David F. Vincent ‘65 receives a 2nd Line Celebration of Life for his dedication to the VWP
The Volunteer Work Project (VWP) hosted a celebration to honor David’s decades long commitment to the VWP on July 15th, 2026 after the VWP Wednesday night dinner. David was known for his early arrival to the three annual work projects where he would invite members to attend; organize the lodging in West, North or Birch; make up all the volunteer beds; organize the hospitality; decorate the campus with flowering plants and colorful streamers; and of course, paint the Foundry Theater doors and railings red! His attention to detail and his welcoming style made him a favorite among the VWP team (though he could be irascible!)
Approximately 30 volunteers formed a First Line procession led by Beth Richards driving the Mann Lift (a hydrologic Cherry Picker that David named after our first President, Horace Mann!). Followed by Aaron Knell, a trumpeter, playing a dirge in the back of a truck driven by Chris Westhoff, Foundry Theater director. The assembled party waved white hankies provided by Barrie Grinnell, such a nice touch! The group walked down Livermore Street onto Campus, past the Amphitheater (that David helped paint) and up to the Foundry Theater where David painted the doors and railings fire engine red more than once.
A ceramic plaque created by Evelyn LaMers was planted with David’s ashes between two new flowering bushes in the garden. Beth Richards read Mary Oliver’s poem, When Death Comes. A Second Line formed and Aaron played “When the Saints Go Marching In” as the group processed to the back of the Theater.
There they circled the new Flaming Red Maple that Tom LaMers, a member of the Yellow Springs Tree Committee, had purchased, planted, and fenced in a hole dug by a team of VWP warriors in the heat of an Ohio Summer day. More of David’s ashes were placed at the base of the tree.
Then Beth Richards, in the Mann Lift, placed new ribbon streamers on the bar over the newly named and refurbished “David Vincent Stage Door” funded by Barrie Grinnell, Paula Treichler, Jim Spangler, Megan Trolander, and Catherine Jordan. A group photo was taken.
Folks entered the theater through David’s door to the theater lobby where a feast of Meyer Lemon bars made by Evelyn LaMers, using David’s mother’s recipe from lemons harvested from his tree in California and sent to her by Ellen Fiss were consumed! Champagne and Sparkling cider were imbibed as Chris Westhoff and Arron Knell played songs and the crowd told stories and anecdotes about our lives with David.
David was a VWP champion. He loved Antioch, he loved us and we loved him. He will be missed and remembered for many VWP sessions to come.
Catherine Jordan ‘72, Celebration organizer and David’s Theater Streamer protégé
