David H. A. Browitt

David H. A. Browitt
David Harold Andrew Browitt, 53, a proud ancestral Roslyn resident dedicated to the practice of law and preservation of Upper Kittitas County history, died March 29, 2017, of complications related to pancreatic cancer.
A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 7, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Roslyn. A rosary will be recited on Thursday, April 6, at 6 p.m. at Immaculate Conception.
David was born Oct. 31, 1963, in Renton, Wash., the first of four children of Dave and Jean (Vandetta) Browitt. He was a student in the Cle Elum-Roslyn School District; he graduated from Cle Elum High School, where he earned various academic honors and was a standout middle-distance runner, in 1982. He graduated with a B.A. in History from Willamette University in 1986 and immediately enrolled at the University of Idaho College of Law, from which he received his Juris Doctorate in 1989. He was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association later that year.
In 2005, on the hottest day of July, David married Christy Mirande in a grand Roslyn-Ronald celebration. Together they cherished their roles as uncle and aunt to their beloved nephews and nieces, actively engaging in a wide range of Upper County adventures. Meanwhile, their mutual appreciation for vintage Roslyn architecture offset the challenges stemming from the restoration of a century-old home. They found great joy in each other, traveling, exploring, and laughing, packing a lot of love into their 12 years of marriage.
Aside from the seven years he spent in collegiate and post-graduate studies, David affectionately called Roslyn his home, as had the preceding four generations of his family. David enjoyed travel, especially to Europe - he spent a semester studying in England, and accompanied Christy on visits to relatives in France - but nothing ever supplanted his love for the Upper County.
Even as a child David was captivated by the region's heritage, particularly its cultural tapestry and coal-mining legacy. He eagerly engaged individuals who could tell him about the past, intently listened to their stories and invariably sought to expand on what he had been told. This atypical childhood pursuit evolved into a lifetime passion; David could speak or write on myriad topics, and was frequently asked to do so, and he was recognized as a steadfast source of accurate historical knowledge.
David's work to preserve Roslyn's history was just one manifestation of how dedicated he was to his community; this devotion was also reflected in his civic involvement. He served on Roslyn's city council, acted as city attorney and drafted code that established the Roslyn Cemetery Commission, upon which he later served as a board member. In addition, he was a founding board member and president of the Roslyn Cemetery Beneficial Association.
Beyond that, he genuinely cared about the community's people. Offering a helping hand, whether in the form of legal advice, physical labor or a sympathetic ear, was something he viewed as both a duty and a privilege.
David reveled in outdoor pursuits, especially those which were cherished family traditions. He was a devoted summertime denizen of Fish Lake, and he spent many of his autumn days - and sometimes all of October - engaged in activities related to hunting camp. He avidly traversed the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, whether by trail or unbeaten path, explored long-forgotten mining sites and trapper's cabins in the Cle Elum River drainage, and scaled numerous peaks in the Cascades. He also had an abnormal fondness for cutting firewood.
David's independent nature was reflected in his profession. As a freshly admitted attorney, he establishing an office in downtown Roslyn, directly above the post office, that he maintained throughout the 28 years he practiced law. Although his work largely focused on estate planning, he was a fixture in Kittitas County courts, and for a time sat on the bench in the Upper County District Court as a substitute judge.
David was a lifelong parishioner of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, having served as chapter president during his senior year at Willamette, and the Roslyn Croatian Social Club, with which he played an instrumental role in recent years organizing the annual Croatian Picnic.
David is survived by his wife Christy; mother Jean; brother Jim (wife Tracy) of Lewiston, Idaho; sister Kristen Linehan (husband Scott) of Dallas, Texas; sister Kerri Caviezel (husband Jim) of Westlake Village, Calif.; nephews Matthew, Michael and Marcus Linehan, and Bo and David Caviezel; and nieces Lyn Caviezel and Anna Murray. He was preceded in death by his father, Dave.
Memorials may be made to the Roslyn Cemetery Beneficial Association for the David H.A. Browitt Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 156, Roslyn, Wash., 98941; or the Friends of Immaculate Conception (with funds made out to the Schwab Charitable Fund), c/o Jean Browitt, P.O. Box 350, Roslyn, Wash., 98941.