Uncrowned Community Builders

David Fields was a retired city worker who was involved in community human service programs. He also served as a director of the local American Red Cross. David was born in Buffalo, NY; graduated from Hutch Tech and was among the first African Americans to work for the city.

His skills included interior decoration and redesign in some of the most exclusive homes in Buffalo. He distributed Thanksgiving baskets to those in need for more than a decade. He was also a volunteer with the Red Cross disaster service for more than 10 years. He was publicity director for the Senior Companion Programs and an executive board member of the Head Start Program.

Mr. Fields was also head of Security at Melody Fair for most of the 1970s. He was known as "Big Dave" to the stars who he shepherded while they were in the city. He often held dinner parties at his home and those in attendance included Sammy Davis Jr.. Red Foxx, Gladys Knight, Harry Belafonte, B. B. King, Della Reese, Nancy Wilson and others. Some of the performers would mail their menu before they came to perform to Dave.

He was 80 years old at the time of his death. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY.