David Davenport

It has taken a while to be able to write here, as I miss David so much but I have been somewhat comforted reading the entries in this book, to learn that he was so loved and respected by everyone who met him. When we were growing up, I always looked up to my darling big brother. This was partly due to him being older than me, partly down to the fact that he and our other brother Chris, inherited the “tall” gene in our family & I didn't, but mostly because I aspired to be like him; he was funny, smart, interesting, handsome, caring and exciting, he drove a car which was very useful at times and always had time for me, even when I was the annoying little sister. He called me Susie. He introduced me to Fleetwood Mac. And motor racing. And ginger biscuits. He was kind and strong and loyal. He & Gunes gave me the most beautiful, special niece in Derya, who has inherited so many of his traits. He adored my children and always took an interest in whatever they were doing, even from so far away.
He was a really great brother and I will miss his constant smile, big heart and his enthusiasm for life, forever. Loving you always David, Susie x

Acı haberi aldığımda inanamadım. Çok vakitsiz bir ayrılık oldu. Kendilerine Allahtan rahmet ailesine, yakınlarına ve tüm Bilkent caimasına bağ sağlığı diliyorum. Mekanı cennet olsun.

I will cherish the memories of our small talks between breaks forever. Rest in peace dear hocam, we miss you.

Never met in person but always felt and appreciated his valuable contributions to our community. Sevgili eşine ve kızına baş sağlığı dileklerimle...

Vefat haberini sabah uyandigimdaki mesajlarimda aldigimda, hala bir ruyada gibiydim, daha henuz gelecege dair planlar yapan birisiydi. David amca'yi haftasonu yuruyusleriyle, kendim Bilkent kampusunu ziyaret ettigimde anacagim. Yakinlarina bassagligi dilerim--

I'm so sorry to hear of Davenport family's painful loss. I met David during my undergraduate studies at Bilkent University. It was in 2005. Despite all the difficulties and absurdities in the world, he was a very smiling person. That doesn't mean he didn't use to take anything seriously at all. What I'm trying to say is the power of the light in his eyes. This light is still there and will continue for me. Because the light emitted by people like David always keeps touching us. May he rest in peace... I wish condolences to Güneş Hoca, Derya, David's family, David's former students and loved ones.
***
Davenport aiesinin acı veren kaybını duyduğum için çok üzgünüm. David'le Bilkent Üniversitesi'nde lisans eğitimim sırasında tanışmıştım. 2005 yılıydı. Dünyadaki tüm zorluklara ve saçmalıklara rağmen çok gülümseyen bir insandı David. Bu, hiçbir şeyi ciddiye almadığı anlamına gelmiyor. Söylemeye çalıştığım şey, gözlerindeki ışığın gücü. Bu ışık hala orada ve benim için devam edecek. Çünkü David gibi insanların yaydığı ışık her zaman bize dokunmaya devam ediyor. Huzur içinde yatsın... Güneş Hoca'ya, Derya'ya, David'in ailesine, David'in eski öğrencilerine ve sevdiklerine başsağlığı diliyorum.

I met Dr. Davenport during my master's studies at Bilkent some more than 15 years ago, when I believe I TA'd briefly. This semester I was happy to join the CS Department as an instructor, where I thought I would finally be a colleague and have a chance to learn from Dr. Davenport. He was such a pillar of Bilkent CS Department that even my friends from other universities have heard of him, his teaching and ROBO. Even when I said I was starting at Bilkent they asked about David Hoca.

I had just seen him after so many years in the Department meeting through Zoom. Then two days after that we received the shocking news of his passing and I could not believe it. I read the email from our department chair over and over again until I could understand. I was so deeply saddened. His loss affected many many people both in Bilkent and in the CS community outside of Bilkent because many had heard of his devotion to teaching CS. I hope we can all learn from his ways to always aspire to be better in our work and always have a smile on our face. May he rest in peace in heaven.

