I found out the other night that David Pimentel died from cancer.
I’m not sure if you were aware, but he was admitted to the hospital
right before classes started this fall. Doctors couldn’t find the
source of his cancer but apparently it was very advanced and he just
didn’t really have any symptoms until then. He was home from the
hospital 1-2 days before he died. I don’t know who knew him well but
one of his grad students said tell everybody.
David was an amazing metalsmith. He made some especial
contributions to metalsmithing with his research into plastics, which
made the metalsmithing community aware of protoplast, which led to
the development of similar plastics, such as jett sett. He
researched use of plastics such as UHMW for mallets and hammers,
which have become commonplace. It’s good to know and remember the
source and lineage of some of this knowledge.
I didn’t know David Pimental personally. My thoughts and prayers
are with his Family and those close to him. May he rest in peace.
Thank you Cynthia for the post. I appreciated reading the post and
was so sorry to hear that he passed away from Cancer. I lost my
own Mother July of 1997 to Cervical cancer so I know how painful that
can be.
It sounds like David Pimental made such a wonderful contribution to
this world. God Bless his Family. Thank you David Pimnetal for your
wonderful contributions in the way of Metalsmithing.
Thank you Cynthia for letting us know about the sad news of Dave
Pimentel’s passing. He was a wonderful metalsmith and a kind and
generous person. I first met him at Arrowmont where he taught
raising to enamelists. Later, on behalf of our Enamel Guild, we
asked Dave to give a workshop in San Diego on his raising techniques
inasmuch as the plastic stake/plastic hammer method is easier on some
of the older Guild members when raising vessels to enamel.
I had always thought that he developed the UHML stake and hammer
raising but I was glad to see it confirmed in your message. I was
not aware that he made the Metalsmithing community aware of other
plastics such as protoplast. During the workshop my husband and I
had the pleasure of hosting him at our house. My husband is a
wonderful cook, a characteristic Dave greatly appreciated. He had a
great sense of humor, loved good food, (and good wine and beer). He
not only tinned one of our copper pots before he left but he also
sent a copper bowl (for beating egg whites) in appreciation for the
many home-cooked meals and the beer and wine he enjoyed here. I
will miss him.
I’m sorry to hear of David Pimentel passing away. I met him at
SNAG’96 in Washington DC and was struck by his enthusiasm.
I often re-tell the story he told me, about how he could have a
class of students pounding away on copper bowls using his plastic
raising hammers and plastic-covered steel stakes, and that he was
able to talk to the class over the softened noise!
Sympathy to his family.
Brian
B r i a n A d a m
Auckland NEW ZEALAND
www.adam.co.nz
I’d just like to add my sentiments to the sad news of Dave
Pimentel’s passing.
Dave’s was one of the faces that we could absolutely count on seeing
every February at the Yuma Symposium (Yuma, AZ). He was always
rarin’ to go, ready to dance and always had a car full of ASU
students with him. Many of his grads have gone on to make names for
themselves as teachers and studio artist’s. That’s a wonderful
legacy to leave.
I’ll go out to the studio in a few minutes and, I’m sure, pick up a
Delrin mallet to begin the day. Thanks, Dave. My wife and I will
miss you. Yuma will not be the same.
When I attended Mass Art, I had the honor of David teaching me how
to raise. He was kind and patient. Metal never struck my little
copper bowl once. He worked completely with Delrin hammers and
Thermoplast. It was the hardest thing I ever produced in college.
I still have that little bowl which means more to me know than ever.
He will be sorely missed in the metals field.
Karen Christians
M E T A L W E R X
50 Guinan St.
Waltham, MA 02451
Ph. 781/891-3854 Fax 3857 http://www.metalwerx.com/
Jewelry/Metalarts School & Cooperative Studio