
David Reich Chadwick
February 9, 1945 – February 23, 2026
David Chadwick, Soto Zen priest, author, archivist, and one of the earliest disciples of Shunryu Suzuki, died on February 23, 2026 in Bali, Indonesia, where he had lived for the past thirteen years with his wife, Katrinka McKay. He was born on February 9, 1945 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Chadwick began practicing at San Francisco Zen Center in October 1966, at age twenty-one, after early involvement in civil rights work, left-wing student movements, and extended travel in Mexico and Latin America. In 1971, shortly before Suzuki Roshi’s death, he was ordained as a Soto Zen priest.
He was present at the founding and early development of Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, the first Soto Zen training monastery established outside Asia open to the public. During the formative decades of San Francisco Zen Center’s growth, he contributed to the development of its temples and enterprises, including Tassajara’s monastic and summer guest seasons, City Center on Page Street, Green Gulch Farm, and related community initiatives.
For more than fifty years, Chadwick dedicated himself to preserving and transmitting the life and teachings of Suzuki Roshi. His biography, Crooked Cucumber, remains the definitive account of Suzuki Roshi’s life and teaching and a foundational text for generations of practitioners in the Suzuki lineage. He also authored Thank You and OK!: An American Zen Failure in Japan (1994), chronicling his years living and practicing Zen in Japan from 1988 to 1992, his recent publication Tassajara Stories, as well as many other books, essays, songs, and oral histories.
Chadwick was the principal architect of the digital preservation of Suzuki Roshi’s legacy. Through Cuke.com and its affiliated archival sites, including extensive lecture transcripts, audio recordings, photographs, and historical materials, he created the central repository for the early history of San Francisco Zen Center and the living record of Suzuki Roshi’s teachings. He worked for decades with volunteers to collect, edit, digitize, and freely share these materials, ensuring that the voice and presence of his teacher would remain accessible worldwide.
His life reflected the currents of his generation: civil rights activism, antiwar and environmental work, participation in the 1980 Nuclear Freeze movement, and service in public initiatives including Governor Jerry Brown’s California Conservation Corps. Alongside his writing and archival work, he composed and recorded numerous songs.
After many decades in Northern California, in 2013 he moved to Bali with his fourth wife, Katrinka McKay, where he continued his writing, archival work, music, and prolific blog.
He is survived by his wife Katrinka McKay; by two sons from previous marriages, Kelly and Clay; and by generations of Zen students in the Suzuki Roshi lineage whose understanding of their teacher and tradition has been shaped by his devotion, memory, and care.
David Chadwick’s life was inseparable from the unfolding of Soto Zen in the West. Through his practice, writing, and preservation work, he served not only as a disciple of Suzuki Roshi, but as the primary historian of that transmission. His work stands as a record of gratitude and fidelity: to his teacher, to his community, and to the Dharma.












Many years ago, I read David’s book, Thank You and OK!: An American Zen Failure in Japan , early on in my Zen practice. I particularly recall a section in that book in which he offered a brief sketch of my teacher, Reverend Nonin Chowaney, who was studying in Japan at that time and was acquainted with David. I also, several years later, enjoyed his book, Crooked Cucumber. I found David’s writing engaging, informative and a pleasure to read.
In deep gassho to his memory and my heartfelt sympathy to his family.
David’s work is the reason I was able to persist in Zen practice when things were difficult for me decades ago when I started. We stayed in touch over email all that time. When I last heard from him in September, he was primarily concerned for my welfare, expressed gratitude for our enduring connection, and was excited about his current work. I will miss him, and I won’t, because what he gave me, his voice and vision, lives in my practice today. What an example he set for us all.
David visited Minnesota Zen Meditation Center many years ago. I had read Crooked Cucumber and felt the same delight meeting him in person that I had felt reading his book. When I think of David, I just smile in my heart. There was so much permission for the fullness of life to express itself around him. May the fullness of his life unfold in the bright unknown, and may his life be for a blessing, forever. Bowing all the way down with gratitude, Myo-O
David’s contributions to the continuation of Suzuki Roshi’s lineage are impossible to understate. But he was also very much a human being, with sense of humor and irreverence intact. A deep bow for David’s lively spirit and remarkable devotion. May his memory continue to shine in our hearts.
Oh yeah..back in The Day…when I worked at Green Gulch Greengrocer….David Chadwick would come in…he was a Wild One alright.
He was a Novel Thinker(…Novel Thinkers will save The World!)!
I didn’t know David real well…and had a serious disagreement on The World Suicide Club of which be was a founding member. But I respected his Novel Mind…his break with conventionalnormalicy…(is that even a word?). But he WAS definitely someone you paid attention to…if only because, like in Nature, when you see something unlike anything else,you become entranced with their uniqueness; their anamana-pianess( I made THAT one up)I have to make up words to describe him ..from a birdseye view …those that knew him better probably have more personal insight.Mine is from a place of distant respect and in a funny way, I found him annoyingly helpful in my early days of Zen ‘Practice’ at City Center way-back-when in the early to late Eighties.
