It is with great sadness that I have to announce that my friend and mentor Dave Lewis of Carmel Mountain Insurance recently passed away. Dave had brain cancer and melanoma, which ultimately extinguished one of the great flames in our industry. Before opening Carmel Mountain Insurance, Dave was a marketing rep for Mercury Insurance and taught continuing education classes. He was a long-time board member of the American Agents Alliance, a local meeting chairperson and co-chairperson, and a mentor and friend to many of us in San Diego County including me for over 30 years.
Back in the 80’s and 90’s, we ran an American Agents Alliance local breakfast meeting in San Diego which started at 7:00am. I attempted to put together relevant topics and content to talk about, but when the conversation started to drag and Dave saw the fear in my eyes, he would magically interject just the right comments to get everybody fired up again.
Dave gave so much to this insurance industry that he adored and seemed genuinely surprised when he received any accolades. Many will remember a couple of years ago when the American Agents Alliance was celebrating their 50th anniversary at our convention at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, we brought back a group of men who helped create the “Alliance” and get the fledgling young association off of the ground. We called these great men the Legends and Dave Lewis was part of that group being honored. I remember Dave feeling humbled to be included in that prestigious group and insisted on having his great friend, Morris Kushner of the Kushner Insurance Agency sit with him. Two great men who have helped me in this business for so many years. With tears in my eyes under the bright lights, I looked at them and softly said into the microphone “I love you guys” and really meant it from the heart.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 29th at 2:00pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The address is 14191 Camino Del Sur, San Diego, CA 92130. God speed old friend.
-Ken May/President
