MY UNCLE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF THE EARLY YEARS WORKING FOR EITHER THE BRONX ZOO OR HECKSCHER STATE PARK. WHILE WORKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HE OPENED UP 2 REPTILE OR PET STORES 1 IN PATCHOGUE NEW YORK AND THE OTHER IN LINDENHURST NEW YORK. HE LIVED IN THE ISLIP NEW YORK AREA WHICH WAS CENTRALIZED FOR WORK AND FAMILY. HE ALSO SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS WITH US, HIS "BOYS" TEACHING US ABOUT THE WOODS AND ANIMALS. HE WAS VERY GENTLE AND PATIENT, ALWAYS TAKING HIS TIME TO EXPLAIN AND RE-EXPLAIN WHAT EVER WE HAD AN INTEREST IN

MY UNCLE SPENT MOST OF HIS LATER YEARS BREEDING ENDANGERED INDO SNAKES AND COLLECTING A VARIETY OF OTHER ANIMALS, INCLUDING BOA'S, PYTHONS, ANACONDAS, ALLIGATORS, KINGS AND MILK SNAKES. HE ALSO FOUND ENJOYMENT SPENDING TIME WITH HIS NEPHEWS AND THEIR CHILDREN. HE LOVED THE WARM WEATHER AND ALSO HAD A DREAM OF LIVING DOWN IIN THE SOUTHERN STATE. THE PAN-HANDLE OF FLORIDA WAS ALWAYS NUMBER 1 ON HIS WISH LIST. BUT DUE TO HIS STRONG FAMILY ATTACHMENT HE NEVER SAID GODD-BYE TO LONG ISLAND AND STAYED HERE WINTER AFTER "MISERABLE" WINTER. HE TRAVELED DOWN SOUTH WHEN HE HAD THE CHANCE MOSTLY TO VISIT HIS OLDEST NEPHEW BILLY OR AS HE CALLED HIM "WILL." HE LOVE THE ROAD TRIP AND WOULD NEVER PASS UP THE OPPOTUNITY TO GO ON ONE. WEATHER IT WAS TO NORTH CAROLINA. PENNSYVANIA OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC WITH JASON HE WAS GAME. I WILL SURELY MISS LOOKING TO MY RIGHT AND NOT SEEING HIS FACE AS I DRIVE DOWN THE INTERSTATE. HIS CONVERSATION AS WELL AS HIS CHOICE OF RADIO STATIONS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. DRIVING AND LISTENING TO THE "TWO BROTHERS" WILL NEVER AHVE THE SAME MEANING AS IT ONCE DID.

MY UNCLE LIVED HIS LIFE FOR HIS FAMILY. ALTHOUGH HE NEVER HAD CHILDREN HE HAD 5 NEPHEWS THAT HE CONSIDERED HIS "BOYS." I ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST 8 YEARS THOUGHT OF HIM AS MY FATHER. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS 2 SISTERS, 2 NEICES, 6 NEPHEWS, 2 GREAT NEICES AND 7 GREAT NEPHEWS AND 1 FEMALE AMERICAN BULLDOG NAMED DUECE.
MY UNCLE WAS LOVED BY MANY PEOPLE FROM MANY WALKS OF LIFE. HE MADE FRIENDS EASILY AND ONCE HE HAD A FRIEND HE WAS FRIENDS FOR LIFE. I REMEMBER AFTER HE PASSED AWAY I RECEIVED CARDS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FROM FRIENDS SENDING THEIR CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS TO OUR SHOCKED FAMILY. HE HAD FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER DUE TO HIS NON-JUDGEMENTAL NATURE AS I SAID BEFORE THIS MAN DIDNT JUDGE ANYONE FOR THEIR PAST AND WOULD GIVE THE SHIRT OFF HIS BACK TO HELP SOMEONE...ANYONE IN NEED. HE WAS MY IDOL, MY MENTOR, MY BEST FRIEND, MY FATHER, MY HERO AND MY CONSCIENCE. I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM.

MY UNCLE DIED ON NOVEMBER 5TH 2006 DUE TO A STROKE AND STROKE RELATED COMPICATIONS WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A SNAKE BITE HE SUFFERED IN MARCH OF 2006 WHILE HANDLING HIS ONE AND ONLY AFRICAN ROCK PHYTON. THE BITE WAS ON HIS LEFT HAND AND WENT INTO HIS BONE. THIS BITE CAUSED A MAJOR INFECTION AND WENT UNTREATED. THE INFECTION SPREAD UP HIS ARM AND INTO THE UPPER PART OF HIS CHEST QUICKLY. AT THIS POINT HE DECIDED TO SELF-MEDICATE USING PENNICLIN, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE THE WRONG ANTI-BIOTIC FOR THIS TYPE OF INFECTION. ALTHOUGH THE EXTERIOR INFECTION BEGAN TO SUBSIDE IT HAD ALREADY FOUND A HOME IN THE INNER LINING OF HIS HEART(DUE TO HIS MICRO-VALVE PROLAPSE). ONCE IN HIS HEART THE INFECTION BEGAN TO GROW A FUNGUS, WHICH ULTIMATELY BROKE OFF WHILE HE WAS JOGGING AND WENT TO HIS BRAIN CAUSING THE FIRST OF MANY STROKES.HE SPENT ALMOST 8 WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL 6 OF WHICH HE WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE AND IN A COMA BEFORE HE PAST ON. HE WAS SO DEEPLY LOVED AND HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

