MEET 2023 NCHS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE, DAVID S. VONNEGUT GABOVITCH
NCHS CLASS OF 1977
David S. Vonnegut Gabovitch is a lifelong Washington Township resident who has dedicated his life to making our community a better place. In 2010, David co-founded BRICS (Broad Ripple Ice Cream Station) as a way to help enrich the community he’s loved for so many years. He also has a passion for philanthropy and has used his skillset in a variety of different community leadership positions around the Indianapolis area, helping to support our residents, the environment, the arts, and more.
BUILDING A FAMILY AT NORTH CENTRAL
Looking back, David S. Vonnegut Gabovitch is proud of the standard of academic excellence North Central provided for him and his four siblings, who all graduated from NC.
His core memories include meeting his wife, Nonie as a student at NC as well as participating in Learning Unlimited. Learning Unlimited was a program funded by a Lilly Endowment grant and in its infancy stages in the 1970s. David recalls, “LU was like a school within a school. It was an alternative way to learn. We worked on projects that incorporated all aspects of learning.” David and a few of his classmates worked on a political campaign for Andy Jacobs who served as a legislator and Congressman. He fondly remembers meetings where groups of ten kids were put in a family. The family groups met together and had a special bond.
“NC and especially Learning Unlimited encouraged us to have ownership over our learning, we had to be responsible and manage our time well. It helped me be a self-starter.”
A LIFE DEDICATED TO GIVING BACK
David credits his parents as big influencers as they passed down to him the importance of community and philanthropy by encouraging him to be generous with his time and money. It is clear that the disposition of the community and philanthropy has held strong in David’s heart and mind as he has held over 12 different offices within the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis. His community involvement is deep and wide and extends to serving as President of the Mental Health Association for Marion County, Treasurer for People of Urban Progress and Indiana Recycling Coalition, and serving on the Board Member for the Indianapolis Art Center.
Making his home in Broad Ripple, David strives to make Broad Ripple Village a vibrant, safe and desirable place. The Monon trail attracts a wide variety of people and David desires to share his love of ice cream at BRICS (Broad Ripple Ice Cream Station) which opened in 2010. He has worked diligently with the City of Indianapolis to restore the original train station depot by maintaining its original character to hold its special place in Indianapolis history.
David’s time as the CFO at Browning for over forty years is noteworthy. However, it is his vast efforts and passion for community engagement that drove his nomination and induction into the North Central High School Alumni Hall of Fame.
To connect with David S. Vonnegut Gabovitch and learn more about his work, click here!
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