Dave Sotak, age 78, passed away surrounded by loved ones on March 12, 2026. He was born Stephen David Sotak on July 23, 1947 and was promptly never called "Stephen" by anyone who knew him ever again. Dave was the son of Steve and Wilma "Wig" Sotak. He was a man who built a large and loving family over those 78 years. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Nancy Sotak and brother Phil Sotak and wife Anne. He is survived by his daughter Ashley WIlliams and husband David, his son Adam Sotak and wife Tara, his son Jeremy Sotak and his partner Vicki Nelson, and his son Caleb Sotak and wife Amber. He is survived by his grandchildren Brandon Pearce, Cole Williams and his partner Hannah Hawley, Emily Williams, Quinn Boyce-James and their spouse Bailey Garvison-Krask , Gideon Sotak, Anders Sotak, Hattie Sotak, Bennett Sotak, Oliver Sotak, Cora Sotak, Oren Bernard, and Niall Bernard. He is survived by his great-grandchildren Brayden Pearce, Brently Pearce, and Ava Pearce. He is survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Family was not a simple matter of birth to Dave, and he is survived by Johnathan Frazier whom Dave loved as a son, Dana Georgiadis of Germany who was an exchange student in Dave and Nancy's home, and as a lover of animals he is survived by his pets Roux, Rosy and PurrC.
Dave was raised in Beckley and is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He attended Morris Harvey College and spent his summers traveling to live and work in Wildwood, NJ, where he made lifelong friends and cherished memories that stayed with him his entire life. Dave embraced and enjoyed life: cherishing friends from all walks of life, making new ones whenever he could, traveling, experiencing music, and sharing stories. These were habits he carried forward through his entire life. It was during these formative years he took a trip to Woodstock, New York and attended a music festival with 500,000 of his closest friends on a dairy farm - an experience that he never forgot. It was also during this time that he developed a true passion for civic engagement, a belief in the power of protests, speaking up for what he thought was right, and taking action whenever he could.
Dave held a variety of jobs throughout his life. He worked for Social Services for the state of West Virginia, UPS, he was the first Director of the Human Rights Commission for Beckley, worked with Raleigh County Sheriff Mangum as a Human Resource Officer, co-managed Elkin Distributors with his family, and then settled in with his work home and work family at New River Family Health Clinic in Scarbro. He started in the HR department there and retired as the CEO in 2013. While there he implemented programs to provide health insurance to the uninsured, increased pharmacy operations in the New River Health clinics along with assistance for indigent populations, dental programs, expansions of school health programs in Fayette County, and a retirement program for New River Health employees. During these years Dave also had terms serving as the Director of the Primary Care Association of WV and the Rural Health Association. Additionally during this time he and his family opened a small coffee shop dedicated to music and conversation named Jabberwock Cafe.
While he cared about his work, he loved his life outside of it. Dave found a love of soccer with his son Adam, and the love grew over the years watching his kids play and learn the game. He began coaching youth soccer eventually, and then became Assistant Coach for the Shady Spring High School boy's team and developed the Shady Spring girl's team where he coached for a number of years. He was always proud of watching the potential, growth, effort, and commitment of all his players over the years. He had a habit of seeing potential in things as well as people, and extended this to renovating and remodeling buildings and homes, sometimes with little more than a can-do attitude and vision that only he could really see.
Dave loved the water and you could often find him out on his boat or on the dock at Flat Top Lake. He loved going to his little camp at the Greenbrier River to fish and canoe. He loved family trips to the beach and getting into the ocean. He loved to dance with his wife. He loved to laugh, and even more he loved to make others laugh with his sharp and often irreverent wit. He generously gave his children that gift as well.
He was a generous man in general and never hesitated to open his door to anyone in need. He loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. He loved music of virtually every kind, but particularly Jazz. That love evolved into a love for New Orleans where he would go every year to attend Jazz Fest with friends and family. He loved life and lived it very well. He was loved deeply and will be missed and celebrated by the lives he touched.
Dave was a lung transplant recipient in 2020, and was diagnosed with cancer in 2023. The family would like to thank the family of the donor for the gift of these past 6 years, the Pulmonary department at Duke Hospital in general, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Todd in particular for every breath, the Oncology department at Duke Hospital in general and Dr. Hoimes in particular for fighting that fight, Gulf Family Clinic, Dr. Miller in particular for his steadfast and unwavering medical management, the Amedisys home health providers for helping him to get back up, Dr. Rajan, Kevin Adams, and staff at DaVita Dialysis Center for their loving professional care, and compassion, the EMTs and Staff at JanCare in general, Rachel Cornett in particular for so much of their help, the ER doctors, nurses, and staff at Raleigh General for being there for him on the roughest days, and the doctors, nurses and staff at Bowers Hospice House for the gentle care and consideration at the end.
Visitation for Dave will be held at Beckley Presbyterian Church on Saturday, March 21 from noon until 2:00 PM, the funeral service will begin at 2:00 PM with a reception being held afterwards in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers the family would like donations made to the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic and Assistance Foundation at <https://neworleansmusiciansclinic.org>, Hospice of Southern West Virginia at <https://www.hospiceofsouthernwv.org>, or his spiritual home Beckley Presbyterian Church.