Welcome to this semester’s first edition of Stern Singles! It is my pleasure to introduce you to this month’s eligible bachelor, Dave Leffler.
Sternie Testimonials
Worldly, disciplined, and eloquent. Not much else needs to be said about Dave, except that he’s the sort of guy you’d want as your phone screen background. It’s not often that you meet someone that’s worthy of a right swipe on both TInder AND LinkedIn.
Something tells me this man is not going to be on the market long.
Dave and I met a little over a year ago and he’s been an amazing friend, colleague, and mentor. Now that I’m thinking about it, meeting Dave may be the single greatest thing that’s ever happened to me in my entire life.
A not-so-secret admirer is about to be first in line.
Looks good in a uniform, soft at the point of contact, and peachy are terms I’d use to describe more than just his complexion.
Wow, this is going to be a steamy one, folks.
Tell us about yourself, where are you from and what brought you to New York?
I was born and raised about 30 miles outside NYC and used to come in often to visit my grandma as a kid. Went to college in NJ, then moved to DC where I worked for the Federal government for five years. I joined the Marine Corps after that which brought me to Monterey, CA (about 2 hours south of San Francisco along the coast) for two years and then Augusta, GA for three. Got out of the military and backpacked through Southeast and South Asia for about four months before finally coming full circle and moving to NYC for b-school. This is the first time I’ve lived in the city as an adult; it’s been a very different and much fuller experience than popping in for cookies and milk with grandma!
Are you involved in any campus groups or clubs?
President of Adventures, VP of Comedy in Showcase, Board of Speaks, and Military Vets Club (MVC).
What was the first bar you went to as an NYU student?
Tough to remember, but smart money would bet it was Amity Hall.
Favorite band/artist?
Tough to pick one across all genres, but Spotify tells me I’m a big fan of Kygo. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I was recently introduced to and started binging The National.
Guilty pleasure on your current quarantine playlist?
80s glam rock power ballads. I don’t feel one bit guilty about it, though!
Have you picked up any hobbies during quarantine?
Finally got back into cycling. Always looking for people — or someone — (*wink*) to ride with.
Speaking of, what do you look for in your date?
As Stern-cliche as it sounds, emotional intelligence, especially groundedness, self-awareness, maturity, transparency and directness – whether it’s what I want to hear or not – and a distinct lack of flakiness.
What are some shows you watch that you would be excited to learn your date watched as well?
Definitely Letterkenny, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Big Mouth, and/or I’m Sorry. They’re clever and unapologetically edgy, and being a fan takes a similar type of humor.
What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?
It was our second date and we went to the beach. The first 80% of the day was great. Mid-afternoon, we decided to go for another swim, and, while swimming back in, my shoulder slipped out of the socket for no good reason, other than a prior injury, and fully dislocated. It all started with a nice ferry ride and ended with an EMS ATV, police boat, ambulance, and ER visit. Most painful date I’ve ever had, but she did give me a third one!
What’s your favorite date spot in NYC?
Fiaschetteria Pistoia, a Tuscan restaurant in the West Village. Great food (which you can see being made) and it’s tiny – seats only about 12 people. It’s very intimate but equally relaxed.
What is your ideal date both these days and after COVID?
“It depends” (*groan*) but, generally speaking, I prefer to get drinks or take a walk with coffee to start. Low-risk with easy exits for both of us if there’s nothing there. If there is, I often like to be more active, e.g., beach — hopefully minus injuries –, bike or motorcycle ride, or sailing, for second dates.
There you have it! If you love adventure, great stories, and Italian food, the coffee chat registration period is now open. If you would like to nominate a classmate for future features of the Stern Spotlight, please email the Oppy staff at [email protected].
