Dave Corrigan at the Grand Canyon (photo by Pam Corrigan)
Diana Smith
Dave Corrigan is no stranger to commitment and hard work. He is dedicated to his family and friends, loyal to his country, and generous with his time and expertise. Many of his contributions to the SaddleBrooke Hiking Club (SBHC) have been behind the scenes but beneficial to all its members.
Born in De Pere, Wis., Dave grew up working on dairy farms owned by his grandparents, aunts, and uncles and graduated from De Pere High School in 1966. As did many brave young men of his day, Dave enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969 as a combat infantryman, and he was awarded the Purple Heart. Upon his return home, Dave says he “needed a job,” which led him to the nascent field of computer programming.
Dave earned a business degree from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from Edgewood College in Madison. He received the designation of Certified Project Manager and spent the last 10 years of his career working for Land’s End, developing and maintaining the company’s website.
After retiring, Dave and his wife Pam vacationed in Arizona and discovered SaddleBrooke while visiting friends. He joined the SBHC and became a guide in 2012. Over the years, he served as vice president, president, and technical advisor. Dave continues to guide hikes, many in the Superstition Mountains. He previously organized a trip to Page, Ariz., and will return in April. Dave’s favorite area to hike is the Grand Canyon. At age 69, he, Pam, and their friend Ray Peale completed a north-to-south, rim-to-rim hike in a single day! Dave also works as a part-time hiking guide for Road Scholar, leading trips to Saguaro National Park and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
Three years ago, Dave helped form and lead a committee tasked with laying out a plan for SBHC’s technological goals over time. The implementation of ClubExpress into the SBHC website earlier this year was a major enhancement of the club’s ability to schedule and manage hikes. Dave is quick to point out that he was just one of many dedicated and talented people involved.
In past years, Dave has volunteered his time and technical expertise performing computer rehab for the Golden Goose Thrift Shop and teaching Excel classes for the Computer Club. He also built websites for SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters and Unit 49 and serves as webmaster for both.
An avid archer and accomplished bow hunter, Dave has harvested elk, moose, deer, bear, and turkey. He enjoys backpacking and fishing with friends in Wyoming and Colorado and scuba diving in Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Dave enjoys photography, both on land and underwater, and plays golf once or twice a week. Green Bay Packers fans, Dave and Pam, his wife of over 40 years, still have close ties to Wisconsin and visit several times each year, spending time with their son and three grandchildren.