Today we honor the passing of a community legend. David Littleton, also known to his students and co-workers as Balu, quietly passed away on the morning of July 11th due to complications from Lung Cancer. Born and raised in Houston Texas, he would eventually go on to graduate from E.A. Kemp High School in the nearby city of Bryan. It was during those formative years he developed his sense of justice and social activism. Never a fan of bullying, he would stand up to those taking advantage of the less fortunate and downtrodden.

After graduation, he would go on to attend college at Humboldt State University, where he was a Running Back on the undefeated 1960 football team, as well as a member of the fencing team. It was a knee injury he suffered while with the football team that would keep him out of the Vietnam War, and subsequently lead him into the newly formed Peace Corps. After a short stent serving in Asia that included stops in Laos and Indonesia, he would return to California to find work. He spent a few years working for the state and began his teaching career at McClymonds High School in Oakland. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from the University of California Berkeley shortly after arriving at the Pittsburg Unified School District in 1971. He served as a teacher, football coach, track coach and faculty advisor to the Black Student Union. As advisor to Pittsburg High Schools Mock Trial teams in the late eighties and early nineties, he helped young students hone their ability to think logically and objectively, which resulted in high placements at local and state competitions. His passion and dedication to his students earned him multiple 'Teacher of the Year' Awards at Pittsburg High, an honor he held in very high regard as the students were the ones that made the selection each year.

The proud Humboldt State alumnus ferried countless students from Pittsburg to Arcata on visitations trips to the University, with the goal of getting each of those students enrolled and eventually receive their four-year degrees. In addition to Pittsburg High, David spent time teaching on weekends and after-hours for Laney College in Oakland and College of Alameda. He retired as a fulltime teacher in 2004, but with teaching so deeply engrained in his blood, he would go on to substitute for the Pittsburg Unified School District until 2022—serving the community as an educator for over 50 years.

His greatest passions were teaching, reading, music, movies and cigarettes. His love for music was so great, he was the member of a local band for over ten years.

David is survived by his four children, Djamal, Daud, Djenne and Djuani, and granddaughter, Genevieve.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Pittsburg Funeral Chapel.