David Jeffrey Brewer

December 13, 2020

DB transitioned on December 13th. He was born to William and Geraldine Brewer in Sebastopol in 1952. He is survived by his sister, Shireen Hartman, and two nieces, Kimberly Hartmann and Kara Tomei, his (twin) cousin Phyllis GreenJohnson and his partner of 39 years, Jim Duignan.

He maintained that his life began when he moved to “his home town,” San Francisco, when he turned 18. His two long term employments were serving up slabs of Prime Rib at Victoria Station, which he never partook of, and then finding the job of his dreams creating floral arrangements at bloomers for over 30 years. After retiring he moved back to Sebastopol: “It took me 18 years to get out of here and now you’ve dragged me back.” It took a while but he came to love working in and creating his garden, and spending time at tasting rooms with new friends, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

He loved to travel, and every trip either began or ended in Paris. Café in the morning at Le Danton, lunch at Au Gamin in the Marais and Champagne in the evening at Café Flore. He never ceased to enjoy “his other home town,” regardless of whether his luggage was being blown up at DeGaulle, the rental apartment was being burglarized or spending 800 Euro on a locksmith at another rental.

He was totally incapable of reading a map so he wound up having to do all of the driving as we drove all around Europe and the UK, where he spent a good part of the time encouraging them to drive on the right side of the road. In addition to amassing a number of speeding tickets in France (okay, just one!), he amassed an incredible coterie of friends, including Colette Gamble, Gretchen Mathis, Paula Connolly, Mary McCarthy, Daniel Spangler, Barbara Wyeth, Charla Jones, Patric and Mary Powell, Bill Gnoss, Lary Abramson, Hal and Mary Plimpton, Vivian Daeffler, Jim Sturgeon, Bonnie Cohen, Lisa McKibbin, Rita Derham, John Legro, Robin

McGarry of Brum and Chris Jones and David Podger of Llanwrst.

The measure of a man is attested to by the quality of the relationships he develops over a lifetime and DB was remarkable in that area. He was the most gentle of men, and passed far too soon. He is sorely missed.

A celebration of his life will be held once we are able to gather again.