch. In 1965, Cap’n Dave began his 30-year career as a pilot with American Airlines; he said often that he loved his job and would have paid the airline to fly. He mostly flew domestic routes as his favorite parts of the trip were the takeoffs and landings.

Throughout his Army career, including Viet Nam, and on every trip with American, the Cap’n took his trumpet to practice. In 1998 he retired from flying big planes; although, he would still fly two seaters including float planes for years after. In 1999, post-retirement, all that practice paid off when he started a Dixieland band. Strictly Dixie and its members were one of the greatest joys of his life. For almost two decades, they met weekly for rehearsal in his home. They played a gig most weeks at area nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and local music festivals, spreading the love of jazz and Dixie Land. A special thanks goes out to his band members, some who have preceded him in death, some continuing his legacy in and around Denton, Texas: Ron Alexander, Ron Bordon, Doug Ebersole, Craig Fleming, Janice Love, Bob Murch, Leon Peek, Joe Pinson, John Racina, Helen Schenk, Marshall Smith, Jim Starkey, George Williams, Mary Wood, and Woody Wood.

Dave’s daughters remember growing up singing jazz standards while their father played the piano, watching their parents dancing the jitterbug in the living room, and seeing them in the stands as they attended every football game to watch the band march. Dave taught the girls how to play penny ante poker, gin rummy, and Monopoly as soon as they could count. (After developing stacks of second grade addition and multiplication flashcards for Laura, he might have argued that she never learned that skill particularly well.) He remained an avid player of cards, word games, and trivia. He delighted in learning Rummikub this last year and in having the best score at Boggle against Johanna the week before he died.

The Cap’n is survived by: daughters Laura Hume and Johanna Hume; grandchildren Nathan Hume Stevens, Kate Hume Green, and Hudson Hume Green; brothers John Waston, Steve Watson, and Doug Watson; sisters-in-law Cyndi Watson and Ranjanaa Watson; brother-in-law Melvin Russell; nieces and nephews Diana Caro, Becca Shaw and David Turner, Kevin and Ayano Russell; close friends Lonnie McLeod and Diane Rock; and many other loving relatives and friends.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to his many devoted caregivers.

A music and memories celebration will be held at The Gardens of Bellaire on June 12th from 1:00-3:00 for residents, staff, friends and caregivers.

Inurnment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery with close family in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, should charitable giving be desired in his name, the following organizations were especially meaningful:

The Jazz Foundation of America https://jazzfoundation.org/

Save the Music Foundation https://www.savethemusic.org/