Dave Flick constructed fairly a legacy in Los Gatos – The Mercury Information

When Los Gatos builder Dave Flick died suddenly on Oct. 21, he was in the prime of life, but he leaves a legacy in town that will not soon be forgotten.

Flick, who was 53, was well known in Los Gatos for his love of old things, restoring many of the town’s landmark buildings–one of which bears his name. “The Flick Building is at 37 E. Main St. It fell down during the [1989] earthquake and he rebuilt it,” Flick’s wife, Shari, said. “He also restored the old Sorenson Plumbing building at 21 and 23 W. Main.”

The Napa Style and Restoration Hardware sites on N. Santa Cruz Avenue, the Soda Works on College Avenue and the Purple Onion and Icing on the Cake buildings on Main Street are on the list as well.

“He was very interested in restoring the look and keeping the historic nature of the town,” former mayor Joanne Benjamin said. “He also did some fill-ins of property that had been vacant for years. He was a very fine builder and very supportive of town activities. And he always had a big smile on his face.”

In addition to his work in Los Gatos, Flick built new homes, primarily in Saratoga.

“In Saratoga most of his projects were new construction for top Silicon Valley executives,” longtime friend and builder Chris Blackwell said. “He set the bar for builders–he was a master at it. We did everything we could to equal him.”

Blackwell said evidence of Flick’s respect and friendship was shown when an estimated 800 people turned out for his Oct. 29 memorial service at Westgate Church in Saratoga. “He really helped everyone out,” Blackwell said. “He was a wonderful man.”

Flick’s love of old things started at a very young age. “Dave always had an interest in old things–abandoned houses, flea markets and the quality of things from the past. He was into modern architecture, but not as much. If it was new, he wanted to make it look old,” Shari said. “He was very artistic his whole life. As a child he made jewelry and stained glass. He even had his own potter’s wheel.”

Flick lived in Los Gatos for one year when he was a child, returning in the late 1970s to take up his lifelong career here.

Just prior to his death, Flick had another idea he thought would improve Los Gatos. “He was thinking of asking the town to sell off the Art Museum at 4 Tait Ave. and move it into the old library,” Shari said. “He thought it would function a lot better there. I know he mentioned it to the town.”

As the keeper of his legacy, Shari Flick says she will approach town officials with the idea. The town has yet to announce what will happen to the old library once the new one opens next February.

The Flicks were married for 25 years and knew each other for nine years before that. Shari says she’s been helped tremendously by a “great family and supportive friends.”

The cause of Flick’s death has yet to be determined and Shari said it could be some time before it’s known exactly what happened.

Memorial contributions in the name of Dave Flick may be made to the Museums of Los Gatos, 4 Tait Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030.