BORN ON AUGUST 1, 1947 TO AARON AND RUTH WILSON OF BROWNSVILLE BROOKLYN NY. HE WAS THE BROTHER TO 3 SIBLINGS. 2 SISTERS 1 BROTHER. HE WAS AN UNCLE TO 9 AND A GREAT UNCLE TO 9. HE WAS A GENEROUS AND LOVING MAN WHO DONATED MOST OF HIS LIFE TO HELPING ANIMALS. HE FOUND HAPPINESS WITH HIS GREAT NEPHEWS AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIS "BOYS." HE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO WATCH TV AND SPENT MOST OF THAT WATCHING SOCCER, HOUSE, MYTH BUSTERS, SURVIORMAN,MONK, JEFF GORWIN AND LOST

I DON’T WHERE TO START WRITING ABOUT THIS AMAZING MAN, I HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU ABOUT MY UNCLE AND THERE ARE EVEN MORE THINGS THAT I WISH I COULD SAY DIRECTLY TO THE GREATEST MAN THAT I HAVE EVER KNOWN, BUT THERE IS NOT. I AM NOW FORCED TO ONLY SEE HIS FACE IN MY DREAMS, PICTURES, VIDEOS, AND MEMORIES. I LOVED THIS MAN MORE THAN WORDS WILL EVER BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE AND MY HEART ACHES EVERYDAY WITHOUT HIM. IN GENERAL WE AS A SOCIETY GO THROUGH LIFE WITH A PRE-THOUGHT OR EVEN THE HOPE THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A TOMORROW, WELL THERES NOT. TOMORROW MY NEVER COME, IT MAY NOT EXIST, SO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY TRY AS HARD AS YOU CAN TO TREAT THIS DAY AS A GIFT AND LIVE THIS DAY AND EACH DAY THAT FOLLOWS AS MY UNCLE WOULD, WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS.

NOW WITH THAT SAID I GUESS THE BEGINNING WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO START.

MY UNCLE DAVID JOHN WILSON WAS BORN ON AUGUST 1ST 1947 TO AARON AND RUTH WILSON WHO WERE IMMIGRANTS RESIDING IN BROWNSVILLS BROOKLYN NEW YORK. HE WAS THE YOUNGER BROTHER TO PHYLIS AND THE OLDER BROTHER TO ALETA AND GARY.

IN THE EARLY YEARS HIS LIFE WAS FILLED WITH UPS AND DOWNS THEN MY UNCLE FINALLY BEGAN TO FIND HIS PATH AS HE DEVELOPED A SINCERE LOVE FOR WILDLIFE AND NATURE. HE QUICKLY BECAME EMPLOYED WITH THE BRONX ZOO WHERE HE WORKED WITH THE REPTILES. THIS EXSPOSER INCREASED HIS LOVE FOR ANIMALS, BUT GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONCENTRATE ON THE EDUCATION, PRESERVATION AND THE PROLIFERATION OF REPTILES.

FROM THE BRONX ZOO HE TRANSFERRED TO HECKSCHER STATE PARK IN ISLIP NEW YORK. ALTHOUGH STRICKLY A RECREATIONAL PARK HE CONTINUED TO PURSUE HIS LOVE FOR REPTILES AND ANIMALS IN GENERAL, MAKING SURE NEVER TO LOOSE ANY CHANCE TO ACQUIRE ANY WILDLIFE THAT WAS IN NEED OF HELP.

STILL UNMARRIED AT THIS POINT HE WATCHED HIS TWO SISTERS GET MARRIED AND BEGIN TO HAVE CHILDREN, WHILE HE CARED FOR HIS SICK MOTHER AND DYING YOUNGER BROTHER.

NEVER HAVING CHILDREN OF HIS OWN HE TOOK AN IMMEDIATE ROLE WITH HIS SISTERS CHILDREN. NEVER ONCE SHOWING PREJUSTICES TO THE BOYS OVER THE GIRLS. OBVIOUSLY AS TIME WENT ON NATURE TOOK ITS NATURAL COURSE AND THE BOYS BECAME “BOYS” AND THE GIRLS BECAME “LITTLE LADIES.” WITH THIS THE BOND WITH HIS “BOYS” AS HE CALLED US BEGAN.

