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David M. Muniz
(1946-2001)
David Muniz was born in Donora, Pennsylvania on July 24,1946 to Joe and Julie Muniz, where he grew up with his three brothers, Joe, Fred and Muggsey, and his sister Dolly. At that time, Donora, a small town 20 miles south of Pittsburgh on the Monongahela River, was home to approximately 14,000 residents, 6,500 of whom worked for the area’s two mills, the American Steel & Wire Company, and the Donora Zinc Works. Dave attended Donora High School where he was active in sports, excelling in football and basketball. In 1964, he received a full athletic scholarship to Idaho State University, where he served as Captain of ISU’s football team in 1967,and was selected as all Big Sky Conference Linebacker in 1967. In 1969 Dave received his B.A. in P.E. at ISU, and in 1973 he received his M.P.E.
Dave accepted his first professional teaching position at Marsh Valley High School in Arimo, Idaho in August 1969. In addition to teaching, he served as Head Varsity Basketball Coach and Assistant Football and Track Coach. He was selected as 5th District Coach of the Year in 1972. In 1973, Dave accepted a teaching position at Blackfoot High School, Blackfoot Idaho. He also assumed the Head Football Coach, Assistant Basketball and Track Coach positions. During his employment at Blackfoot High School, he coordinated and hosted the first Eastern Idaho Power Weight Lifting Contest. In 1977, he was selected Teacher of the Year for Bingham County Idaho.
In 1978, Dave accepted a teaching and coaching position at Edison High School in Alexandria, Virginia. From 1978 to 1989, he taught Adaptive Phys. Ed., working with students with special needs. He served as Head Varsity Basketball Coach, Assistant Football Coach, and organized yearly summer basketball camps for youths aged 5 through 18. Dave’s qualities as a coach throughout his life did not go unnoticed. His teams were always ready to play, and his students and fellow coaches admired and respected him.
In 1989 Dave moved to a teaching position at Luther Jackson Intermediate School in Fairfax and for the next twelve years continued to inspire students with his enthusiasm, compassion, unique sense of humor and creativity in teaching. There is no doubt that Dave enjoyed the camaraderie of his colleagues, but there were also occasions when he chose to step away from the often political atmosphere in the Fairfax school system. One such event happened when First Lady Hillary Clinton came to Luther Jackson School, and Dave stayed “behind the scenes” in the Cafeteria—which ended up being Mrs. Clinton’s exit route. Dave took that opportunity to introduce himself and even had a photo taken with her, which her staff later sent to him. Dave was the only teacher who happened to get a photo with Mrs. Clinton that day!
Dave was often the first to lend an ear or a shoulder of support to his co-workers and friends. He created the “Ann Marie Grunnick Weight Room” at Luther Jackson School, in honor of a young student who tragically died in an auto accident. He worked on his own time with numerous businesses and schools in the Fairfax County area to obtain equipment for the weight room, resulting in one of the best equipped middle school weight rooms in Fairfax County.
While Dave enjoyed his teaching and coaching career, the greatest pride and joy in his life was his family. He was devoted to his wife, Linda, and his unabashed, unfettered love for his three children, Lance, Ryan and Rachel, was always evident. He was proud of his children’s achievements, and most important, of the exceptional individuals they had become. He was thrilled to have four beautiful grand-children who brought a special and continual joy to his life. Since his death, that number has grown to eight, and every one of Dave’s grandchildren are proud of their Pap Muniz. He was a great example to his family through his hard work, commitment, integrity, generosity and by highlighting the importance of maintaining a sense of humor in life.
On March 29, 2001, at the age of 54 years, Dave had a massive heart attack while in the weight room at Luther Jackson School. Neither EMS nor Fairfax Hospital staff were able to revive him. Dave touched many people in his short life. Everyone who had the privilege to know him as a friend, colleague and student became a better person for that experience. He possessed the rare and special gift of being able to relate to his students, to teach them to believe in themselves and to never give up. They listened to him and they tried to do the things they never thought they could do. He continues to be missed by many, and he will never be forgotten.
