Mentorship [Part 1]

It is better either to be silent or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few. - Pythagoras

Do it big, do it right, and do it with your style. - Fred Astaire

If there isn't any solution, it's not a problem. It's a situation.

- David Leddick

The young always have the same problem how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another. - Quentin Crisp [mentor to my cousin]

‘The predestination to discover the Southern Cone and beaches of Uruguay came from an opportunity presented to me by my second cousin David Leddick. The Sumner - Leddick ancestry comes from the same conservative Midwest Michigan roots. Our synergy as former Naval Officers seeking creative career paths seemed to gain momentum in the late 1990’s resulting in a close relationship similar to Japan’s Senpai & Kohai system. Roth Sumner Leddick, David’s older brother, was a highly decorated war veteran, submariner of a Command in Hawaii as well as a U.S. Naval Academy Graduate. Matthew Sumner Leddick was a model - The Winston Guy - who helped teach me to paddle out after buying my first surfboard in Middletown, Rhode Island.’ - Baja California Sur Blogpost > La Playa Bikini [July 27th, 2019]

The loss of David Leddick in 2023 weighs heavy on those of us who were fortunate to spend quality time with this luminary.

Second Cousin David was most often eloquent yet had a flippant wild side when needed.

In the early 1980’s I was introduced to a man in West Greenwich Village, New York City who would later have a significant impact on my life.

David passed away this summer but his impact on my life remains eternal. In 2001 his investment in La Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo, Uruguay set up a renovation project and surf trip which crystallized my goals moving forward at 32 years of age.

Mentors are essential providing experience, process and the massive importance of self investment. David Leddick’s creative side as well as strict daily habits were nothing less than incredible. Worldwide friendships and always on the move, never to busy to help anyone in need.

Our relationship expanded on a special weekend was Thanksgiving of 2000 in Los Angeles, California. During this time I was fortunate to meet Santa Monica painter Don Bachardy and connect with family in Santa Ynez.

Entering his 70’s with great vigor David preferred the entropy within the old city in Montevideo yet his impetus was the reason for our personal discovery of Manantiales. During the summer of 2002 a proposal was given to assist with renovation of Casa Leddick on Calle Durazno given a background with some renovation [Jerome, Arizona project & framing / building]. My cousin was also 72 and requested a bodyguard for evenings as Uruguay was coming out of a hyper-inflationary depression set by the collapse of the Argentine Peso. Crisis > Opportunity.

Numerous surf trips back to the wild coasts of the Southern Cone / Rocha Uruguay helped set up boots on the ground research for the acquisition of our properties. We hope you will enjoy the eclectic design.

Tentative plans 2 meet with Architect Matin Gomez this January 2024 > build & design of our Playa Punta del Diablo style Lifeguard Towers.

God Speed - CAS

57. DO WE AGE BECAUSE WE ARE BORED? I think we may age because we do not have enough external stimulation in our environment. We are repeating a life pattern that does not require us to explore new possibilities. Our brains are not required to analyze and think about the projects which confront us. Even our bodies fall into a repetitive way of operating. We don’t have to go to new places or be led into new physical activities. I guess we are always confronted with these necessary choices between security and stimulation. Some of us cannot resist stimulation, others inertia.” 
― David Leddick, 90 Lessons to Learn from a 90-Year-Old: Wit & Wisdom

______________________________

David Leddick is known world-wide for his novels and homoerotic art books.   The author of the Lambda Award-winning books: “Naked Men” and “The Male Nude”, David Leddick has published no less than 27 works. His latest book is “I'm Not for Everyone. Neither Are You”, from Black Irish Press, Spring 2014.

 

Leddick has also written musicals with Andrew Sargent as composer: “The Secrets of the Chorus”, “Quentin and I’, “Presenting Gilda Lilly” and “RentBoy... The Musical”, are some of the shows in which he starred.

 

Previously he has been an officer in the U.S. Navy, danced at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, directed TV commercials and was the Worldwide Creative Director for Revlon at Grey Advertising and International Creative Director for L'Oreal at McCann-Erickson, Paris.

https://www.davidleddick.net/about