David Confer
New York, Washington DC,
d.7.December.2020
Photo by Joel Gwadz
David Confer was a longtime, influential bike messenger, cyclist,
activist and organizer. He worked in Washington DC and New York
while making great contributions to the community and the culture.
Dave organized rides and races from alleycats to Critical Mass to
crit races and sprints. Many of his events served to build
community. He organized the Not Cool Bro Ride to raise awareness of
street harassment women often face while cycling. He organized
monthly Color of Cycling rides, to encourage greater diversity among
cyclists from various backgrounds and lines of work. Dave passed
away on December 7, 2020.
So here's the official deal, I have
cirrhosis of the liver. And I have a few months to live maybe
3 to 5 months. They're just complications that have been building up
for years, And I can't battle it any longer so I choose to bow out
at 52 I've lived a rich rich life full of joy and love. So I
bid you all good night. - David Confer
Just wanted to say thank you for everything you did for me
personally and for the community at large. Sorry for all the times
we butted heads in the peak of my young ignorance. You have been
truly impactful in my life and I'll always remember getting my first
bike built up in your living room. Hugs. - Ryusei Lizuka
Love you brother, and thank you for all those times you helped me
with my bike...and the good times in NY that one time for monster
track...be strong and god willing will see you soon 😤💪🏾✊🏾☮️🖤 -
Yillah Kareem
Fathom, I can only echo the sentiments before me. You’ll always be a
mentor in my mind. Imparting the fathom wisdom about music,
bikes, and your lust for life has always been inspirational.
Last time I saw you you were zooming down 2nd Avenue in the LES
about 5 years and when I lived in dc you were there to welcome all
the rug rat bikers. We haven’t spoken in a long time but know
that I stand in awe of your vigorous embrace of life on 2
wheels. I wouldn’t expect any different from DJ. Fathom.
Much love my brother from here to the other side, hope we can sprint
somewhere in the unknown. - Izzy MC
Thanks for being so kind, funny and positive. You’ve made such a big
mark on this community, we’re very lucky to have you. Such big
eternal love to you, may your transition be smooth and peaceful. The
world has been a brighter, better place with you in it. - Dayna
Heater
Well played, my brother. You done real good. I’m gonna be looking
for a good mechanic on the other side. And I expect a friend
discount! All love. - Andy Zalan
Although I feel such great sadness from this I can only pay the
utmost respect for this decision. Cherish the miles you've ridden
and the family you've made my friend. Ride in power always and I'll
catch you in the standby on the other side. ❤️🤜🤛 - Pablo Airaldi
Dave, I'm at a loss for words. We knew this was coming, but that
didn't make it hurt less.
You were one of a kind, a stand up guy, a friend to all and an
enormous asset to our community. You have left a hole in all of our
hearts, impossible to fill
Cate Cohen, I know your heart is broken. You were his rock and
you are stronger than you know. Remember that reaching out to
me or any of us, is encouraged. My heart goes out to you and
the rest of his family.
David Confer,
Rest in peace,
my friend
💔 - Melissa Fredrix
ride in peace David.. thank you for bringing the homies together.
you brought us a lot of good times and put the rep in for DC - Paul
Joyner
I am glad you are free from suffering. You were my friend. Rest In
Peace. Condolences to Cate, family and friends. He is going to be
dearly missed. - Corey Hilliard
I’ll never forget when I was at the hospital waiting for my IV
infusion with all my bike gear on. David Confer then walks into the
same waiting area. This was only the second or third time for him. I
thought to say “hi” but figured he wouldn’t remember me as most of
our interactions were at The Bike Rack or evening rides. David sat
down only a few chairs from me and we noticed each other. He
immediately came over to greet me and shoot the shit while we both
waited for our IV therapy. Not only did this make me feel part of
the DC cycling community but also just a bit more normal. I only
hope that interaction made him feel as normal as it did me. Our
appointments never lined up again, but every time we saw each other
after that we’d check in on each other.
