Donald Bruce Chambers

1946 - 2024

Donald Bruce Chambers
06/26/1946 - 07/22/2024
Donald Bruce Chambers died, peacefully and gracefully, at home, in the arms of his loving spouse, Patrick Horay, on July 22, 2024. His courage and calm nature endured throughout the 30-year challenge of progressive Parkinson's Disease. At the time of passing, he was 78 years old.
He was born in Quincy, Mass., to Robert N. Chambers and Eleanor (Long) Chambers. The eldest of four sons, Don demonstrated many talents and abilities in his early school years, becoming the high school salutatorian, and earning a full scholarship to the University of Virginia, where he majored in psychology. Continuing at UVA, he earned a master's degree in special education, and worked at the Virginia state hospital as a conscientious objector.
Moving to Berkeley, Calif., in 1976, he met his love, Patrick Horay, and began an amazing 48-year relationship that embraced family and friends. Their home and garden were a sanctuary and gathering place for many celebrations, retreats, and neighborhood events. They created a chosen extended family, and Don worked actively and served on the board of directors of both the Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco and New Spirit Community Church of Berkeley.
After teaching special education at San Ramon High School, he began a Ph.D. program in the education department at the University of California at Berkeley, receiving his doctorate in 1990. He worked at the UCSF School of Nursing and the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Services. His organizational and statistical skills culminated in developing the widely used Coping Self-Efficacy Scale with a team of researchers. He was brilliant, insightful, and collegial. Above all, Don was a gentle, kind, and caring human being who radiated trustworthiness, generosity, competence, and joy.
In addition to his spouse, Patrick Horay, Don leaves behind his brothers, Richard Chambers and spouse, Larry Deymude, Tim and Christina Chambers (Ken Chambers preceded him in death in 2001); and a special goddaughter, Katie Martin-Stutzman, and her daughter, Kiera.
Now Don is eternally part of God's smile.
A Zoom memorial will be held.
Please consider a donation to pdactive.org in honor of Don.