Obituary of David Edward Phalon

David Edward Phalon, 64, a musician, loving husband of Carole Ann McDonald, and devoted father to Sara and Helen, passed away on November 27, 2014 in Summerville, SC. Dave was born on September 27, 1950 in Winchester, Mass. to Edward Arthur and Evelyn Alice (née Smyth) Phalon. Dave grew up in Woburn, Mass. He graduated from Woburn High School in 1968. After high school, Dave, an extremely talented singer and keyboard player, worked with various bands in the Boston area before heading West to California and embarking on what would be his life-long love and occupation, playing music. In 1988, Dave realized his dream of moving to Nashville, where he peddled his original songs and played keyboards, as well as sang, in road bands for, among others, Dave & Sugar, Shelly West, and Doug Kershaw, for whom he also served as road manager. Dave and Ann moved to Summerville in 1994, and he worked first for HealthSource, then CIGNA, as a Call Center Supervisor. Later, he worked for SelectHealth of South Carolina as the Customer Service Manager of an Outbound Call Center, where, as his phone reps fondly recalled, his door was always open, and a smile was always on his face. Dave is remembered as a fair, compassionate boss who charmed the people who worked for him with his witty e-mails, long-but-funny stories, focus on multicultural awareness in the workplace, and love of sports. Dave also shared his love of music with his co-workers, as he was the DJ at numerous office parties and the weddings of fellow employees, and he performed with a company band at work functions. In 2014, Dave retired and focused his attention on his family and his work as a musician. Dave married Ann in 1988 in Dallas, Texas. They were happily married for 26 years. Dave was a member of the American Federation of Musicians. He enjoyed making music; reading, especially biographies; collecting guitars; watching music documentaries and biopics; participating in and watching sports; sharing in the accomplishments of his beautiful daughters; eating anything thing Ann cooked; and celebrating life. Though Dave’s first love was baseball, he was a die-hard fan of “the big four” New England Teams — the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Celtics. Dave performed his original songs at the renowned Blue Bird Café in Nashville, TN, enjoying an enthusiastic response, as he always did when he performed, from the audience. Dave also won a national contest, “Why My Dad Is My Hero,” sponsored by Major League Baseball, for which he received the prize of taking batting practice from Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, and he auditioned for and was chosen as a contestant in Universal Studios Orlando’s American Idol Experience. In addition, he won numerous singing competitions and a Battle of the Bands. Dave’s signature songs were “Desperado,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Georgia.” Dave is survived by his spouse, Ann, of Summerville, SC; his children, Sara McDonald-Phalon, of North Adams, Mass., & Helen McDonald-Phalon, of Summerville, SC; his sister, Diane (John) Dolbeare, of Nashua, NH; his brother, Steven (Carol) Phalon, of Corpus Christi, TX; his nieces and nephews, Missy An, Brandon Pach, John Phalon, Chrissie Phalon, and Brian Phalon; and other relatives. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Edward & Evelyn Phalon. A graveside service will be held at Dust to Dust Green Burial Cemetery, 257 Nulty Crossing Rd, Swansea, SC 29160, at 1:30pm on Wednesday, December 10th, 2014. Arrangements are by Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services, North Charleston, SC. Memorial donations can be made to the Helen-McDonald Phalon College Fund by going to hjmpcollegefund.webs.com. Condolences may be left on the Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services online guest book at lowcountryfuneral.com.