David Pau Hin Yap, age 61, of Haverhill, passed away unexpectedly on December 29, 2024. He was the son of the late Fook Loong Yap and Rosie Lung.
Born, raised and educated in Malaysia, he attended the University of Waterloo in Canada.
David worked as an Information Technology Specialist in Houston for several years before moving to the Boston area, where he was employed as a Senior Technology Officer working for SBLI Insurance.
A firm believer in continuous learning, David made it a priority to stay informed about the latest advancements in technology. He consistently encouraged the colleagues he mentored to embrace curiosity and remain up-to-date. His dedication to staying current was clearly reflected in the quality of his work.
More than anything, David loved spending time with his beloved dogs, Bisou and Ollie. Whether he would take them on adventures in newly discovered parks and meadows or he would create clever puzzles to keep them stimulated, David adored his dogs. And, they loved him back. Bisou and Ollie would follow David wherever he would go - including spending hours laying at his feet as he played his vast repertoire of songs on his piano.
David was passionate about teaching himself new songs. He would regularly visit the local library to borrow music books with songs from the ‘80s and ‘90s and would patiently practice these tunes until perfected. For special occasions, he learned his friends’ favorite songs, gifting them special piano performances.
Along with his love of music, David was an avid swing dancer. He danced for more than 20 years and was part of a small dance troupe that performed at swing dance events. More recently, he enjoyed following swing dance events and communities around the US on-line.
David had a deep love for the Bess children: Caleb, Suzie and Ali. He would always proudly tell his medical team stories about them and their accomplishments. He caringly chronicled their childhoods through videos and photo collages capturing poignant moments they shared together.
David loved to explore and find new magical places to share with Janie. He carefully created detailed itineraries to ensure nothing was missed. Their adventures would take them to many different New England towns, which always featured Janie’s favorite activities including visits to horse farms, ice cream shops, and craft festivals.
David is lovingly survived by his significant other, Janie Bess and her family, Judy Bess, Carolyn Bess, Jim Moulton, Caleb Bess, Suzanna Bess and Alexandra Bess.
David was the dear brother of Vong Hin Yap and his wife Poh Lian Lim Yap, Susan Lam and her husband Peter Lam, the late Eddy Yap and his wife Siew Ling Yap. David was a fond uncle to his nephews and nieces, and will be lovingly remembered by his many cousins, relatives, friends and colleagues in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada and the United States.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 10AM. Relatives, friends and colleagues are kindly invited to attend.