February 24, 1955 – October 1, 2017

• David Strader, 62, passed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side, on Oct. 1, 2017 after a courageous battle with bile duct cancer.

• Dave’s passion for sports began at early age. An avid basketball player and member of the 1972-73 Glens Falls High School team, Dave continued to play JV basketball while attending UMass Amherst. He graduated magna cum laude and pursued his passion as a play-by-play announcer for UMass basketball games.

• Dave went on to have an extensive broadcasting career that first began as the voice of the Adirondack Red Wings in 1979.  It was the start of a hockey broadcasting career that would span 35-plus years, including more than 30 years covering the National Hockey League. Later this year, Dave will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto as the recipient of the 2017 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award.

• In June of 2016 at the conclusion of his first season with the Dallas Stars, Dave was diagnosed with inoperable bile duct cancer. Dave’s battle was an example of his tenacity. He refused to take any stock answers to questions about his prognosis. From chemotherapy to clinical trials, Dave always saw hiscircumstances as a glass-half-full. He took to heart the advice his brother Steve had given him in June; push the horizon back one day at a time because you never know what every new day may bring.

• Supported by his wife Colleen, their three sons and extended family and friends, Dave fought with everything that was offered by his medical team and passionately searched for new treatments. His battle took him all over the Northeast. He donated cells for future research that will one day unlock a cure for this rare and deadly disease. He corresponded with fellow sufferers of cholangiocarcinoma and brought attention to his battle by sharing his story on national TV. His mindset from the beginning was to maintain a positive attitude and appreciate each day he was given. The outpouring of prayers and positive messages from players and fans across the NHL family also provided daily inspiration.

• Dave will always be remembered for his sense of humor. No one was better at one-liners than him. He was infamous for his song parodies and being the life of the party. He never passed up an opportunity to use a microphone to sing his usual setlist of Beatles tunes.  He always wanted to have a good time and made sure everyone around him had one as well.

• Donations in his memory will benefit The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation and their research for a cure. 

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If you wish to donate by phone, please call (888) 936-6731 and speak with Laurie Kikel. If you wish to donate by mail, send check to:

• CCF – In honor of
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