Obituary: David Marshall Brook (1946 - 2026)

David Brook died on February 7, 2026, of complications from pulmonary fibrosis at age 79. He was a neighborhood activist, carsharing pioneer, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, backpacker, prodigious reader and lover of music.

David Marshall Brook

Dave was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 17, 1946, to Herbert Brook and Jane Lord Brook. He attended school in LaGrange and Hinsdale, Illinois. Summers were spent on the family farms in western Illinois riding on tractors with his uncles and playing in the haylofts. He attended Southern Illinois University which shaped his vocational and avocational interests for the rest of his life. He got experience in broadcasting hosting a classical music program on the campus radio station, began his lifelong love of mobility with trips on his mighty Honda 150 motorcycle and honed his writing skills by earning a BA in English.

After college, Dave enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Germany, where he was the editor of the MATCOM base newspaper in Zweibrücken, Germany.

In 1977, on a whim, Dave took a road trip to Alaska with a friend. Loving the out-of-doors and rugged beauty, he stayed until 1985. He explored various jobs, meeting many people along the way who became lifelong friends. He was editor of the Susitna Sentinel newspaper in Talkeetna, program manager and host of a classical music program at KTOO public radio, librarian at the Alaska state library, and city editor of the Juneau Empire newspaper. He married Lydia Marshall in 1979, and the couple lived in Juneau, moving to Anchorage in 1981. There, he started The Energy Store, selling alternative energy equipment and energy efficient appliances. Energy conservation motivated his work for the rest of his life.

In 1986, after Dave and Lydia separated, Dave relocated to Portland, Oregon, to take a job as an energy extension agent with Oregon State University. It was in Portland that he met Susan Campbell, and the two were married in 1989. His work at OSU included weatherizing low-income homes, as well as improving indoor air quality for homes and schools. In 1992, he was awarded the Newer Faculty Award from the OSU Extension Association.

Dave retired from OSU in 2002 when the weatherization program closed, and he then turned his attention to reducing the energy consumption and cost of personal transportation. He believed firmly that city dwellers could rely on mass transit, sharing cars when personal errands required a vehicle. Car Sharing Portland was launched using Dave and Susan’s personal savings to purchase the company’s first four Dodge Neons in 1998. It was the first commercial car-sharing service in the United States, and a predecessor to Flexcar and Zipcar. After Dave sold the company, he continued as a transportation consultant to cities in Europe and across the U.S. and companies such as Avis and Relay Rides (forerunner of Turo).

Dave loved to travel, and he and Susan travelled extensively together, often with friends. Their travels included Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Bali, Chile, Argentina, Italy, France, and more.

Just before moving to Portland, Dave and a friend travelled to Tibet. Dave was struck by the suffering of the Tibetan people in exile. One day after arriving in Portland, he came across a Tibetan staffing a “Free Tibet” table at Portland Saturday Market. That encounter marked the beginning of his involvement with the Tibetan community, where he helped establish the Tibetan Foundation, and later, the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association (NWTCA) in 1993. He served on the first Board of Directors as Vice President.

In 1992 he and Susan volunteered to sponsor a Tibetan immigrant to the U.S. through the Tibetan U.S. Resettlement Project (TUSRP). Sponsorship involved providing three months of housing and guaranteeing financial support. Jampa Lathsang was the lucky new guest. He became a beloved member of Dave and Susan’s family along with his bride, Tseten. Jampa and Tseten had three children who became Dave and Susan’s “adopted” grandchildren.

Dave’s generosity for the Tibetan community did not stop there. In 1993, he bought a house in northeast Portland to help provide affordable housing for resettled Tibetans. The basement was the initial office and gathering place for the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association. Dave was on the first Board of Directors of the Association and served as President for a year, helping to write numerous grants to further their mission.

Portland-centric organizations also benefited from Dave’s commitment to service and community. He served on the Board of Directors of Portland Baroque Orchestra, and he and Susan frequently hosted guest musicians in their home. He carried his knowledge of energy conservation to the Portland Community Energy Project, an organization dedicated to making safety and energy improvements for low-income households. During his time there, he served on the CEP Board of Directors. He was actively involved in his neighborhood where he served at various times as Chair, Treasurer, and Communication Director of the Sullivans Gulch Neighborhood Association.

Dave’s friends were often frustrated by his inability to walk anywhere without picking up trash as he went. His most recent community endeavor was helping to launch Clean Camp PDX, which provides clean-up and garbage services to camps of houseless people.

Dave was an avid bicyclist and a dedicated runner; he completed multiple marathons and half-marathons and rode in Cycle Oregon and Cycle Oregon Weekend rides. Dave loved being outdoors and was always ready for an adventure. Friends remember him as a wonderful trail companion — full of good stories, unflappable when the terrain turned difficult, and almost always in a cheerful mood. His journeys took him far and wide: hiking the Pacific Crest Trail through Washington and much of Oregon, trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, crossing from Chamonix to Zermatt on the Haute Route, and exploring countless trails throughout the Olympic and Cascade mountains. Many of these adventures were shared with the “Geezer” group, a dozen kindred spirits who had lived in Alaska or were connected to those who had. Dave was the glue that brought this group together and kept it thriving for nearly twenty years.

Dave is survived by his wife Susan Campbell, his sister Susan (Meadow) Brook and brother John Brook, and his Tibetan family, Jampa and Tseten Lathsang and grandchildren, Tenzin, Tamdin and Kunsel. Tibetan prayer services are being held at the Tibetan Cultural Center, and a Celebration of Life will be scheduled for later this spring.

Contributions in Dave’s memory may be given to Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, BRAVO Youth Orchestra, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Community Energy Project, NWTCA.