David B. Harrison

04/21/1953 - 03/04/2024

David Harrison, loving husband, father, and longtime

San Francisco criminal defense attorney and advocate for social justice, died unexpectedly on March 4, 2024, while on vacation with his wife in Mexico. He was 70.

David was born in New

York City and raised in Wash.,

D.C. His family’s legacy of philanthropy informed his actions, and his generous spirit and progressive politics endured throughout his life.

David served on the New swim and boogie board, World Foundation Board, a continuing his love affair with philanthropic organization the ocean. advancing economic equity, Avid travelers, David and democratic rights, and civic Colette visited a variety of participation in the United places around the world, States, until his death. He also including trips to the Arctic was active in the National Circle, Bosnia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lawyers Guild Anti-Apartheid Namibia, Zimbabwe, Committee, going to South Morocco, and Ecuador. Africa three times, including Smart and funny, David as an election observer for could light up a room with the first democratic election his presence. He loved to in April 1994. engage others in animated

His father, Gil Harrison, was discussions that often bordered the owner and editor of The on debate. But despite New Republic, the political his frequently opinionated and cultural opinion journal, veneer, David was kind-hearted and a strong voice for civil and generous to those he rights, from 1953 to 1974. loved. He had a number of David’s mother, Anne Blaine close male friends; the “Dinner Harrison, was an organizer Guys,” college fraternity for the Textile Workers of brothers, law school poker America before her marriage buddies, and a (now retired) and afterward, became a rugby club affiliated with well-known advocate for public Hastings College of Law (now education in Wash., D.C. U.C. Law S.F.).

David’s youth was spent Colette reminisced that swimming, body surfing, she and David spent 45 years and sailing in the ponds together, which included and ocean around Martha’s some disagreements, but Vineyard. He also became also, many adventures and politically aware at a young undiminished love. “I should age, canvassing for Democratic have told him more often Presidential candidates, than I did how much I loved, Eugene McCarthy and respected, and appreciated George McGovern. him, but I think he knew that

Following David’s graduation my love was greater than my in 1975 from Wesleyan ability to express it as often University, where he played as I should have.” on the school’s club rugby Around his family, David team and was a member was gentle and unequivocally of the Delta Kappa Epsilon supportive. He refused to kill fraternity, David attended bugs in the house, instead, law school at U.C.L.A. He carrying them outside. His met his wife, Colette Brooks, beloved daughters, Simone in 1979, while working at and Marie-Claire, who are

and the Legal Aid Foundation of both pursuing graduate degrees Long Beach, where he was in the sciences, said he distinguished Reginald Heber would listen with rapture and Smith Fellow. Relocating to pride to whatever topic they San Francisco in 1981, David were researching, despite worked for Legal Aid in both understanding almost none San Francisco and Marin. of it. He couldn’t have loved

For the past 35 years, David them more. ran his own law practice In addition to Colette in San Francisco, devoted and his daughters, David exclusively to criminal defense, is survived by his siblings, primarily representing Jamie (Joy), Joel (Lesley), and indigent criminal defendants. Eleanor (Gedeon); as well as a Just prior to his death, he niece; and two nephews. successfully defended an Family and friends are innocent client on trial for a warmly invited to a Celebration serious offense, one of many of David’s life on Friday, such cases he handled with May 17, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. skill and integrity, earning to 4:00 p.m., at Cavallo Point, him the respect and friendship 601 Murray Cir., Sausalito, Calif. of fellow attorneys, and (Please r.s.v.p. to coletteabrooks@aol.com, the judges and staff of San attending Francisco Superior Court. only).

David loved to play pickup In lieu of flowers, the sports of all kinds. He played family suggests donations lacrosse and rugby in college, be made in David’s memory pickup basketball, and soccer, to The Sentencing Project throughout his life, and, more (advocating for effective and recently, fit pickleball into humane responses to crime his rotation. He also enjoyed and punishment) at sentencingproject.org, riding his bike all over San or Doctors Francisco, sometimes with his Without Borders (medical daughters. Many weekends, and humanitarian assistance David, Colette, and their girls in conflict zones, including would head off to Stinson Gaza) at doctorswithoutborders.org Beach, where David would