BRACE, DPM,
David Russell
David Brace was born on the island of Aruba on April 12, 1943 to Russell Floyd Brace, MD and Marian Collins Brace. He was the second of five children.

David is survived by his wife, Betty Levine Brace and daughter, Tara Lynn Brace, brothers Robert Brace (Sally), and Rand Brace, and sisters, Marre Suarez (Luis) and Kathleen Gaul (Tom), as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his parents.

He attended St. Bonaventure University, playing goalkeeper on the soccer team and swimming on the swim team. David served in the Navy as a medical corpsman and during that time was attached to the Marines in Vietnam. While in the Navy he was also stationed at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

He attended the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco with his brother Rob and sister, Kate, forming their own family Pod Squad. He decided to set up his practice in Austin, moving to Texas on a Tuesday in July, 1976 and meeting Betty on Saturday tubing down the Guadalupe River. They married on June 20, 1978, which was also her birthday, saying he now only needed to remember one date. Tara was born 7 years later, and he adored her.

He loved working as a podiatrist and helping people, a true healer. He was lucky enough to share a practice for 39 years with his friend and business partner, J. Michael Valenza.

He lived the life he wanted. He loved his wife, daughter, job, family and friends. He had a thing for all modes of transportation and took great pleasure in his cars, trucks, motorcycles, and sailboats. For 36 years he played pickup basketball at the downtown Y, with the philosophy, "No blood, no foul." He loved telling his stories, as the staffs at Austin Foot Center and Westlake Medical Center will confirm.

When he was diagnosed with cancer, he approached it as he did everything, head on, fighting to the end. We will miss your larger-than-life presence, the twinkle in your eye, your stories, your passion and even your political rants.

A celebration of David's life will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 4 pm at the Lakeway Resort & Spa Sunset Room, 101 Lakeway Dr. Lakeway, TX 78734. Friends and family are invited to come share stories and celebrate a life well-lived.

Thanks to all of the doctors, nurses, aides and other health professionals who joined him in his battle. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in his name be made to the American Cancer Society.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Austin American-Statesman from Jul. 1 to Jul. 2, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for David BRACE

21 Entries

Jeff Schaffer, MD

June 25, 2021

I didn't know about David's death for a long time. I met him as a patient in 1976, I guess right when he started his practice. He was the best and helped me extend my athletic career. I referred many patients to him over the years and felt lucky that I ever found him in the first place. Sorry for your loss, but I am sure he went out on a high note.

June 30, 2018

I was just trolling the internet and checked on Dr Brace, not knowing that he had passed away two years ago. It saddened me.
I have known him since 1978 when I first started going to him as an athlete patient in Austin for orthotics. We became friends and basketball buddies. From then on, and as an physician later in life, I referred patients to him knowing that they would be taken care of completely.

There are just a few people in one's life that qualify as top quality. He is definitely one of them for me. And I am sad that he is gone.

As they say on 1310 The Ticket radio station in DFW for their audio obits, "Stay Hard, David".

Tanya Allen-Mirabal

June 2, 2017

I'm so sorry to hear of his passing, he was such a great Dr. & person, his personality just lit up the room. I've known him since I was 16, almost 43 now, he, his wife & daughter used to come into la vista when I worked there. He later became my Dr & always went to him, my daughter who's 9 even has orthotics in her shoes. He will be missed!

Kimberley Oliver

May 3, 2017

I am so sorry to hear that Dr. Brace passed away last summer! He was a wonderful doctor and took care of my daughter's fee, my Mother's feet and my feet! I will miss him.

Judy Luna

October 3, 2016

Dr Brace was great fun to visit in the office. His great stories and films and such. My son loved the way he kept his lidocaine drawn up and warm in his sock. He tried to help my daughter with her scoliosis. He was friendly and helpful and we will miss him in my family. Thaanks for all your help over the years Dr Brace.

Kevin Gregory

July 14, 2016

David sold me my first motorcycle in the summer of 1976 in San Francisco, a 175cc Kawasaki with knobby tires that I rode to work across the Golden Gate Bridge all summer.
After I almost killed myself riding it (late summer) he bought it back for the exact same price!!
I never had a chance to know David well but I know he was a Gentleman to me!!
My sympathy to David's family. He was a great guy.

