Got word a little while ago that Dave Piland, public-address voice of the Everett Silvertips and formerly of Evergreen Speedway, died Friday night from complications from brain cancer.

He fought to the end. So many times, we heard he would be with us only a few more days, but he would bounce back. He saw his daughter Katie turn 10 and Crissy turn 12. Maybe best of all, he made it through 25 complete years married to Lisa. Their silver wedding anniversary came Sept. 5.

I think Dave held on as long as he did because he didn’t want to leave his amazing family. Who would? He’s got two sons who loved him enough to organize a charity golf tournament that will go on when our grandchildren have grandchildren. He’s got two intelligent, sweet daughters full of life and love. And he has Lisa, a life partner whose unconditional love has no bounds.

My daughter asked me tonight how I felt about it all. I told her I didn’t know. I’m a little numb. I’m sad because Dave made the world a better place. I’m sad because Dave was just 43 and he had so much more to contribute. I’m sad because the Piland family won’t have him around to laugh with. I’m sad because he won’t see his beautiful daughters grow into adulthood.

On the other hand, I know it was extremely frustrating to Dave to lose motor skills. I hated to see him in his hospital bed at home. He was a big dude. Strong. Robust. Active. That’s the way I’ll remember him.

His form of brain cancer was aggressive. He knew the odds, but he said early into it that he had no doubt he would beat it. I remember asking him shortly after he was diagnosed whether he thought about his own mortality. He said yes. I asked him whether doubt ever crept into his mind that he would survive it. He said yes, but that he’d say a prayer and the doubt would go away.

That was Dave. His faith was always strong and it got only stronger the longer he had the tumor. That was his way of fighting. That’s the way his lovely family fought it. They never lost hope, even in the final weeks of Dave’s life. Lisa told me recently that she still held out hope that God would heal her husband. I have no doubt about that.

I’ll always remember the truly stunning support, emotional and otherwise, the Pilands received from their friends. The list is too long to show here, but they helped in every conceivable way. They did it because the Pilands always were among the first to help others in need. They were givers. Now they were receivers. I’m sure they’ll give again when they’re needed.

Give what you can to cancer research. We need better ways to combat this terrible disease. Who among us hasn’t been touched by it, either firsthand or through a family member or a friend?

I’ll never forget Dave or the Piland family or their many beautiful friends I’m so fortunate to have met through them. I don’t recall having witnessed such overwhelming love. For that, I’m more thankful than I can articulate.