The community of Clinton last week lost a man who touched the lives of countless people across DeWitt County and central Illinois.

David Torbert passed away Monday, February 15 at the age of 36 and friends and colleagues are remembering him for the impact he had on so many across Clinton. Torbert was involved in so many facets of the community from his time working at the Clinton Journal writing sports to his time at Baum Chevrolet Buick in Clinton and most recently impacting the community's young people as Youth Program Director at the Clinton YMCA.

Y Executive Director Rennie Cluver says Torbert was very passionate about his work through the YMCA and recalls just how happy he was every day to come in do what he was doing.

Torbert was frequently heard on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW through his roles with the Y, the DCDC and provided color commentary for Maroons sports with Jared White. White says you won't find a bigger fan of the Clinton Maroons than Torbert.

Lance White, who served on the DeWitt County Development Council Board with Torbert, recalls how Torbert had a desire to know everyone's story and made an easy connection with everyone. White says while it is easy to project what was coming for Torbert, White believes Torbert had already accomplished so much. 

Torbert grew up in Clinton spending his early years at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago overcoming insurmountable health complications with a smile on his face and a prank in his back pocket for nurses and doctors alike.

In high school, he was a member of the Clinton High School golf team, working as a sportswriter for the local newspaper and officiating youth soccer and basketball games at the Clinton Community YMCA.

He and his wife, Rachel (Baum) were high school classmates and college sweethearts. The pair married in 2008.

Using his writing and communication talents in a variety of jobs, David settled in as the Youth and Adult Sports Program Director for the Clinton Community YMCA, where he served as the Camp Osage director and coordinated all youth sports programs. Teaching and coaching youth basketball, football and soccer, and instilling a love of sport, sportsmanship and Christian principles of the YMCA, was a task he dearly loved.

David’s family, wife and daughter, and friends, were a top priority, and he expressed his love often, always flashing a million-dollar smile and willing to drop anything to help a friend or family member in need.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and current public health directives, a private memorial and graveside service for family and invited guests will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at Calvert Funeral Home, in Clinton. Given David’s love of youth sports and his affinity for nurses and doctors who saved his life as a child, the family requests any memorial donations be made to Clinton Community YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign, 417 S. Alexander St., Clinton, IL 61727 and Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, 225 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

A public celebration of life will follow at the Clinton Community YMCA this summer.