Remembering Dave Wyher

I write with great sadness to convey the news that Dave Wyher, Founder and President of Delta Community Supports, passed away after losing his battle with cancer. He was blessed with many visits from family members and close friends who shared his final days. Dave was a man of deep faith and he left the earthly plane certain he was going home with a tranquil heart.

It’s impossible to describe the scope of his impact on those of us who knew him well and worked with him during his 46 year tenure at Delta. Most of you know the ‘business’ side of Dave. He built Delta through decades of diligent effort to make this world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He launched the company with very limited resources including 5 or 6 staff members and small group of apartments.

A few years ago Dave shared this story about the origins of Delta:

“In my first years as a direct service provider, I spent months couch surfing. It was my job to deliver day services to people with intellectual disabilities. Most had recently been released from residential settings that echoed scenes from a horror film. I was passionate about changing the way these people were treated in the society at large. Unfortunately I worked for a corrupt employer who didn’t think it was important to pay me — or to pay the rent for our service site. This dire situation escalated to the point where the landlord put a padlock on our facility. The only solution I could think of was to sell my car and use the $800 I got to pay the rent, re-open our site, and begin the process of fighting to get my back wages paid.”

The efficiency of his efforts impressed the Commonwealth of PA which responded by offering contracts to Delta. After a year or two, officials from New Jersey came knocking and asked him to build a similar program there. Over the next four decades, Dave never ceased to look for new ways to expand our services and create better ways to help vulnerable people in our society.

But Dave wasn’t all business. He raised a beautiful family and he is survived by his wife, five children, one brother, two sisters, and four grandchildren. His beloved dog, Oscar, rounded out the circle of those he loved most.

I was fortunate to become a close friend of Dave’s during our college years. Even then, he had the rare gift of recognizing the hidden talents that many people can’t even identify in themselves. He was well known for putting friends and colleagues in situations where they could exercise their gifts and grow into a more successful, fulfilled version of themselves. He loved celebrating the successes of others and enjoyed throwing parties and dinners that gave people a chance to commemorate their growth and achievements.

It goes without saying that we will sorely miss Dave and his tireless efforts to help us get the most out of our fleeting time on this earth. In memory, and through example, he will live in our hearts and minds forever. We will forward additional information about memorial services as soon as details become available.

Sincerely,

Ed Sutherland

Interim CEO

Delta Community Supports, Inc.