AS CHILDREN GROWING UP IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME WE ALL LOOKED FORWARD TO THE WEEKENDS SPENT WITH OUR UNCLE DAVID OR UNCLE “D” AS WE CALLED HIM. HE WOULD SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS WALKING IN THE WOODS WITH US, ALWAYS ROTATING US ON HIS SHOULDERS(AND THERE WAS 4 OF US). HE TAUGHT US TO LOVE, RESPECT AND CARE FOR NATURE AND ALL OF ITS INHABITANTS. HE NEVER GREW TIRED OF SPENDING TIME WITH US, WHETHER WE WERE LOOKING FOR SNAKES, BULLFROGS, BATS, FIREFLIES, DEER, SALOMANDERS,TURTLES FISHING OR JUST WRESTLING FOR COUNTLESS HOURS ON HIS PULL OUT SOFA BED. WHAT EVER WE ASKED HIM TO DO WITHOUT QUESTION HE WOULD BE RIGHT THERE WAITING TO ENJOY THE LOOKS ON OUR FACES AS LIFE AMAZED OUR YOUNG MINDS.

HE WAS ALWAYS A PROMINENT FIGURE IN OUR LIVES AND AS TIME PASSED HE ONLY BECAME MORE INFLUENTIAL.KNOWING THAT WE DIDN’T HAVE A FATHER AROUND, HE NOW BEGAN TO TAKE ON MORE OF A FATHER FIGURE ROLE. HIS TEACHINGS OF NATURE AND WILD LIFE GRADUALLY BEGAN TO TURN TO TEACHING US ABOUT LIFE AND TRYING TO GUIDE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO BECOMING MEN.

IN MY ADULT LIFE HE WAS ALWAYS AROUND TO LEND A HELPING HAND, GIVE HIS ADVICE OR JUST LISTEN. HE WAS A GREAT LISTENER AND WOULD ONLY OFFER ADVICE WHEN ASKED FOR IT. HE NEVER PREJUDGED ANYTHING OR ANYONE. NO MATTER WHAT YOUR BACKROUND WAS YOU ALWAYS HAD A CLEAN SLATE WITH HIM. HE HAD A HUGE LOVING HEART AND TOOK MANY PEOPLE UNDER HIS WING UNSELFISHLY TRYING TO GIVE DIRECTION AND HOPE.

HE WAS VERY DEPENDABLE AND HE NEVER LET US DOWN AND WE WERE PROUD TO CALL HIM UNCLE “D” AND I LATER CALLED HIM “POP.” I LOVED THE WAY HE WOULD MAKE US FEEL LIKE THERE WAS NO PLACE ON THE PLANET THAT HE WOULD RATHR BE THAN WITH YOU AT THAT MOMENT. HE HAD AN INCREDIBLE GIFT THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO GET ONTO YOUR LEVEL AND MAKE YOU FEEL SPECIAL. WHETHER YOU WERE A CHILD OR A HARVARD SCHOLAR. HE WOULD EASILY GET CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT AND THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERED WAS RIGHT NOW. HE WAS THE KINDEST GENTLEST MAN THAT I HAVE EVER KNOWN.

THEN HIS “BOYS” BEGAN TO HAVE CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN AND NOW MY DEAR UNCLE FINALLY HAD “GREAT” IN FRONT OF HIS NAME. IT WAS TRUELY AMAZING TO ACTUALLY WATCH HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF. NOW IN HIS LATE 40’S MY NOW “GREAT” UNCLE “D” WAS TEACHING MY CHILDREN WITH THE SAME PATIENCE AND LOVE AS HE DID 25 YEARS EARLIER WITH ME AND MY BROTHERS.

AS YEARS PROGRESSED HIS ENJOYMENT CAME FROM, READING, JOGGING, BREWING HIS OWN BEER, BREEDING ENDANGERED SNAKES, BUT MOST OF ALL HE ENJOYED WATCHING HIS “BOYS” BECOME GREAT FATHERS AND HUSBANDS. HE WAS WELL VERSED IN MANY TOPICS AND WOULD NEVER PASS ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT BE A CAMP FIRE WITH A BEER IN ONE HAND AND A POKING STICK IN THE OTHER WHILE TAKING ABOUT POLITICS, RELIGION OR JUST LIFE. HE WAS SO MANY THINGS TO US., A FRIEND A TEACHER, A HERO, A MENTOR, BUT MOST OF ALL HE BECAME THE FATHER THAT WE NEVER HAD.

MY UNCLE SADLY PAST AWAY ON NOVEMBER 5TH 2006 FROM A MASSIVE STROKE. HE WAS 59 YEARS OLD. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS 2 SISTERS, 2 NIECES, 6 NEPHEWS, 2 GREAT NIECES AND 7 GREAT NEPHEWS. A DAY WILL NOT PASS WITHOUT MISSING THIS AMAZING MAN. HEAVEN AQUIRED A TRUE GEM THE NIGHT HE WAS TAKEN FROM US. MAY HIS SOLE REST IN PEACE, BUT MAY HIS LEGACY LIVE FOREVER.