David, you left an imprint on the DC cycling community that will
stand the test of time! Heck I knew of you while working in bicycle
repair before we even met. Keep the rubber side down. - Drew Hardy
Ride forever, Dave. We only passed at the many events together, and
never had a chance to talk in depth beyond a few greetings or
conversations. When I think of the bike culture in DC, your face is
always there at the forefront. - Keegan Bursaw
Dam bro 😟🙁☹🥺😭
Just remembering just hanging in ur place watching them videos u had
from the races in NY while advising me what to nd not to do to my
bike 😅 u will always be missed bro - Ovi Herrera
Rest peacefully 🚲 David Confer ... so kind and happy as though he
knew you for forever. That was my experience and it made me feel
comfortable around all the cool cycling boys and girls.
💔🖤💚 - Sheri Joyner
RIP & thank you for being so welcoming and kind. You’re the
reason I got my first fixie 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 rest easy 🕊🚲 - David
Martin
Wow... I started writing this today hoping it would bring you some
joy. Hoped you would’ve had more time with us, but now you’re at
peace. I was just thinking about you this morning when Faith No More
played. I was always reminded of you when I saw the We Care A Lot
music video. First thought you were in it. I first thought this
after you left The Bike Rack one summer and Bradley Saaks introduced
me to this song/video. You did care a lot about the DC bike
community and your friends. See you later. - Drew Hardy
Dave was one of those people who went out of his way to make you
feel welcome and accepted. His magnetic energy and ability to bring
together cyclist was uncanny. The DC bike community lost a Legend.
You be missed but you will never be forgotten. Thanks for all the
great memories and always being a great friend. Until I see you
again brother.
RIDE IN PEACE — DeLorean Shane
I met David Confer for the first time at the Crystal City Diamond
Derby. He introduced himself told me about all the group rides and
cycling events in DC. Because of my job at the time I couldn't make
it for several months. I finally show up to a DC Bike Party
and he comes up to me and offers me a beer. I was knew to the game
and was a bit worried he goes, "no ones going to bother you here"
all the while it felt like every person that came on the ride came
just for him. Person after person going out of their way to say
hello. Introducing himself to people he had never seen. There's
something to say about a person who can bring people from different
backgrounds together. You fought a good fight brother. You will be
missed. And to his long time partner Cate Cohen thank you for
sharing his light with us. - Girrard Ford
There was an interview with Q-tip of Tribe Called Quest about how he
met Phyfe and formed one of the greatest hip-hop groups ever
recorded..This sample has the gist of how things happen like magic
when one meets a great friend like David. R.I.P. David Confer -
Corey Hilliard
Last time I hung with David Confer was at Philly NACCC and I can’t
ask for a better memory. Bunch of us got together to cook a huge
meal together at our airbnb where Andrew Escobedo made his killer
enchiladas. David was worried if he had brought a good red
wine for the occasion or not. What a sweetheart always so full of
love and good chat. What an extraordinary day. Love you guys. -
Becky Wise
Councilmember Charles Allen
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To honor the memory of David Confer and recognize his many
contributions to the District.
