David comes from a long line of Sun Devils, and truly embodies the mantra of being a Sun Devil For Life. David is a proud and strong philanthropic supporter of Sun Devil Hockey. The Svob family legacy will live on in perpetuity through the establishment of an endowment in the family name. We asked David a few questions about why he supports Sun Devil Athletics:
In what ways are you connected to ASU? I have been connected to ASU my whole life. I was born a Sun Devil and am a 1982 Sun Devil graduate. I attended nursery school on campus while my father, Art Svob, pursued a degree in Architecture. My grandfather, Robert Svob, was a lifelong fixture at ASU. My grandfather’s wife Nadine Svob also graduated from ASU and my mom, Ann Svob Marker, is an ASU retiree. I was in recent conversation with my grade school crush from Bethlehem, PA - we were discussing if our paths would have been different had my family stayed in PA and completed high school. Where would I have gone to college? I told her there would be no doubt, I would have gone to Arizona State University, I was going to be a Sun Devil no matter what!
What does it mean to you to be a Sun Devil and be a part of the Sun Devil Family? How does it help connect you with your community? I have been afforded the ability to live many places - Seattle, Denver, Tulsa, San Diego, Bay Area – and the one constant keeping me connected to ASU is the Alumni Chapters. Shout out to Orange County Alumni Chapter! Great diverse chapter family! Being a proud Sun Devil is what grounds me in life! I travel to Tempe often, each trip pretty much always involves a Sun Devil sporting event.
Why do you think it is important to support student-athletes and Sun Devil Athletics? Life is tough enough - kudos to all those athletes pursuing their dreams. Sacrifice, dedication and determination to survive and excel in the complexities of life. Seeing all ASU athlete representatives, whether pro or Olympic, excel and rise to the top, just warms my heart! That is why support is important!
Why did you, and what motivated you (and your family), to create an endowment? The endowment is about those that have come before me and hopefully Svobs to come after. Robert Svob, after his retirement from ASU Physical Plant, was a part-time Athletic Department employee who looked after the grounds of Whiteman Tennis Center and Sun Angel Track. I have directed the endowment to support the Sun Devil Hockey program.
Why hockey? I chose the hockey program because the Multi-Purpose Arena which will house the hockey program is being built on the very grounds where my grandfather walked, worked and enjoyed his later years. The new arena will also include a community sheet of ice. My grandfather and my father both served as Tempe City Council members and I had the opportunity to serve in the Tempe community as a Parks & Recreation board member. My nephew Robert Svob, who also bears my grandfather’s namesake, is also a pretty good hockey player in Southern California. Robert’s interest in the sport developed from the community sheets of ice in Southern California! As one has to look to the future and not only the past - this is why I chose Sun Devil Hockey. Additionally, this was a way that I could leave a lasting legacy while honoring my family's contribution to the City of Tempe and Arizona State University.
What is your vision for your endowment? My vision is to continue to grow the endowment over the next 10 years to where it benefits an annual scholarship. I like a challenge - it will get done!
Describe the most exciting game/Sun Devil moment you’ve experienced. There have been so many! 1977 was a special year with baseball and track winning national titles, but hands down The Catch in the Territorial Cup to beat the Cats to propel the Sun Devils to the 1975 Fiesta Bowl was the best. Just doesn’t get any better!
If you could have dinner with any Sun Devil student-athlete/coach/staff member from the past or present, who would it be and why? Charlie Taylor. As a young kid living in Bethlehem, PA awakening with sports idols was through trading cards. Charlie Taylor provided that ASU connection for me as he was the closest (Washington Redskins) idol in proximity to where we lived. For me, it was Charlie who started the fine and long pipeline of terrific receivers coming out of Arizona State!
The Sun Devil Club would like to thank David for his continued support of Sun Devil Athletics. For more information on ways to get involved with the Sun Devil Club, please contact us.