I hope his Crossing was less suffering and I wish him well on his Journey.
.
In my memories of being at Tassajara in 1967–David’s presence shines out. Not only his energy as a serious student, but his ever-flowing humor and goodwill. Earlier this month he contacted me again to ask for updates on my life story–which I then provided for the archive he worked on. One of my most dear memories of David was the following: During my wedding ceremony to Tim Buckley in 1970, led by Katagiri, my father–a quite conservative man–was uncomfortable with all the chanting and voicing his opinion quite loudly. David, bless his heart, then stood by him and started telling jokes into his ear. My father was totally charmed, a big smile on his face, and there was quiet during the end of the ceremony. David had a way with words and loving people. I feel so blessed to have known him. May his way be blessed, all ways.
Thank you, dear SFZC Sangha news team, for this excellent tribute to our beloved dharma brother, David Chadwick. I am grateful in every way for our years of practice alongside David and for his huge ongoing contribution through his writing and his creation of cuke.com.
David Chadwick’s consistent capacity to recall, renew and refresh through his vibrant zen memory and imagination lives on in all of us who were fortunate to be intertwined with him.
Thank you again for this tribute.
In gratitude,
Wendy Johnson
David Chadwick has been an important part of my life since high school in Fort Worth. He introduced me to a new way to live, to Zen practice, to a path which I have been on for 60 years. We shared many youthful adventures which shaped the men we became. I was blessed by his friendship.
Hasta luego, amigo
Frank Simons
David was a special person whose unorthodox approach to life uniquely exemplified the Buddha Dharma and the teachings of his beloved Suzuki Roshi.
He was generous, humorous, humble and had a constant air of equanimity that gave him a special glow. His dedication to preserving and archiving the life and teachings of Suzuki Roshi has created a treasure that will enrich all who encounter it. His books are touching and hilarious and provide a historical perspective that can only emanate from one who experienced these transformative events directly.
He now walks with all of our Zen ancestors. All of our lives are better because he lived amongst us.
Thank you, David, for being my friend.
A truly remarkable Dharma Vehicle and beautiful human being. Thank you for your love, encouragement and boundless enthusiasm, dear David. Your continuation blooms in all directions. I am truly saddened. Everything you offered brought joy and light, which continues forth. I am so grateful for your friendship and guidance. My heart goes to you, your family, and the Sangha.
With love from South Australia,
Nigel & Family
I met him when he visited City Center in 2015?? (perhaps earlier). Aside from being a warm person, I was struck by his ‘Bodhidharma eyes’, Thank you David for your devotion and activities.
Nice obituary. He was quite the guy.
Dear David, Rest in Peace! Thank you for your immense contributions to the Buddha Dharma in the west, especially to students of Suzuki Roshi. I’ll never forget my stunned amazement in a bookstore in Philadelphia, when I saw Crooked Cucumber on the shelf. I had been on, what seemed to me like a very long solo retreat This felt like the universe offering me a lifeline. My gratitude was, and remains, immense. Thank you David San! Well done!
David forever a light he is in my heart RIP.
Oh dear, David was remarkable, is remarkable.
My heart breaks just now, I loved him, as so many of us did.
An amazing Dharma Vehicle and student of Suzuki Roshi.
Oh dear, impermanence. Just now I feel the pain.
Talking care,
Sending lots of love from South Australia,
Nigel & Family
The first time I met David he entered the Tassajara dining room as Dracula using his okesa as a vampire cloak. From then on he brought humor to us all as in the time he stood by the Zendo with a clip board and pretended to check it saying, “Posture: Good.” He has given us an immeasurable gift of his voice with his many interviews, and his voice will live with us saying, “May all beings be happy.” Thank you David for a true life.
I am Algerian with a Muslim culture and even though I never met David Chadwick he had a huge influence in my life through his books: Crooked Cucumber and Thank You and OK! An American Zen Failure in Japan.
I did a one-month practice in Green Gulch and went back twice because he made me want to learn more about Buddhism and Suzuki Roshi’s legacy. I am thinking about going and spending some time in Japan visiting Zen Monastries because of his experience there. When you think about it, I find it fascinating that a person whom I never met from a different culture “on the surface” had and still has a lot of influence in my life. I am grateful to David for showing the way and for being a lighthouse for me, and I am sure for so many others.
Gassho and 3 bows to you David
Love that guy, David. His dying makes me sad. Just by being himself he taught me that you could be yourself at Zen Center. He could so funny and serious and outrageous! At Greens he would have chili with vanilla ice cream.. I’m grateful for all he has done for us and Zen Center.
I met David during the first practice period at Tassajara. We sat next to each other in zazen. One hot summer day — the first practice period was in the summer — during the noon sitting the flies were buzzing. I reached up to try to smash a fly that had landed on my face. Before my hand got half way from its mudra position to my face, an arm reached out and stopped my hand and then went back to its sitting posture. We never spoke about it!