WHEREAS, David Confer was a lifelong District resident, attending
Woodrow Wilson High School, graduating from Emerson Preparatory
School, and eventually setting in the H Street, N.E., neighborhood
in Ward 6;
WHEREAS, David was audio engineer in live show productions,
providing sound and various production services at venues including
The Anthem, 9:30 Club, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Warner Theatre, and
National Theater, through his work with the International Alliance
of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 22;
WHEREAS, David’s passion was bicycling, leading him to run Fathom
Custom Bikes out of his home in Ward 6, building custom bikes and
repairing bikes for everyone who came to him, at a cost they could
afford;
WHEREAS, David organized rides and races designed to welcome all
residents from across the District—including the Critical Mass D.C.,
the D.C. Bike Party, the Hole in the Wall Crit, and Showdown
Sprints;
WHEREAS, David created and organized the yearly Tour de Bike Lane
events for cyclists from across the District, to continue advocating
for bike lane commuting, including bringing together non-cyclists
who gathered along the 15th Street, N.W., bike lane with signs and
cheering, “thanks for riding a bike”;
WHEREAS, David and a friend organized the Not Cool Bro Ride in 2016,
to raise awareness of street harassment women often face while
cycling and to encourage men to hold each other accountable for how
they treat women—on and off bikes;
WHEREAS, David started monthly Color of Cycling rides, to encourage
greater diversity among cyclists from various backgrounds and lines
of work, starting all rides at the African American Civil War
Memorial and ending each ride at a different neighborhood
restaurant, encouraging cyclists to explore areas of the District
that they might not otherwise;
WHEREAS, in 2017, David was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a
type of cancer, continuing to ride and repair bikes nearly every day
while in treatment;
WHEREAS, in 2019, David was diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis, spending
much of the next year and a half in hospitals and on ventilators as
his liver failed;
WHEREAS, on December 7, 2020, David Confer passed away, leaving a
legacy of love, unity, and compassion for all of those who knew him;
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
resolution be cited as the “David Confer Memorial Ceremonial
Resolution of 2021”.
The Council honors David Confer’s memory, recognizes his years of
work to promote bike commuting and create a more diverse and
thoughtful biking community in the District, and expresses
condolences to David’s family and loved ones. This resolution shall
take effect upon the first date of publication in the District of
Columbia Register
This
Washington D.C. Cyclist Is Dying of Cirrhosis. Here’s How You Can
Help
“HE’S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO JUST BRINGS EVERYONE TOGETHER.”
Bicycling!, November 25, 2020
The Washington, D.C. bike community is preparing to say goodbye to
one of its most beloved cyclists. David Confer, 52, a local bike
shop owner, mechanic, and prominent ride and race organizer, is
dying from cirrhosis.
Even if you don’t know him personally, you’ve probably ridden with
Confer, if you’ve done any sort of social ride, alley cat, or crit
race in Washington, D.C. He’s recognizable by his fun-loving
personality and custom track bike (and quite often, a neon pink wig
on permanent loan from his partner).
“If there was something happening with a bike here in the district,
he was there,” Cate Cohen, Confer’s longtime partner, told
Bicycling.
In March 2019, Confer woke up one morning violently vomiting blood,
his first indicator of severe liver failure. He wound up in the ICU,
where he spent a few days on a ventilator.
Confer’s team of doctors determined that he needed a liver
transplant, and through many hospital trips and procedures, they
tried to maintain Confer’s health as best they could. Confer was
also in remission from cancer, having been diagnosed with
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in early 2017—but his doctors convinced him
that a transplant was still possible.
When Confer ended up back in the ICU this September, a different
doctor, who Cohen described as “wonderful” and “compassionate,” was
more forthcoming about Confer’s actual odds: He’d only ever had a
five-percent chance of receiving a transplant, and likely had two to
three months left to live.
more...
Embedded
Bias: How Medical Records Sow Discrimination
Kaiser Health News, November 14, 2022
David Confer, a bicyclist and an audio technician, told his doctor
he “used to be Ph.D. level” during a 2019 appointment in Washington,
D.C. Confer, then 50, was speaking figuratively: He was experiencing
brain fog—a symptom of his liver problems. But did his doctor take
him seriously? Now, after his death, Confer’s partner, Cate Cohen,
doesn’t think so.
Confer, who was Black, had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
two years before. His prognosis was positive. But during
chemotherapy, his symptoms—brain fog, vomiting, back pain—suggested
trouble with his liver, and he was later diagnosed with cirrhosis.
He died in 2020, unable to secure a transplant. Throughout, Cohen,
now 45, felt her partner’s clinicians didn’t listen closely to him
and had written him off.
