John David "Dave" Brodie

John David 'Dave' Brodie, age 95, of Grants Pass, died Thursday, March 20, 2014 at Royale Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to John Smith Brodie from Scotland and Gertrude R Brodie from England. His family moved from Canada to San Francisco when Dave was two. Later, when Dave was six years old the family moved to Redwood City, CA.

Dave was a star Football and Basketball player at Sequoia High School in Redwood City and his accomplishments filled many news sports columns. After High School, he attended UCSF and San Mateo Jr. College.

In 1938 he married Jean Lorine Schomberg and moved to Palo Alto. Dave worked as Director of Purchasing and Contract Administration for the City of Palo Alto 37 years from 1941 to 1978. Among his numerous accomplishments he was involved in building the new City Hall which opened in 1952, the new Palo Alto-Stanford Hospital in 1959, and the new Civic Center (City Hall) in 1970.

In 1954 Dave was elected President of the California Association of Public Purchasing Officers, Inc. He contributed several years of service to this association by holding all the major offices, including President and Chairman of the Audit Committee. Dave was also a lifetime member of the Purchasing Management Association of Northern California.

Dave and Jean had two children, Jean Dianne Brodie Eisenman and James Robert Brodie. The family moved from Palo Alto to Los Altos Hills in 1954 after completion of their new home. This was a family that loved their horses. Dave and Jean were quite the favorites when the family of four rode in the May Day Parades in downtown Palo Alto on their Pinto Horses. Dave was instrumental in forming the Los Altos-Palo Alto Horsemen’s Assn. of which the family was members.

Dave and Jean also raised AKC Registered German Shepherds for a number of years. In 1970 Dave and Jean divorced.

On August 7, 1971 Dave married Catherine Holling. After retiring from the City of Palo Alto in 1978, Dave and Cathy moved to Clark Fork, Idaho where they built a large Swiss Chalet home on 10 acres next to Lightning Creek. Fishing the large Lake Pend Oreille in their boat became a favorite pastime besides hosting family visits and visiting with wonderful new neighbors.

In 1989 Dave and Cathy moved to Grants Pass, Oregon where Dave began golfing and joined the Grants Pass Golf Club. After Cathy passed away in 1996, Dave joined Lovejoy Hospice. For many years Dave planned and arranged dinners and get togethers for the group of 21 men and women who had also lost their spouse. The group named themselves “The Brodie Bunch”.

Dave was extremely organized and driven by sheer determination and a will to get the job done and do it right. A survivor, living alone in his home for sixteen and one half years after his wife passed away, he rarely complained about his painful knees and back, as he went about cooking, gardening, shopping and general up-keep of his home. After a debilitating illness, Dave moved to Spring Village Assisted Living in early 2013.

Dave made friends wherever he went and had a quick wit and humor about him that was called “The Brodie Charisma” by one of the nursing staff of Royale Gardens.

Dave is survived by: Daughter, Jean Dianne Eisenman (Mike), Ripon, CA; Son, James R. Brodie (Sandy), Culdesac, ID; Stepdaughter, Judith Lindberg (George), Sunnyvale, CA.

Grandchildren: Tiffany Arana (Scott); Timothy Brownlee (Stacie); Trent Brownlee (Montesa); Ron Brodie (Lucy); Roxan Lomanto (Jim); Marcus Lindberg.

Great Grandchildren: Colton and Carley Arana; Brodie Brownlee and Whitney Ayres; Travis and Teagan Brownlee; Elliot and Cory Brodie; Jimmy and Jack Lomanto; Melissa and Mikey Lindberg.

Dave is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews.

Preceded in Death by: Wife, Catherine Brodie; Sister, Dorothy Disney; Brothers, Robert Brodie and Donald Mc Neil.

A celebration of Life service is planned for 2 PM, Saturday, April 26th at First Christian Church, 305 S.W. “H” Street in Grants Pass, OR. You are welcome to come and join us in celebrating the life of this amazing and charismatic man.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America or Lovejoy Hospice of Grants Pass, Oregon.