David was more than just an editor. He was the voice of Risk Waters’ New York publications, and the guiding hand behind Waters magazine, the technology newsletters and the market data reference products. David left Dow Jones in 1990 to start FX Week. Two years later, he launched Waters magazine, then took on the New York-based newsletters and reference products. Not surpisingly, David accumulated three fat rolodexes and countless e-mail contacts. Need a name? Ask David.

That is, when you could catch him. More often than not, David was bouncing around the office, running between meetings. He’d arrive in a whirlwind of energy and only alight at his desk to hunch over his e-mail. The ultimate multi-tasker, David’s eye was always on the products. His edits were strong but he had a clear vision of what he wanted: concise, focused and interesting stories.

David also brought a distinctive style to the content and design of his publications, particularly Waters. To him, the magazine’s graphic design set it apart from its competitors as much as its content did. We all learned a lot from him – not just about this industry but what it means to be a journalist. He certainly set an example. David spent many weekends tapping furiously on his laptop while listening to Emmylou Harris or Chocolate Genius. It's a sound – and a presence – we deeply miss.