Kind Man Named Dave Who Took Care Of A Kid Memorialized In Viral Tweet Tale

A tribute to a man named Dave who just passed away is spreading around Twitter in recent days as users celebrate the life of a stranger and embrace a bit of good news.

The tweet thread by Jessie Renee (@jerenee), whose profile says she is a Ph.D. student at the University of California Davis studying toxicology, described the role Dave played in her life.

I responded “yeah, it’s a traditional Japanese poem consisting of 3 lines and in the pattern of 5-7-5 syllables.” I remember I had just written one in class. He freaked out and told me I was the smartest person he has ever met. I was literally like 8.

— Jessie Renee (@jreneebad) August 31, 2022

He took me to all the important things in my life. He became family. The closest thing to a father figure I’ve ever had honestly. He was my best friend. He saved my life. Tonight I got a call from his sister. He died unexpectedly from a (possible) heart attack @ around 1am.

— Jessie Renee (@jreneebad) August 31, 2022

Anyways. He’s gone. I’m probably gonna be a weirdo for a while. Sorry in advance. I just needed to get that out. There is so much more but I just know I would not be where I am without him.

— Jessie Renee (@jreneebad) August 31, 2022

Thank you to everyone for the kind words. I was not expecting anyone to even see this, but I am so so happy everyone knows how amazing he was. I will continue to fight and be a Dave in my life. And I pray that I can change someone’s life like he changed mine. ❤️

— Jessie Renee (@jreneebad) September 1, 2022

According to the tale, Dave stepped up to take care of Jessie because he saw she was in a troubling situation. Many people online found the story beautiful and encouraged others to “be a Dave,” leading the hashtag "#BeADave" to trend on the platform.

A beautiful tribute to a man who, with no obligation, chose to guard and guide a child when she had no one else to do so. She’s who she is and where she is today in great part to Dave. We don’t all get a Dave, I’m so happy for Jessie that she did. RIP Dave https://t.co/WDku7pCBxw

— SingleBabyMama (@_SingleBabyMama) September 1, 2022

RIP to a good and true man. All it takes is one person to show a child that they have worth. In a world of self-centered people, be a Dave. https://t.co/7WSx7PqS00

— ᴅᴀᴅᴅᴏ (@officerdaddo) September 1, 2022

Others, seemingly following an eternal human instinct, nitpicked over small details in the feel-good story and in the replies to it. A flock of Reply Guys congregated around the thread about a good guy as it continued going viral.

You realize haiku was just a conversation starter right? He's mind was made up long before then.

— Pharmate®💊 (@lancetcaster) September 1, 2022

Here it is with the title and attribution. Nice to credit the artist. pic.twitter.com/HC2OW0r35J

— Vivian 🇺🇦✊🏼🌼 (@VivianActivist) September 1, 2022

Some Daves were less than enthused about seeing “RIP Dave” and "#RIPDave," another hashtag inspired by the story, trending across Twitter.

It is a little bit unsettling that "RIP Dave" is trending on Twitter.

— Dave Hogg ✨ (@stareagle) September 1, 2022

Even so, many found the thread refreshing on a platform often defined by divisiveness and bad news. Several wished that they could see more content that calls to the best of who we are instead of our less-wholesome instincts.

In the end, the wholesomeness of Dave is a tale many users hoped will serve as an inspiration to everyone else.

This is one of those threads that keeps me on this hellsite against what often seems like my better judgment. Every now and then someone is willing to share their experience in such a beautiful way, and it opens people's hearts. It's a privilege to witness. RIP, Dave. https://t.co/78H09EXNKd

— Susieus Maximus (@SusieusMaximus) September 1, 2022

Dear Twitter, please replace all the celebrity gossip in my For You tab with this kind of content, thanks.

Be a Dave. https://t.co/8YzUdHDNch

— Dr. Karen James (@kejames) September 1, 2022

The fact that "RIP Dave" is trending tells me that people crave positive stories like this one. In a world where kindness is in short supply, be a Dave.

(So sorry for your loss.) https://t.co/cjPa7GSPg5

— Allison Rice, writer (@AlliRiceWriter) September 1, 2022