Family, friends remember legacy of David ‘Maria’

David Taitano Aldan, right, is pictured here with his wife Maria Nakatsukasa Aldan. (Contributed Photo)

David T. Aldan did not have a long list of accomplishments and records or medals to prove his mettle as a sportsman since he was just an average player who loved competing.

However, Aldan, known as David Maria because of his wife, the late Maria Nakatsuka, was considered to be among the first multi-sport athletes in the Commonwealth as he was also into basketball and soccer.

He won a few trophies in both team sports and they are already gathering dust in his former home in Afetnas in San Antonio.

Aldan, whose 20th death anniversary is being remembered today, was one of the first athletes that donned the CNMI colors as a swimmer in the inaugural Micronesian Games hosted by Saipan in 1969.

Aside from swimming, basketball, and soccer, Aldan was also into tennis and volleyball. He really loved the water with spear fishing being a favorite past time.

He spent years as a teacher at Marianas High School and later became among the pioneers at the former Fishing Authority, now the Division of Fish and Wildlife, that helped build the Smiling Cove Marina and the Sugar Dock.

But more than being an athlete, Aldan’s legacy could be seen in some of the projects he helped complete and the care he showed for the CNMI’s wildlife and their natural habitat. His contribution to the community could not be summed up in one story.

Aldan, who was born from a humble family in Alamagan and grew up in Pagan, was part of a CNMI delegation that negotiated with Palau in transferring 100 clams to replenish the depleting number in the Commonwealth and helped design the Smiling Cove Marina that was completed through a federal grant.

Gus Aldan said that his older brother grew up fishing, swimming, and riding the canoe. “That’s why he loves the water. He goes spearfishing during the time when there’s no proper scuba gear.”

Eleanor Cepeda, one of Aldan’s daughters, said her father really loved the ocean to the extent that his wish was to be buried at sea. “The ocean was a huge part of his life. But our mother did not want to do that.”

Aldan never finished college but could identify various species of birds and fishes and helped visiting marine biologists update their records.

“Our dad was also a taxidermist and preserved the birds in order for him to show it to the kids when he visited elementary schools. He always reminded kids to take care of the environment and the animals that live in it,” said Dee Cepeda, Eleanor’s twin sister.

Stanley Taisacan, who used to work with Aldan, said that it was always fun working with him at the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

“He was a resourceful person and among the first employees of Fish and Wildlife when it was still known as Fishing Authority. He pioneered most of the programs there and helped translate the names of the fishes to Chamorro and Carolinian.”