David Potoker

Time To Say Goodbye…Leaving this life to join my beloved Cathy

David R. Potoker of Erie, Pa., age 72, passed away on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at his residence. David was born January 18, 1942 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of the late Irving and Freda Potoker.

He graduated from Fort Lee High School (NJ) in 1959, earning a Bachelor’s Degree from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus in 1965. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in 1966 and Doctorate in 1973 from the Teachers College at Columbia University; all Degrees having a concentration in Speech/Language Pathology. He spent two years at Brookhaven National Laboratories in Upton, NY, researching his Doctoral thesis on speech disorders associated with Parkinsons Disease, prior to beginning his career as a speech pathologist.

He came to Erie in 1973 to work at Edinboro State College, teaching students in both the speech and special education programs until 1980; prior to the Adjunct Faculty Gerontology Program at Gannon College from 1980 until 1990. He began his private practice in speech pathology in 1974, concentrating primarily on adult patients with neurodegenerative disorders and stroke; was contract provider for many home health agencies and nursing homes in Erie County, including Pleasant Ridge Manor from which he retired in 2010 after 30 years of service. He also served on the medical staff of the Erie VA Medical Center, Metro Health Center and Millcreek Community Hospital from which he retired in 2011 after 32 years of service.

He is survived by his daughter Kristen Reese; a grandson Benjamin Reese; a stepdaughter, Bailey Bland Shafer and her husband Joel; a step-granddaughter Shaina; sisters-in-law Diana and her husband Len and Barbie; brothers-in-law Robert and his wife Nancy, George and his wife Kathy; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is further survived by close friends Roger and his wife Nancy; Timothy, Kimberly, Edward and his wife Dorothy; and Robert and his wife Linda as well as his extended family of EMT’s and Firefighters.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter Beth Ann; a brother Leonard; his spouse Cathy Dugan Bland Potoker; and brother-in-law Zanante.

David was an EMT and a member of the Harborcreek Fire Department since 2004. He also served as the Department Vice President, Board Member and EMS Lieutenant. He enjoyed cooking and working in his perennial and vegetable gardens. He called home The Clark Road Inn where many a dinner party or festival was had, especially his own version of A Canterbury Feast where if you did not dress in casual medieval attire you would be at risk for an unmerciful beheading!! There was always room to stay over or just stop and water your horse.

Family and friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 602 West 10th Street on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and are invited to services there on Monday at 11 a.m. David will be laid to rest at Temple Anshe Hesed Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Harborcreek Fire Department 8024 E Lake Road Erie, PA 16511 or to the Dr. Randy Rodak Memorial Scholarship (at Edinboro University).