Darius Christopher Brooks

Darius Christopher Brooks was born on April 1, 1970 in Woodville, California; he died December 21, 2018 near his home in San Francisco. He is survived by his wife Dr. Karin Margareta Aberg Brooks; daughters: Amelia Sofia (9) and Elin Margareta (6), and son, Erik Christopher Bengt (2); his mother, Wendy Goepel Brooks and father, Dr. David Brooks; his brothers Demian (Lesli Tomasini) Brooks and Dylan (Dawn Davis) Brooks; and nephews: Julien, Philip, and Theo, who thought the world of him. He is also survived by Karin’s brother Erik (Tess) Aberg, and her sister Kristina (Mike Labriola) Aberg and nieces Edith and Alice, who thought he told the best stories.

Darius grew up in Telluride, Colorado, where he was an outstanding athlete and scholar. He excelled in everything he did, but especially freestyle skiing, becoming the youngest male to qualify for the national championships in March 1981, at age 10. He competed at world-class levels until he gave up competitive skiing following his graduation as valedictorian of the Telluride High School class of 1988. He gave a memorable speech on the virtues of diversity.

Darius attended Stanford University and made life-long friends there and in the Sigma Chi fraternity. He received a bachelors of science in 1992 and two masters from Stanford – one in engineering in 1993 and one from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business in 1999. A career finance professional, Darius worked for several well-known firms beginning with Credit Suisse/CSFB, Thomas H. Lee, and later Fox Paine and TPG Growth. He was also an entrepreneur, working on startups in b2b leasing, North Dakota oil and gas, and cryptocurrency. Once, when asked whether he’d prefer a wife who was beautiful or intelligent, he answered “both” – and he found that in Karin. Karin and Darius met in 1998 during his time at business school. He fell for her on a wine tour through Napa and they were married in August 2007 in her family’s hometown, Siljansnäs, Sweden. Their love for each other deepened every year and manifests each day still in the form of their three beautiful children. Darius was a coach, a community leader, and the type of father we could all wish to have – supremely loving and engaged, sympathetic, funny, always teaching new topics or new skills, generous, and patient. He put his family first in all things. He was also the friend we all hope to be – true in word, deed, and heart. Darius will be dearly missed. May his spirit infuse our happiest moments and help guide us in difficult times.

All who cared for Darius are invited to join his family Thursday, January 3rd starting at 4:30pm followed by a Vigil Service at 5:30pm all at Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Avenue, Daly City. A Funeral Mass will be held the following day, Friday, January 4th at 10:00 am, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 221 Valley Street, San Francisco.

Per his wishes, Darius will be cremated; his remains will be returned to nature to rest forever in the places that inspired him most.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Darius’s name to the Scandinavian School of San Francisco, a place to which he committed much of his time and energy on behalf of his children, and so many others.