That feeling crystallized once she read Confer’s records. The doctor
described Confer’s fuzziness and then quoted his Ph.D. analogy. To
Cohen, the language was dismissive, as if the doctor didn’t take
Confer at his word. It reflected, she thought, a belief that he was
likely to be noncompliant with his care—that he was a bad candidate
for a liver transplant and would waste the donated organ.
For its part, MedStar Georgetown, where Confer received care,
declined to comment on specific cases. But spokesperson Lisa Clough
said the medical center considers a variety of factors for
transplantation, including “compliance with medical therapy, health
of both individuals, blood type, comorbidities, ability to care for
themselves and be stable, and post-transplant social support
system.” Not all potential recipients and donors meet those
criteria, Clough said.
Doctors often send signals of their appraisals of patients’
personas. Researchers are increasingly finding that doctors can
transmit prejudice under the guise of objective descriptions.
Clinicians who later read those purportedly objective descriptions
can be misled and deliver substandard care.
Discrimination in health care is “the secret, or silent, poison that
taints interactions between providers and patients before, during,
after the medical encounter,” said Dayna Bowen Matthew, dean of
George Washington University’s law school and an expert in civil
rights law and disparities in health care.
Bias can be seen in the way doctors speak during rounds. Some
patients, Matthew said, are described simply by their conditions.
Others are characterized by terms that communicate more about their
social status or character than their health and what’s needed to
address their symptoms. For example, a patient could be described as
an “80-year-old nice Black gentleman.” Doctors mention that patients
look well-dressed or that someone is a laborer or homeless.
The stereotypes that can find their way into patients’ records
sometimes help determine the level of care patients receive. Are
they spoken to as equals? Will they get the best, or merely the
cheapest, treatment? Bias is “pervasive” and “causally related to
inferior health outcomes, period,” Matthew said.
Narrow or prejudiced thinking is simple to write down and easy to
copy and paste over and over. Descriptions such as “difficult” and
“disruptive” can become hard to escape. Once so labeled, patients
can experience “downstream effects,” said Dr. Hardeep Singh, an
expert in misdiagnosis who works at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans
Affairs Medical Center in Houston. He estimates misdiagnosis affects
12 million patients a year. Conveying bias can be as simple as a
pair of quotation marks. One team of researchers found that Black
patients, in particular, were quoted in their records more
frequently than other patients when physicians were characterizing
their symptoms or health issues. The quotation mark patterns
detected by researchers could be a sign of disrespect, used to
communicate irony or sarcasm to future clinical readers. Among the
types of phrases the researchers spotlighted were colloquial
language or statements made in Black or ethnic slang.
“Black patients may be subject to systematic bias in physicians’
perceptions of their credibility,” the authors of the paper wrote.
That’s just one study in an incoming tide focused on the variations
in the language that clinicians use to describe patients of
different races and genders. In many ways, the research is just
catching up to what patients and doctors knew already, that
discrimination can be conveyed and furthered by partial accounts.
Confer’s MedStar records, Cohen thought, were pockmarked with
partial accounts—notes that included only a fraction of the full
picture of his life and circumstances.
Cohen pointed to a write-up of a psychosocial evaluation, used to
assess a patient’s readiness for a transplant. The evaluation stated
that Confer drank a 12-pack of beer and perhaps as much as a pint of
whiskey daily. But Confer had quit drinking after starting
chemotherapy and had been only a social drinker before, Cohen said.
It was “wildly inaccurate,” Cohen said.
“No matter what he did, that initial inaccurate description of the
volume he consumed seemed to follow through his records,” she said.
Physicians frequently see a harsh tone in referrals from other
programs, said Dr. John Fung, a transplant doctor at the University
of Chicago who advised Cohen but didn’t review Confer’s records.
“They kind of blame the patient for things that happen, not really
giving credit for circumstances,” he said. But, he continued, those
circumstances are important—looking beyond them, without bias, and
at the patient himself or herself can result in successful
transplants.
more...
