David Brooks

David Brooks passed away peacefully on September 11, 2022 at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital with his immediate family by his side. He was pre-deceased by father George (Marie), and survived by mother Georgia (David Campbell pre-deceased), brothers Alex (Linda), Andy (Maureen), nephews Stephen (Michelle), Jamie (Min Ju), niece Kailey (Scott), and great nephews Nash, Jackson, Griffin and great niece Piper. David was also pre-deceased by cousin Shelagh and is survived by cousin Dan (Cindy).

David Sims Brooks was born in 1956 in Bracebridge, where he attended Bracebridge Public School and BMLSS. Throughout his life, David maintained close connections with his many high school friends, seeing them regularly and sharing wonderful memories. During his summers, and after high school, Dave worked for Fowler Construction as a driver and dispatcher, and in the winter sand camps while at college in Toronto. He attended Humber College, graduating in 1978 in Business Administration. There, David fostered life-long friendships with Blair, Don and Gareth. In 1985 he joined his brother Alex as a Leon Furniture franchisee within the family business. The intervening and subsequent years of his life, however, were not easy for David and his family.

A defining time in David’s life came in 1980 with a critical diagnosis of acute renal failure.

As years progressed, David was heavily involved with the Canadian Kidney Foundation, serving as the president of its Muskoka chapter. He volunteered his time to the North American medical community, providing personal insights and critical medical information for renal research. Indeed, he was the second patient admitted to the globally-recognized nocturnal hemodialysis unit at the Humber Memorial Hospital. At the time of his death, ending his 42- year battle with renal failure, David was 1 dialysis cycle away from his 10,000th treatment.

Continuing to work for the family business as Andy and Maureen assumed the reigns, and later in other ventures as health permitted, David moved to Sundridge to build a beautiful house on the shores of Lake Bernard. In 2020, he returned to Bracebridge to be close to his immediate family, purchasing a house with his mother Georgia.

David’s greatest gift was his ability to reach out to those with critical health afflictions. He offered them comfort, empathy, and most importantly, sage advice on moving forward and facing life’s health challenges armed with knowledge and determination, as he did so admirably throughout his life.

A celebration of David’s life will take place on Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 at the Rotary Center for Youth, 131 Wellington St., Bracebridge, Ontario, from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Donations in David’s memory would be welcomed by the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation.