Red, White, and True

Football and Family
Dave and his wife Kathleen’s story has been played out in every wholesome American film. He was the star linebacker of his high school football team, and she was the popular cheerleader.

They have been married 35 years now and he still laughs when recalling how they first met. "It wasn’t on the field. We were in an environmental science class together, and one day I noticed her cheating off someone during an exam," laughed Dave. "The person she was copying answers from was the dumbest person in the room! I went up to her afterwards and asked, 'Why are you taking his answers? If you’re going to cheat, at least find someone smarter… like me! The rest is history.'"

Despite Kathleen failing that fateful test, the two graduated. After high school they received degrees from Illinois State University, and then, like most 20-somethings, their friends began settling down. They decided they should consider the same. "It was the next logical step for us," he stated with a trademark factual, yet dry sense of humor. "We took the plunge and got married, and had three kids along the way: Lauren, Hank, and Sam."

Dave is beyond proud of how he and his wife raised their children. "Kathleen and I were just trying our best since there’s no parenting manual. It was hard to tell in the moment whether we were doing right by them and raising them appropriately. Teaching them to be productive members of society is a challenge, and being a parent takes a lot of patience. I am happy and honestly relieved that they turned out to be such good people," he laughed.

Dave is not just thankful for his kids but also for the relationships he has gained through them. He maintains several relationships with their friends, having attended some of their weddings and often hosts get-togethers for everyone to catch up. As you’ll read later in this article, life has thrown Dave some curveballs. The people in it have helped him remain grounded.

Many of those relationships were built while Dave coached his sons and their friends in youth football. The sport was a common thread between many of Dave’s personal relationships, and it has helped him create and maintain connections with people. It is safe to say that football has remained a big part of Dave’s life, long after his days on the fi eld.

Although he credits the sport for many of his relationships, football has caused strife in one most dear to him. Dave raised his kids in a diehard Chicago Bears household. His son Hank, however, cheers for the Packers. When asked why Hank turned to Green Bay, he was quick to give his answer: 'Weakness.' Despite their divide in fandom, they still enjoy watching football together and have weathered their diff erences down to a ‘healthy animosity.’

Seeing Both Sides
While Dave can’t seem to shake his affinity for one team in sports, his position is different when it comes to exercising his civic duty. Politics excite him, and he is a self-proclaimed political junky.

Dave’s interest in politics grew tremendously as a young adult in college. His favorite courses were in sociology. He became fascinated with people and their motives and considers himself a 'serious people-watcher.' His affinity with people and societal structure naturally evolved into an infatuation with American politics.

It was surprising how long it took for Dave to hint at his political leanings. Often conversations of this nature begin with an opinion on an issue that gives a glimpse of which side of the aisle a person stands; instead, Dave led with the fact that he does his best to hear from both sides. This stance on today’s political landscape could benefit many.

"While I certainly have my own viewpoints on issues, I think it is vital to hear as many perspectives as you can. I watch a lot of Fox News and a lot of CNN. I do not always agree with everything on either network, but it is important to at least hear what they have to say."

The various 24-hour news networks and overall media surrounding politics are particularly interesting to Dave. "It is fascinating how people cannot see outside of what these news networks tell them. The people who watch CNN and MSNBC see a diff erent version of the world than those who watch Fox News and Newsmax. It is like living in two diff erent realities. I do my best to incorporate all the information available to me so that I am living in my own reality, not someone else’s."

While reflecting upon a tumultuous election year, Dave lamented that he has never seen the American political landscape this bad. "There is a real probl at the fringes of both parties. The rhetoric on both sides has just gotten too hot, and each party has gotten increasingly hostile with each other. I wish the animosity would go away and we could get back to finding solutions to the issues that affect us all."

Although Dave actively listens to what both sides have to say, it is not often that he hears the two sides say it to each other. This is where he believes the problem–and potential solution–lies. "Nowadays, people will not listen to someone who has an opposing viewpoint. People will talk to me emphatically about a certain issue and I will explain to them that I am not the person they need to convince. Instead of talking to me, go talk to your neighbor down the street and have an honest conversation with them. That is the only way we will start to understand each other again."

Dave’s ability to see both sides of a perspective bleeds beyond politics and into his professional life, where he has learned to understand things through both an employer and an employee lens.

Along For the Ride
Dave didn't expected his career path would lead to working at an ice arena, as he never had much of a taste for hockey. When his dream to play football did not progress past high school, he found himself at a crossroads. "With professional sports off the table, I did not know what I wanted to do, but I knew I had to get a degree." he said. "I opted for a degree in sociology and felt confident I could find something I was good at. And then I started a career in distribution," he laughed. Dave’s passion and purpose varied throughout his career as he changed roles and companies. It was not until Dave lost his job as a territory manager midway through his career that he found the internal motivation that would push him for the rest of his professional life.

"My territory was second in the entire company, but my higher-ups thought it should be number one, so I was let go. It was hard to argue with them because honestly, if I tried harder, I probably could have had the top territory. But I thought I was doing well so I got complacent and started coasting. It was disheartening knowing that I could have prevented my own misfortune. I could understand their mindset. After that, I made sure that if I ever lost a job again it would not be because I did not try hard enough."

Dave has kept this promise on effort, but sometimes circumstances are out of one’s control. "I then worked for a company for 13 years, and they had to close their doors," he recalled. Unsure of what to do at this point in his career, he decided he needed a change of pace. "I was asking myself again, ‘What now?’ I was at a point in my life where I did not feel the need to continue a ‘corporate’ career, I was ready for a change." Yet again Dave trusted himself, which led him to work at an ice arena in Hoffman Estates, where he would eventually find his way to the driver’s seat of a Zamboni. After spending time at various rinks for a few years, the need for a more stable work life brought Dave to the Nicholas Sportsplex in 2017. He quickly realized how much was required (and expected) to maintain the facility. That mentality aligned with his work ethic and determination to always put a best foot forward. It’s a level of expectation equally driven by the Papanicholas Family ownership, the management team, and all team members at the arena.

"The Nicholas Sportsplex is different than any other I have worked at. You are held to a higher standard here. At other arenas, you could show up around the time you needed to, leave around the time you needed to, and everything would be mostly fine.

That does not work here, there is too much to do. It was refreshing to find a place that takes things seriously and has a high standard. The entire campus is impeccable." As one of its longest tenured team members, Dave is helping maintain that standard with the next generation. "I try to pass on the professionalism and maturity I gained from my previous career. Many of the people here are younger and work here because they love hockey, but I try to show them how to be professionals and help them carry that forward in their careers."

His colleagues usually respect his seniority and the professionalism he brings to the team. But sometimes his level of maturity has the reverse eff ect. "Some of them think I am Forrest Gump because of all the stories I tell, and they do not always believe me. I must remind them that I am twice as old as they are, so I have twice the number of stories and I am not making anything up!"

Even though Dave has been working maintenance for over a decade now, he still cannot believe he ended up where he is today. "When I fi rst started my career in distribution, I never imagined I would eventually be working at an ice arena. I just took everything one step at a time, trusting that things would work out. I am very glad everything happened the way it did and that I am now able to take the lessons I learned throughout my career and pass them along to the people here."

Today Dave is the lead Rink & Facility Attendant and Zamboni Driver at the Nicholas Sportsplex.

Although it is not listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Zamboni carries an inexplicable mystique that enraptures hockey fans of all ages. For whatever reason, the Zamboni has become hockey’s de facto intermission entertainment.

"I do not have an answer for it, but people certainly have an odd obsession with it," Dave said. This fascination does not stop with the kids who are often banging hard on the glass as Dave circles the ice, it extends to their parents as well. "Sometimes I will bring kids back to the Zamboni garage and show them how everything on it works. Most of the time, the dads are just as excited as their kids to learn about it."

The notoriety of his profession follows Dave around, even to places you would least expect. "A few years ago, I went in for a procedure. As the anesthesia started to kick in, the last thing I heard was one doctor turn to the others and say, 'This guy drives a Zamboni!'"

The strangest incident involving the Zamboni’s allure occurred a few years ago. While preparing for a game, a woman approached Dave with a box. She handed it to him and asked if he could take it with him when he rode on the Zamboni that night. Confused, Dave asked why:

"The box contained her grandfather’s ashes, she said he always wanted to ride on a Zamboni before he died. I was happy to bring the box up with me for the night, but I remember thinking to myself, 'What a shame… if he only came a few months ago, I would have let him drive!'"

Driving the Zamboni was not always glamorous for Dave, however. Driving it made him nervous for a long time. "When you are out there on the ice, everyone is watching you. If you mess up and need to make another lap around the ice, everyone sees it."

Dave’s worst fears came true a few years ago when his Zamboni ran out of propane while he was out on the ice. "I felt my Zamboni slowing down and my heart started racing. The arena was packed, and now all these people were just staring at me. It was one of those moments where you feel like you are having a nightmare, but you do not wake up. Luckily, I knew right away what was wrong, but I still had to do the shuffle of shame off the ice to go get more propane. It was a very humbling experience, but it helped me get over my fears."