Dave Zawicki
In July of 1998 Dave "JZGalt" arrived here on the AIM BB to begin what later appeared to be a blitz of posts on the potential of AIM relative to his favorite topic of "Confirmatory Analysis."
Message 5154592
His intriguing "Handle" of JZ Galt caught the attention of many of us who are graduates of the Ayn Rand school of Objectivism. Although new to our AIM thread, Dave had been a member of Silicon Investor for over a year. He jumped right in wanting to know about SAFE (Resistance) adjustments to AIM and how they affected overall performance and "burn rate" of the cash reserve.
Dave had been looking at the terrible bashing that the oil sector was taking because of global economic recession and had decided that maybe AIM was the proper was to handle the slide and recovery of the oil service sector.
Mr. Lichello and the Idiot Wave had cautioned Dave that market risk was high and that he should use plenty of cash in his account to begin his AIM experiment. However, Dave had decided based upon his modeling that AIM was too conservative to give good total return if fat cash reserves were used. Because he was kind enough to show his results to us we were able to watch over his shoulder as AIM spent his Cash Reserve dry in very short order.
This didn't bother our good friend as he knew from the start that this was an experiment and continued to post results periodically. Unfortunately this portfolio didn't start to breathe again until nearly a year later. I know Dave won't mind my recounting all this as he did it as much for his own education and experience as for anyone who was willing to read along.
Not letting this initial disappointment get him down, he looked next at the reemergence of the technology sector and jumped on the sector. Here Dave's very interesting selection and confirmation analysis came into view for all to witness. He was never sure if AIM was the correct way to manage his investments as his style required regimentation only in the selection phase not so much in the management phase.
Dave's shining colors shown through.
Many here on the AIM BB began to realize that Dave was picking extraordinary companies as investments and also as AIM picks - even if he didn't adhere closely to AIM's suggestions himself. I'm sure there are many here on this board who have had a nice dinner out on the added value that they gained from Dave's assistance. Thank you Dave for all your hard work and your willingness to let us all evesdrop on your thinking.
What was unknown to most of us was that he was also attempting to win on another front. He was battling cancer. At way too young an age he had fought the first round with apparent success and had renewed his efforts as a family man, business person and investor. Having watched at close range what cancer does to someone I know at least a bit of what he had experienced.
In a letter to me during the Christmas holiday Dave said,
"I have to commend the AIM group you started as one of the more hospitable on the SI listing and the first one I go to. After that brief foray into the oil service industry, things that I have written here and elsewhere have hopefully brought some eye openers to the group of readers."
Yes, Dave. You succeeded in opening many eyes to your way of seeing things.
It seems that investors tend to be an optimistic lot. We can sometimes let that optimism fog our thinking. AIM has done quite a lot to help that and Dave showed us a way to sort out good ideas from bad before we invest.
Here are some final words from Dave - a man I never had the pleasure of actually meeting face to face:
"Chemotherapies and drugs are leaving me rather unclearheaded. Short term memory really stinks right now, but luckily these are problems I can deal with. The spread of the cancer to other places is going to be a problem which we can aggressively treat. 1999 gains in the market are going to be spent towards getting me well. In 1999, it was very hard to lose money, but the point of money is to do good, so if I can regain my health, the money is not a problem.
"Being in the hospital is quite a reality check also. I move around in groups outside of SI where $1MM isn't a big deal and yet I can get along with nurses, aides and other people who have yet to use the internet to leverage their position. I have a nurses aide who wants to go to Boston in January and I showed her how to go to the local library and buy an e-ticket for about 50% off of what she was quoted over the phone.
"It did cost her. I told her that when she learned how to use the net, that she had to teach others. Seems fair to me. <grin>
"Best wishes for you and yours.
Dave"
Still teaching at the end.
My sympathies to your family.
Tom |
