David Roger Cerchie of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, September 8, 2025, following complications from multiple strokes. He was 79.

Born in Joplin, Missouri, on September 7, 1946, David earned his undergraduate degree in marketing before completing his J.D. at the University of Tulsa. He began his professional career practicing law in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he became known for his meticulous title-opinion work and his sharp ability to see opportunities others might miss.

In 1994, with a group of close friends, he co-founded VersaFlex, a company that grew into a leader in polyurea and protective coating technologies. Under David’s steady hand and long-view pragmatism, the business expanded from an entrepreneurial gamble into an industry-defining enterprise, before eventually joining the PPG family of companies.

After the sale of VersaFlex, David and his wife Lorene settled in Vero Beach, where he poured his energy into new endeavors. He continued his lifelong passion for cycling, often logging close to ninety miles a week. He found a natural home with Bike Walk Indian River County, where he served as Treasurer and lent his time and steady presence to the group’s efforts. Whether working on grant proposals, keeping the books in order, or helping with donated bikes, he valued being part of an organization that encouraged safe cycling and mobility for all.

David also carried a deep commitment to his spiritual practice. As a longtime practitioner in the Vipassana tradition, he became an assistant teacher, sharing with sincerity — and a touch of trademark persistence — his belief in the power of meditation. For him, meditation was not simply an exercise but a way of living with presence and clarity, a discipline he felt could benefit everyone.

David was rarely ill and took no medications, remaining one of the most vibrant and healthy seventy-somethings you could hope to meet. His sudden decline from multiple strokes was an unimaginable loss to those who knew and admired his vitality.

There will be no formal service, but those who wish to honor David’s memory may do so through contributions to Bike Walk Indian River County.

Bike Walk Indian River County
P.O Box 1792
Vero Beach, Florida 32961
772-202-2330
admin@bikewalkirc.org