By Marcy Hege

Catching up with David Cottengim

Sometimes you find yourself meeting someone you’ve heard about for years and feel you should know but have never really talked to that person. Such was the case when I finally “caught” and interviewed David Cottengim, the president of Resources for Seniors, a private, non-profit organization started in 1973 to meet the needs of older adults in Wake County. Although David is known for his leadership and involvement in RFS, I knew about him through his love of fly-fishing. But more about his recreational love later.

As the elevator door opened to the fourth floor RFS reception area, I wasn’t quite prepared for the size of the offices. Resources for Seniors employs 140 and has a budget exceeding $8 million, quite an operation for a nonprofit agency. As we walked into Cottengim’s office, I could tell right away he was a people person and involved with his work as well as his family.

Born and raised in Winchester, Kentucky, Cottengim was drawn to South Carolina to further his education when he received a basketball/baseball scholarship. He returned to Eastern Kentucky University to earn a BS degree in Education and then continued with graduate studies in health education at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He’s also taken additional graduate courses at Tulane, Northwestern, Stanford and N. C. State University.

Cottengim was able to pinpoint the defining moment that guided him in his career path. David’s grandfather first took him fishing when he was nine years old. His grandfather taught him much about life, as well as making David an expert fly-fisher. In 1969, while David was in college, his grandfather had a series of strokes. David spent a lot of one-on-one time with his grandfather, assisting him with all kinds of activities. His grandfather was the first disabled person David knew but he also knew how much his grandfather appreciated his help.

When his grandfather passed away, “Something just clicked inside of me career wise,” Cottengim stated. He began working with the handicapped and elderly at a local hospital, even before he graduated from college. His work with Easter Seals brought him to North Carolina in 1974. Today, more than three decades later, he is still helping those who need assistance with their daily activities.

Craig Kincaid (left) and Cottengim are in fishing nirvana.

Cottengim noted several special accomplishments that have stood out in his professional career. While in Kentucky, he formed a physically handicapped rock band and saw them perform on television and at the University of Kentucky football post-game galas. He has helped to grow Resources for Seniors into the largest county-based aging agency in North Carolina and has helped implement sound financial controls to enable the agency to have staying power. Under his watch, four additional senior centers have been established in the county and RFS operates six Adult Day Care Centers. More important to him than any awards or honors, he is most honored by trying to help past and present RFS employees achieve their own professional goals.

From the photos (and the cut-out valentines) in David’s office, one can tell there are two very special little girls in his life. Logan and Laney, his twin granddaughters, are learning all about fishing from Cottengim. David and wife, Emily, live a few blocks from their son, Chris, daughter-in-law Jill, and the twins so those little girls get lots of time with their granddad. They’ve been fishing with him and are eager to go on a moment’s notice. Also living close by is his mother who moved here from Kentucky after David’s father passed away several years ago. Even David’s Kentucky childhood friend and fishing buddy, Craig Kincaid, has settled here in his retirement. The two of them plan to write a book about their fifty-plus years of fly fishing.

Besides being an avid fly fisher, Cottengim spends his “free” time restoring and building bamboo and graphite fly rods. I first heard his name several years ago when my husband was getting hooked on fly fishing. Cottengim has restored or built more than 1,600 rods, quite an accomplishment since the process requires patience, skill and time.

As for surprises in life, Cottengim was shocked when he was chosen from the audience one night at a David Copperfield performance. He was doubly surprised when Copperfield made him disappear from the stage.

According to Cottengim, “I have no definite plans for retirement, it will happen one day.” But, he does have a few things on his list! In addition to writing that fishing book, David plans to spend some time at his mountain place in Virginia. He’ll also continue his fly rod restoration and building, play some golf, watch his granddaughters grow up and do a bit of traveling. Being a volunteer with the Center for Volunteer Caregiving is also high on his list of retirement activities along with learning to play the piano.

Not yet ready for retirement, Cottengim does have a “to-do” list to keep him occupied for several years. He wants to help Wake County prepare for the services that will be required by baby boomers. He is also working with the GOLD Coalition to continue to help guide the implementation of the Wake County Aging Plan to meet the needs of the elderly population who are at most risk. Another goal is the re-establishment of a Voluntary Action Center for Wake County since he believes we cannot have a fully functioning community without centralized volunteer recruitment, placement and coordination. Cottengim would also like to support our troops, wherever they are and to find a cure for auto-immune diseases, diabetes and cancer.

I’m sure David Cottengim will keep working on his lists, be it helping others or building a better fly rod.