Ellen Helwig

July 13, 2016

Look by my front door and you will find Dr. Brace's orthotics in all of the shoes. He took care of my daughter's infected ingrown toenail on a Saturday before she had to perform in The Nutcracker and gave us his personal phone number in case of an emergency. He set my husband's broken foot, tended to my stress fractures and tendinitis, marveled at my son's growing feet, and taught all of us the right way to tie our shoes. We loved his energy, passion, drawers full of orthotics, x-rays, and shoes, and his stories about Aruba and the Navy. We will miss him dearly. Condolences from us, the Helwig Family: Jeff, Ellen, Henry, and Eileen.

Mike & Sharon Millsap

July 6, 2016

Although my wife had worked for Betty, I first had the pleasure of meeting David several years ago when he treated my Mothers foot condition. I was deeply impressed then with his professionalism and care, even more so when I learned that he was a corpsman with the Marines. Our profound sympathy to Betty and the family and know that David's friends are also mourning with you.

Semper Fidelis!!

Edward Walker

July 5, 2016

What a life and friendship!

I met David in the fall of 1966 at Great Lakes Hospital Corps School. We were both then stationed at National Naval Med. Ctn. in Bethesda, MD for operating room tech school. That's where David taught me how to ride and love motorcycles. In 1968 he went to Annapolis Naval Hospital and I to Naval Air Station Jax, FL.
In early 1969 David got orders to fleet marine force at Camp LeJeune and I was transferred to Guantanamo Bay Naval Hospital. David went to Vietnam for six months in the bush and six months at Da Nang support hospital. I was honored to write David two times/week to bolster his morale during that arduous time.
We both got early outs from the Navy and returned home in early 1970. I met my wife of 44 years just as I returned. David and I would ride motorcycles through western NY especially near Letchworth State Park, which we both loved.
We both returned to college, David at St. Bonaventure and me at University of Pittsburgh.
Kathy and I were married 7/1/72 and David was an attendant.
We had sporadic contact when he went to Podiatry school in San Francisco and I went to the Physician Assistant Program at Duke University.
After graduation, David moved to Austin and I to Milwaukee.
Though sporadic the contact through the following years, we remained friends.

I will surely miss our conversations reminiscing our experiences.

God speed my friend!

Alphonse Warakomski

July 4, 2016

Bye bye David my friend, will miss the birthday telephone calls and updates. How delicate life is, an operation and poof you are gone. Knowing I won't talk to you again is going to take a major adjustment. I will try to tie my shoes up right per your instructions given many times to me.

Alphonse

July 2, 2016

So sorry to hear of your loss, Brace family. I used to babysit for David and his siblings in the 1940's in Aruba. I met up with David again at an Aruba reunion several years ago and had a very nice conversation with him. He was a very nice person and it was most enjoyable to visit with him. You have my deepest sympathy.

Mitsy Rae
Class of '54
Lago High School

July 2, 2016

Betty and Tara,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. David always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye and love for his family. He will truly be missed.
Shirley Gaske

Richard Rerucha

July 2, 2016

One of the most likeable persons I've ever met. He took care of the wife's feet for over 30 years. He was an excellent podiatrist and man...always had something going on. Godspeed, my friend.

July 2, 2016

He was the best, I was a patient of his. He always had time to talk, especially about sailboats, which we both enjoyed.

Greg Smith

July 1, 2016

DR.BRACE WAS THE BEST.I AM ONE OF HIS PATIENTS. I AM SAD THAT WE LOST HIM. MY CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO HIS WIFE AND DAUGTHER. MAY GOD BLESS ALL HIS FAMILY. ALWAYS VIRGINIA BICKLEY

Steve Fremgen

July 1, 2016

Fair winds and following seas, Dave. I know you have your hand on the windward rail. Semper Fi!

Lisa Ann Gray

July 1, 2016

The Brace Family, Dr. Russell Brace delivered me in Aruba and Randy was a classmate. David will be missed. Please accept my condolences.

Mark and Marielle Rimmer

July 1, 2016

We will miss you even if we didn't see each other often!

July 1, 2016

I will miss most David's attitude and sense of humor. He always had a clever way of expressing himself that was both entertaining and enlightening. I remember the many times when Betty would roll her eyes at his utterances, but with a smile of affection and admiration on her face. He also always brought a smile to my face as well both at the time and when I thought about him later. He still does.

Harvey Mayton

Lisa Geiger

July 1, 2016

David was, well, I can't find the words to describe. He had a thing for duct tape. He loved puzzles. A week before a marathon I was signed up for, he gave me the bad news that surgery was required. And, then he asked for my shoe and proceeded to cut it.

I am honored to have known and spent time with the gentle man, David Brace.

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