When longtime Habitat Metro Denver supporter David Soister passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2023, his family knew they wanted to continue his commitment to building homes, communities, and hope. For David, Habitat for Humanity was never just about construction — it was about dignity, compassion, and the belief that every family deserves a safe and stable place to call home.
David’s connection to Habitat began in the late 1980s when he volunteered on a build in Albuquerque, N.M. His involvement deepened during Habitat for Humanity International’s 15th Anniversary Build in Northern California in 1991. That experience left a lasting impression.
“David was drawn to Habitat because he always believed in the idea that home ownership gives a family a sense of security and dignity,” shared his wife, Jacki. “He felt Habitat provides people with a home — not just a house.”
For more than three decades, the Soister family has faithfully supported Habitat Metro Denver, giving monthly even during leaner financial years.
“Our financial support of Habitat Metro Denver has never been in question,” Jacki said. “Even when our income was lower than usual, we never considered stopping.” David and Jacki’s consistent gifts are a remarkable testament to their long-term commitment as Habitat supporters.
The family began a new tradition in 2022 while David was still in the midst of his illness. They launched the David Soister Fund on his birthday as a way for family and friends to honor him every July 7. “We promised him we would continue it every year,” Jacki explained.
This past July, Jacki and her daughter Hannah added another meaningful dimension: they volunteered together at the Arvada ReStore, inviting supporters to “sponsor their wages” for the day.
“Volunteering was a wonderful experience for both Hannah and me,” Jacki said. “The time we worked felt productive and worthwhile. It added some joy to an otherwise hard day of remembrance. Hannah and I both knew her dad would have been especially pleased with how we commemorated his life on his birthday.”
Beyond his generosity, David was known for his deep compassion. A marriage and family counselor by profession, he spent his career walking alongside people in times of struggle, helping them find new paths toward confidence and hope. Jacki sees that same spirit reflected in Habitat’s mission: “David believed Habitat brought people similar hope and possibilities, and he would be proud that his legacy allows Habitat to continue in that mission.”
In his final year, David often shared a phrase that has become central to how his family and friends remember him: “Hope is an Open Door.” For him, it was both a reflection of faith and a belief in new beginnings.
“I believe David would view his Habitat legacy as one of the truest and most tangible expressions of that phrase,” Jacki said, “because Habitat provides new hope to families as they walk through the open door of their new home.”
Though David is no longer physically present on Habitat build sites, his spirit continues to inspire. “David was an extraordinarily generous person,” Jacki said. “He would have been thankful that his legacy encourages others to be generous as well, whether with their money or their time.”
Through the Soister family’s continued support — and through the open doors Habitat creates for families every day — David’s legacy of compassion, generosity, and hope lives on.
David’s legacy reminds us that generosity means seeing potential in others, especially when they’re facing uncertainty. Though it may have been quiet, his belief in people was unwavering. How might you carry that forward?
