Deceased June 14, 2012

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In Memory

Dr. David Auten of Canton, Ga., died suddenly on June 14, 2012, while on a bike ride. Dave was a leading chiropractor beloved by his patients, students and friends, as he was by his Amherst classmates. Many of his Amherst friends were distressed that we had not been aware of Dave’s untimely passing until late last year.

Dave followed basketball teammate Vandy Bollinger ’69 to Amherst from Irondequoit High School in Rochester, N.Y. As a freshman, Dave lived in the Morrow Iso Ward. He played a leading role in Morrow’s victory in The Great Morrow-Pratt Water Fight of Oct. 10 1966. Dave was modest and self-effacing but nevertheless found his way into Alpha Delta Phi. While having sharp radar for pomposity and pretension, Dave admired and was fascinated by his fellow students in Morrow, in A.D. and throughout the college. Classmates, including his senior year roommate Ron Battocchi ’70, remember Dave as thoughtful, completely genuine, kind and quick to share his hearty laugh.

By our junior and senior years, Dave was among the finest basketball players in the country. He was a superb all-around player with the ability to score, rebound, pass and defend. As a junior, he played on a deep, talented team with classmate Whit Rutter ’70 and seniors including Wally Bazenas ’69, Phil Hart ’68, Tom Kelly ’69, Pete Evans ’69 and Vandy Bollinger ’69 that longtime coach Rick Wilson regarded as his best team ever. That year was a learning experience for Coach Wilson and his players in the midst of increasing anti-Vietnam War and civil rights activities and an evolution in mores and the use of recreational substances. The 1968-69 team would have been a contender in the NCAA Division II Tournament (and beat the team that had been the prior year’s runner up) had college policy at that time not prohibited the team from participating in post-season play. That year, Dave established a variety of school records; one single-game record that still stands was set against Coast Guard when he made 19 field goals. In our senior year, Dave set more records and was named to the NCAA College Division All-America First Team. In 2010, he was inducted into the New England Sports Hall of Fame. Following graduation, Dave was invited to tryouts with several NBA teams and was a late cut by the Houston Rockets. He subsequently turned his athletic talents to the international rugby pitch, where he had great success for several years and, according to the stories he passed along at a few reunions, a lot of fun.

In 1983, Dave received his doctorate in chiropractic from Life University, the nation’s largest college of chiropractic. In addition to developing a successful practice in Georgia, Dave was the trainer for the Neurolink Program throughout the United States.  When Dave died, many of his patients provided remembrances testifying to his skill and compassion, including mentions of “his healing touch,” “his wonderful sense of humor” and “his calming presence.”

Dave left his mother, June T. Auten, and his sisters, Melissa Holahan and Amy Fisher, and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, a great niece and many cousins and friends.

Sandy Dibble ’70