Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Remembering Our Friend Dave Jenks

So many lives, so terribly cut short! On this past Memorial Day weekend we remember all those young men and women killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the thousands and thousands more who died in earlier wars. The memorials of our city have been crowded these past few days with Americans who have come to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in service to their country – their country and ours. We owe them a debt beyond tears or measure. At SLDN we hold a special place in our hearts for the unknown number of those heroes who were lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender – and forced to die as they had lived: in silence about that critical part of their lives. But we also hold a special place in our hearts this Memorial Day week for David S. Jenks, whose life was suddenly, shockingly cut short on the morning of May 19. He was 45 years old, in the full prime and vigor of his life. He had shown no previous signs of illness. His age and his vitality made his death all the more shocking to those who knew and loved him. I knew Dave for more than twenty years. We worked together on a number of real estate and legal transactions. Dave was the ultimate professional, exceedingly competent and highly successful. He cared about what he did and he cared about those he worked with. A handsome man, he was disarming and fun and a delight to be with whatever the occasion – over drinks and dinner in the Hamptons, at the Delaware beaches, or at his home near Washington Circle. SLDN supporter, real estate agent and lawyer Hugh Oates put it this way: “Dave was first rate. In our real estate world of too much stress and tension, he brought everyone to the table to make it all work, and he did it with ease and style.” Dave was one of SLDN’s strongest supporters. After George Washington University law school he served as captain in the Judge Advocates General Corps of the United States Army. He knew from direct experience what it was like to serve in the Army and be forced to keep an important and deeply personal part of himself hidden from his comrades. That is one reason why he was such an active and consistent supporter of SLDN, and why his family has requested that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to this organization. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. today at the Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Avenue, NW. Also tonight, the Duplex Diner, where Dave’s was a familiar smiling face, will donate all of its bar tips and a portion of its proceeds to SLDN as his friends gather to trade stories about this vibrant, vital man who was rarely seen without a smile on his face. Dave was an active member of the D.C. Bar and of the Washington real estate community. He founded the Avenue Title Group where he worked closely with his partner in life as well as in business, David G. Helfrich. But our purpose here is not to write an obituary. You can find the facts of his life and also sign a guest book in the Washington Post and in the Blade. We are here to mourn the passing and celebrate the life of a dear friend. “He had a huge zest for life,” his friend Wes Combs and SLDN supporter said. “He lived in a big way.” All his friends agreed with that. “And he was extremely generous with his time and advice.” He was extremely generous in countless ways to SLDN. He was one of our staunchest supporters, and we will miss him greatly for all of those reasons but especially because the smile on his face brought smiles to our own. The joy he brought to life was contagious. We are all better for having known him. -Aubrey Sarvis

05-27-08