David Christopher Dibbern

David “DJ Tidalwave” Dibbern

Dave was born in Park Ridge, IL to Walter and Jo Dibbern on October 23, 1966. Dave grew up in Des Plaines, IL. He was fascinated with electricity, electronics and computers as early as 8 years old. His dad remembers programming Bally computers with him in the late 70’s.

He Married Amanda L Hoehne on December 15, 1990, in Colorado.

Dave moved to Colorado in the mid 80’s where he met Mandy. It was love at first sight, and they soon married. In the following years they were blessed with a son, Nicholas, and two years later, Zachariah.

Dave graduated from Metropolitan State College with a BA in Communications in August 1994, and the University of Colorado at Denver with a master's in information and Learning Technologies in December of 2000.

Dave would be the first person to tell you that he struggled to learn in a school environment, but he had a voracious appetite for learning. This made him an excellent technology teacher, where he built relationships with students that other teachers could not. The teaching career in Denver Public Schools began in August of 1994 at Lake Middle School. After Dave and Mandy moved their family to Brighton in 2002, he joined the Brighton school system at Vikan Middle School, in 2007. He retired due to illness in 2022.

Dave’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to start several companies. He built a radio station in his childhood home in the early 80’s.  He had a short-lived Alien Hotline that had one customer. He found much success as a DJ host for parties and occasions as DJ Tidalwave, later with Tidalwave Sticker Store which sold theme stickers nationwide via the web.

As DJ Tidalwave, Dave was known for Emceeing and playing music for the Brighton Fireworks display and the Festival of Lights Parade. He DJ’d numerous school events in 27J, weddings, and birthday parties over the years.

Dave loved having the summers off as a teacher and spending time at a Nebraska vacation home at Ogallala, on Lake McConaughy, with family and friends. The whole family enjoyed boating, jet skiing, bon fires, camping, and participating in the annual boat parade. 

He loved his family deeply. He is survived by his wife Amanda, sons Nicholas (Teagan) and Zachariah (Kate) and his father Walter Dibbern of Des Plaines, IL.  He is preceded in death by his mother Jo Ann Dibbern.

In lieu of flowers please offer a legacy gift to KLove or Operation Christmas Child.

KLove or Operation Christmas Child

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David Christopher Dibbern, please visit our floral store.