I’ve loved and revered David ever since — sixty years. We communicated regularly during all the time, saw each other when possible and spoke when appropriate. David brought spice, levity and unbridled joy to Zen Center along with his vast dedication to practice, to Suzuki Roshi, and right action.
I spoke to David several months before he died. While confident, he knew the score and was at peace with “just as it is.”
As someone once said, David, you were our Zen priest without portfolio. With immense gratitude and deep gassho for your life of Zen service and your abiding friendship to me and to countless others. David, You fulfilled the unfulfillable four vows!
David’s contributions to the continuation of Suzuki Roshi’s lineage are impossible to overstate. But he was also very much a human being, with sense of humor and irreverence intact. A deep bow for David’s lively spirit and remarkable devotion. May his memory continue to shine in our hearts.
[THIS IS A CORRECTION to my earlier comment that said his contributions were “impossible to understate”!]
I had been wandering the paths of Buddhism for years when I read his book “Thank You and OK!”. From there, a direct path led me to the teachings of Shunryu Suzuki. It is thanks to him that even from a distance and after tens of years, I can call myself a “student” of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi.
I have reread David’s books several times since then, and each time I find something new in them.
He will always exist in the Universe in some form, and his books will preserve his memory.
Gassho!
I met David through his music. He was a wildly creative, funny, and passionate lover of music and sound. Over the course of a number of years, we did three albums together. Through a few decades, David introduced me to a host of wonderful people, countless stories and his world of zen. In the course of a lifetime, there are a few folks who present each of us with a different view of the world than one you’ve seen before. David was one of those to me. I’ll miss our conversations, his laugh, his unique gift of presenting wisdom without preachy cliches and his generosity of spirit.
Here’s to you David. Thanks for dropping in on us all and I forgive you for drinking my special Puerto Rican rum. Love ya.
I am deeply saddened by David’s death. I enjoyed the online evening of Tassajara stories in December with David and my brother Edward. I did not know David was sick.
My personal relationship with David is marked by an incident at Tassajara in 1967. I was having difficulty sitting for so many hours, and was taking a break. David encouraged me to try to sit. Oddly, his remark had the opposite effect — I left the training period. I think David always wondered what he had said, but it was not his fault; it was my decision that extended zazen was not for me. I remember him fondly, as having changed the course of my life.
I met my wife Judith in May of 1967 at a picnic of Zen students at China Beach in San Francisco. We have retired to Vina, California, where there is a Trappist monastery. They invite prayers from people attending mass, and I prayed “for the repose of the soul” of David.
Blessings!
I knew David when i was campaign manager of the California Nuclear Freeze campaign in 1982. Later when i helped Jim HIckman on the Esalen Soviet American Project, i would see David occasionally, sometimes at the Greens Restaurant. We had more fun joking with one another about this and that. I don’t know much about Zen, but I know David was fun and a lovely young man forty years ago.
I met David on the tennis court and eventually learned about his background and work. When I discovered he was associated with cuke.com, I guessed that CUKE stood for Center for Universal Knowledge and Enlightenment. David was thoroughly amused.
I came to SFZC in 1974 hard upon 10 years in the ecstasies and indulgences of the counter-culture. Two of the first people I met were Dan Welch and David Chadwick. Both became life-long friends and inspirations. David’s writing, his 10,000 songs, his full prostration as the head-waiter the first time I walked into Greens and his crazy wisdom, gave me permission to find my own. Dear wise man., 100 % authentic, how I’ll miss seeing you in the starlight again. But as you might remind me, you ARE the starlight, the birdsong and the rain. You took so little away with you, and left us the rest with your characteristic generosity.. You’re always with us.
At the memorial for David that was held at Green Gulch, I showed off my sweatshirt that has his “Zen Failure” message and a t-shirt with the “Buddhism, the religion that promises nothing, and Delivers” message. Here is a link to the dchad section of the cafepress.com website that sells products designed by David.
https://www.cafepress.com/dd/8570138
i met David at Tassajara in July of 1967 and practiced with him until the following summer when I left
we saw each other several times during guest season over the ensuing years
David was the most non judgemental and accepting person I’ve ever known he had a huge heart
I miss him and still feel him
I’m super grateful to have known him
David liked to count. He counted his breath, he counted steps, he just counted. And, yes, he counted in the sense that he really had an impact.
I was listening to his podcasts in 2021, and he was recounting the days when Suzuki Roshi introduced counting breaths to the students. I think he spoke about it in a number of podcasts, including perhaps some interviews. It turned my mind to the topic, so I sent him a brief email. To my surprise, he asked if he could read it on a “mini podcast”.
He gave a hilarious and engaging performance. I had supplied the text, but he turned it into a delightful experience. It’s a ten-minute show that will leave you feeling good. I encourage everyone to hear him. https://cukeaudio.podbean.com/e/counting-breath-thoughts-from-ted-howell/