He never chased titles or the spotlight. He simply followed his instincts— toward purpose, connection, and service. Along the way, he built something lasting: a life full of meaningful moments and a legacy that continues to ripple through every cause, community, and person he’s touched.
Music Is the Key
Dave was just five when he first sat down at a piano. Soon came the bass, cello, and percussion—each one expanding his world. By high school, music wasn’t just a passion; it was a side hustle. He was playing gigs and getting paid. At Oberlin College, his talent helped cover tuition.
Today, Dave doesn’t play professionally, but music is still central to who he is. He calls himself a music enabler—someone who helps others find joy, connection, and meaning through it.
And for Dave, music was only the beginning.
Jamming with Pete Seeger—and Finding Purpose
While at Oberlin, Dave attended a Pete Seeger concert—and it changed everything. After the show, he ended up in an impromptu jam session with the folk legend. What he walked away with wasn’t just a memory, but a deeper understanding: music could be protest, healing, and connection—all at once.
“The words had meaning,” Dave says. “It was a movement that spoke to everything I cared about—belonging, justice, recognizing the needs of marginalized people.”
From that moment on, music wasn’t just something he played. It became the language of what he stood for.
Two Way Street: Where Music Meets Service
That realization led to one of Dave’s most lasting contributions: the founding of Two Way Street Coffee House.
Launched in 1970 out of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Downers Grove—and inspired by a cozy, culture-rich venue he loved in college—Two Way Street was designed to be more than a place for live music. It was a space where people could come together through music, conversation, and community.
At a time when the country felt divided by the Vietnam War, it became a refuge for young people—a place to be themselves, be heard, and find the support they needed, whether emotional, physical, social, or legal.
“Music was the hook,” Dave says. “But service was the soul.”
Volunteers didn’t wait for instructions—they simply showed up and started helping. “Eventually, the broader community got involved in a more official way,” Dave recalls.
More than 50 years later, Two Way Street still welcomes musicians from around the world. It’s a living legacy of Dave’s belief that music, at its best, brings people together.
“It’s truly hard to put into words the impact Dave has had on so many folk musicians, fans, and communities,” says Joel Simpson, co-director of Two Way Street Coffee House.
Retirement as a New Beginning
After a 30-year career in marketing, Dave took early retirement in 1991—not to slow down, but to focus on what mattered most.
Freed from the demands of corporate life, he poured his energy into music, service, and community. He began booking festivals, supporting nonprofits, and stepping into leadership roles—not for recognition, but because the work needed doing. And he’s done it all as a volunteer.
This summer, Dave once again led Rotary GroveFest, where he’s served as lead entertainment producer since the event began in 2010. Before that, he held the same role for its predecessor, Heritage Fest—for 28 years.
But Dave’s impact extends well beyond the stage. He’s a longtime civic leader in Downers Grove, having served more than 20 years on the Public Library Board and a founding board member of EQDG (EQuality Downers Grove), an organization that advocates for a more inclusive community. He’s also contributed his time and talents to the Downers Grove Community Kitchen, the Mental Health Advisory Committee of DuPage County, and the DuPage Board of Health—just to name a few.
Today, Dave continues to lead and serve at Oak Trace, where he raises funds, mentors fellow residents, and plays an active role in shaping the community he now calls home. He chairs the Oak Trace Foundation Advisory Committee and leads fundraising for several key initiatives—including an emergency fund for team members, and a general use fund for special campus projects.
Dearest to Dave is the team member scholarship fund, which awards tens of thousands of dollars each year to support continuing education. Thanks to his passionate and relentless efforts to encourage fellow residents to give, Oak Trace had a record-breaking fundraising season this spring. Under Dave’s leadership, the Advisory Committee helped raise nearly $57,000—more than double the previous year’s total. That amount was then matched with an additional $20,000 from the Foundation’s general fund, bringing the total to an impressive $77,000.
“This year, 19 Oak Trace team members were awarded scholarships to pursue higher education,” says Dan Harrington, Executive Director of Oak Trace. “Dave is deeply involved at Oak Trace, where he chairs our Foundation committee and leads fundraising for several key initiatives. His work makes a direct and lasting impact on our campus and our culture.”
Ask Dave about his leadership style, and he won’t speak to power dynamics. He talks about people.
“I make friends, make suggestions, listen, and find ways to partner together to get things done,” he says.
Leading Quietly. Impacting Loudly.
From a five-year-old learning piano to a quiet force behind community change, Dave Humphreys has never sought the spotlight—but his impact is impossible to miss.
He’s a trailblazer not driven by ambition, but by purpose. By people. And by the countless lives he’s lifted along the way.