I miss David. He was the perfect combination of kind, quirky, and honest. I remember how, years ago, he and I independently attended the same humanities seminar. We were the only non-humanities people there, and he said he wished more engineers/scientists would come to these sorts of things. Of course, I agreed, but was honored to be "one of the few", with David. I miss you, David. May you rest, in light and peace.

It's not surprising to read so many messages from so many people, you have touched so many lives in a positive way. You'll be remembered in our minds and in our hearts as that kind teacher who introduced so many generations of students to programming. Thank you for everything David. It was great to know you and it's been a privilege to be your student.

David, kardeşim gibiydi, hiçbir zaman yeri dolmayacak. Zaten herkes onu o kadar güzel anlatmış ki. Acımız büyük, hepimize sabır diliyorum.

Ailemizin değerli varlığ, hayatımıza anlam katan, aydınlık yüzü,güler yüzü, mavi ışığımız gözleriyle pozitif enerjisini hep hissettiğimiz canım David seni çok özleyeceğim.

The world is much darker without your bright light shining, I search for something meaningful some reason why you're gone and find solace in knowing you lit the path for so many.
My life, our lives, will no longer be the same but I know it is much better for you having been in it.
I remember, moments, snapshots of time, the little things I realise now are the most important, so special, so cherished, such wonderful memories.
I've been so lucky to have known you and even luckier to be your Li'l Sis.
You live in my heart forever.

Hocamız müthiş birisi idi.
her konuda ki yaklaşımı ile ışık kaynağımızdı.

kendisini hiç unutmayacağım.

farewell to david, my friend and neighbor at bilkent for some years. a very decent person, and a loss to the bilkent community. heartfelt condolences to gunes and derya

David's endless smile used to warm the hearts of countless students as they struggled to learn and internalize the art of programming under his meticulous guidance. May he rest in eternal piece.

Very few have had the cumulative impact of David Davenport on our world, he imparted an entirely new way to think on generations of people in a way that was only possible through his intellect and philosophical outlook, and those thousands went on to do their parts in all corners of the planet and beyond. He will live on in our minds as we live and through our creations as they exist. It is an immense loss for mankind.

Sevgili David'i tanımak bir şanstı benim için. Çok üzgünüm bu erken ayrılışından. BETS'teki çalışmalarımız yanısıra, derslerinde uyguladığı yöntemler üzerine paylaşımlarımızı, kampüsün çeşitli yerlerinde bilgisayardan, eğitime, felsefeden, tasarıma çeşitli konulu seminerlerde, etkinliklerdeki karşılaşmalarımızı ve her seferinde bir başka konuda sohbetlerle, içtenliği ile yaşantılarımıza kattığı zenginliği özleyeceğim hep. Sevgili ailesine ve sevenlerine sabırlar dilerim.

David hocanın ani ve erken kaybı hepimizi derinden etkiledi ve üzdü, Kendisini koridordaki kısa muhabbetlerimizdeki güleryüzlü, canayakin ve öğrencileri için koşturan haliyle hatırlayacağım. Bilkent camiasına ve binlerce öğrencisine kattığı değerler ve emekleri ile hep hatırlanacak. Sevgili eşi ve hep gururla bahsettiği kızına sabırlar dilerim. Nur içinde yatsın..

I’m in deep sorrow and astonishment to hear very, very early pass away of my respectful instructor, wonderful person, DR. DAVID DAVENPORT. He had touched my life in a very honourable way, by starting my engineering career, by giving me my very first computer engineering lesson, by teaching me the fundamentals of programming. His memorable voice for “data items” “libries” “sentinel” “pivot” are still echoing in my ears. My dear teacher, you will be alive in the memories of thousands of your students for whom you did great welfare. Rest in peace, rest in lights.

For his family, I’m sharing your sorrow but please believe that he’s still alive, alive in the memories of thousands. Please be proud of yourself to have such a wonderful father.

David taught me the basic fundamentals of of programming and the concepts that he taught me, I still use them today in my daily life as a software developer. He was a great teacher and an amazing person. May he rest in peace!