David William Prine

David William Prine, 85, a lifelong resident of Maywood, Illinois, passed away at home on September 23, 2023. He was born on November 2, 1937, in Melrose Park, Illinois. He graduated from Proviso High School in Maywood in 1955, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1960 from the University of Illinois, studying at both Navy Pier and Champaign.

Dave worked as an engineer at Zenith Radio Corp., Magnuflux Corp., Chamberlain Manufacturing Corp., Gard Inc., and Northwestern University. Throughout his career, he was recognized for his innovative contributions and was awarded several patents, including a system for detecting welding flaws in bridges by measuring acoustic emissions.

Outside of his professional life, Dave had a deep passion for music. He was a talented musician and music teacher, proficient in playing the fiddle, banjo, guitar, dobro, and dulcimer. He shared his love for music with his brother John, teaching him how to play the guitar and introducing him to the Old Town School of Folk Music, where Dave taught for many years. Dave’s fiddle, dobro, and vocals can be heard on several of John’s records, including family favorite Paradise. He also played in the National Recovery Act and the BluEagle String Band alongside his lifelong friends Tyler Wilson and Jim Chesney.

In his leisure time, Dave enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping, embarking on numerous trips to Arkansas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Florida with friends and family. After his retirement, Dave often visited Betsy Ross School in Forest Park as a special guest of his daughter Anne, playing banjo for the children and sharing his knowledge of history, locomotives, and wild turkeys. He was an avid movie buff, taking film classes with his wife Pat at Triton College in River Grove. He and Pat were regulars at Dave’s favorite diner, Louie’s Grill in Forest Park, where he enjoyed scrambled eggs with crispy bacon, hash browns with onions and cheese, and an English muffin.

Dave is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia (née Tredrea); his loving children Anne (David) Sorkin, Jean (Roger) Powell, and David M. Prine (Lisa Plaxco); and his adored granddaughter, Allison Sorkin. He is also survived by his brother, Billy Prine, sisters-in-law Suzanne Prine, Fiona Prine, Donna Byrne, and Ellen (Gary) Regan, and brother-in-law Michael Tredrea (Audrey Aabey). Dave was preceded in death by his parents, William Mason Prine and Verna Valentine Prine (née Hamm), and his brothers, Douglas Prine and John Prine. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins who carry his memory in their hearts.

A memorial service celebrating Dave’s life will be held at Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home in Forest Park, Illinois, on October 21, 2023, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. In honor of Dave’s legacy, contributions can be made to the Maywood Fine Arts Association (maywoodfinearts.org) in lieu of flowers.

May the soul of David William Prine rest in eternal peace, and may his memory be a source of comfort and inspiration to all who knew and loved him.

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