SYLWESTER, DAVID LUTHER - was born on March 17, 1936 in Roseburg, Oregon to Rev. Walter and Paula (Georg) Sylwester. Along with his 8 brothers, David took his turn picking beans and delivering newspapers. He graduated with a math degree from the Univ. of Oregon, earned a masters in physics from the University of Indiana. He met the love of his life, Jeanie Whitney, on the volleyball courts of Christ Lutheran Church in DC. In 1960, David went to the South Pole to study the Southern Lights, with a glacier being named after him. In 1962, he married Jeanie in Washington DC. They moved to Stanford University where Jeanie earned her nursing degree and David completed a Ph.D in statistics. Son Stephen David was born, after which David took a teaching job at the University of VT. Soon thereafter Gregory and Katie joined the family. In 1983, the family moved to Knoxville where he headed up the Department of Statistics at the Univ. of TN. David and Jeanie loved to travel and were able to take family trips throughout the US, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. He supported and volunteered for the Knoxville Opera, Knoxville Symphony and sang with the Knoxville Choral Society. He kept a positive attitude while battling Parkinson's Disease, while still playing golf and tennis at age 77. David also loved books, opera, classical music, and anything chocolate. He died peacefully Friday, April 26, at his Knoxville condo. David was pre-deceased by his wife Jeanie, his parents Rev. Walter and Paula Sylwester, sister Margaret Sylwester, and in-laws Les and Louise Whitney. He is survived by his children Steve and Cynthia Siu, Greg, and Katie and Rodney and his grandchildren Samantha, Ryan, Max, and Dylan. David is also survived by his siblings, Paul, Ted, Jim, Herb, John, Richard, Milton, and Robert and many nieces and nephews. There will be a memorial service Saturday May 4, 11:00 at Faith Lutheran Church in Farragut. This will be followed by a gathering of friends and family at daughter Katie's house, starting at 2:00 p.m. We will miss his great smile and humor. Sleep in peace kind, gentle David.