Dave Brewton’s life of ‘service to the city he loved’ | The Homepage

Dave Brewton at the groundbreaking for the Gladstone Residences project in 2022. Homepage file photo by Heather Mull

Tributes to the former Hazelwood Initiative senior real estate director from those who knew him

By Juliet Martinez, managing editor

Hazelwood Initiative Inc. and others across the city are mourning the passing of Dave Brewton. He served as the community development corporation’s real estate director for 10 years before retiring in March of last year. He died on July 10 of metastatic prostate cancer.

Mr. Brewton was born on March 21, 1959. He grew up in Upper Saint Clair, graduated from the University of Virginia and moved to Pittsburgh with his wife, Barb, in the early 1980s. They settled in West Oakland and joined Friendship Presbyterian Community Church.

“Dave’s work reflected his calling to seek the welfare of the city he loved,” states his obituary. “He joined members of Friendship who read Isaiah 58, called themselves Breachmenders, and set out to restore the streets of West Oakland by repairing homes and providing affordable apartments.”

Isaiah 58:12 says, “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”

This inspiration was echoed in the mayoral proclamation in Mr. Brewton’s honor on July 19, 2024. Friends and family gathered from around the country to surprise him at the ribbon-cutting for the new-construction affordable homes on Flowers Avenue. Mr. Brewton conceived and spearheaded the project but retired the previous March before it was finished. Part of that project involved working with the Pittsburgh Land Bank to obtain the properties. In the process, he helped streamline the purchase of dozens of land bank sales that came after.

At the event, Mayor Ed Gainey read the proclamation in turns with Sen. Jay Costa and District 1 City Councilor Bobby Wilson.

Mr. Gainey described Mr. Brewton as having lived his life “fighting for the cause of good neighborhoods and good communities.”

The proclamation praised Mr. Brewton for spending his 44-year career advocating for both affordable housing and health care. He raised over $52 million and developed 166 units of affordable housing in that career. Through his work at East Liberty Family Healthcare Center, 100 at-risk families obtained health care.

The proclamation also lists the initiatives he launched promoting youth employment, discount home repair and the preservation of affordable rental housing.

“These initiatives have significantly improved the lives of some of Pittsburgh’s most vulnerable residents, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to social justice,” Mr. Wilson read.

A job well done

Mr. Brewton spent the last 10 years of his career at Hazelwood Initiative Inc. Kristina DiPietro served as the organization’s board chair from 2013 to 2016. She wrote:

I want to take this time to express gratitude for the work of Dave Brewton.

Dave started working in the greater Hazelwood community, as I recall, in 2014. He was a consultant for Hazelwood Initiative Inc. as we started our journey on taking gentrification by the horns. Under the leadership of then-Hazelwood Initiative Inc. board chair Deloris Livsey, the board completed a strategic plan. The plan process gave us the opportunity to explore the real estate needs of our community. The board realized that many other community organizations were doing a great job serving families, so Hazelwood Initiative Inc. would work on tackling affordable housing and securing commercial business for the benefit of Hazelwood community residents.

Enter our relationship with Dave Brewton. It was one of the best decisions we could have made.

Those first years were tough. We had a change in staff leadership and funds were tight. The task seemed insurmountable! But with our then-new executive director Sonya Tilghman and Dave as well as other staff members, we were on our way to begin the work.

Thinking back to that time, I wonder how we have come so far. Of course, we could not have done it without Dave’s steady, committed and knowledgeable talent.

We developed a program for renters to become homeowners; 28 renovated single-family homes have been completed, three built new and at least five more are in process. Through Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh and Dave’s leadership, over 240 Hazelwood homeowners have gotten crucial repairs to their homes. The partnership was started and nurtured by Dave with City of Bridges, Rising Tide Partners and the formation of the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative. In addition, Dave assisted the community development corporation to secure partnerships with banks, foundations and government agencies. Without these partnerships, most of the work could not have been accomplished. Dave was also steadfast in preserving our commercial district along Second Avenue by acquiring 15 business properties for ownership by Hazelwood Initiative Inc.

Dave, your legacy and your commitment to your faith is all over the Greater Hazelwood community. Godspeed. Know your presence will always be here in Greater Hazelwood. A job well done. Rest in peace knowing you did God’s work, making affordable housing available who need it most! Thank you, Dave!

Thoughtfulness, humor and empathy

Mr. Brewton’s co-workers at Hazelwood Initiative praised his love of life and dedication to service.

Sonya Tilghman, executive director:

It’s been difficult to find the words to say goodbye to David.

He was one of the most genuinely “people” people you’ll ever meet. He could talk to anyone about anything — and he often did — but with genuine warmth, curiosity and an ease that made you feel instantly comfortable. He had a funny story or a “dad joke” for every occasion and a ready laugh that drew you in.

I had the privilege of working with David for nearly 10 years, until he retired from Hazelwood Initiative Inc. last year. It was a gift to share that time with him. He brought thoughtfulness, humor and empathy to everything he did.

His love for his family was obvious to anyone who knew him; he spoke of them often and with great pride. He also adored musicals, his dog (whom he even named Hamilton!) and — of course — his snacks. Many of you in Hazelwood knew him as that guy on the bike; another one of his joys. He also found joy in his work, relating often how he had always felt called to serving communities as he had for his entire career. We are all better for his service.

And because I’m still not sure how to say goodbye, I’ll simply say this: Rest well, David. You will be missed.

Ray Bowman, asset manager: I had the privilege of working with David for two years before his retirement. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor while I was getting my feet under me in community development. There were, of course, the practical aspects of the job that I needed to learn, and he was patient and knowledgeable while I caught on. I felt lucky to be learning from someone with a lifetime of experience in affordable housing. But early on he told me that it was possible to do this work with love, and I began to appreciate what he meant when I watched him approach every decision with this mindset. It’s still hard for me to keep that centered when the work gets difficult, but when it does, I remember how he put what was best for the people and communities he loved over all else. His verve, ambition, optimism, and energy were infectious and I’m grateful for the time I had with him trying to keep up.

Khaleelah Ali Muhammad, administrative assistant: Dave, what can I say... When I think of you, I remember your broad beautiful smile, your laugh, kindness, warm and funny words. I miss your presence in the office; it’s a bit quieter and a lot less fun since you’ve retired. The office now is quiet, still; there’s less thrill. Now I know who brought the cheer.

Be at peace, dear Dave, so kind, your memory forever in our mind. With heartfelt thanks and your remembrance bright, as you embark on your final flight,

Farewell, my friend, may you find rest,

In nature’s arms, forever blessed.

An eye toward the greater good

This tribute comes from one of the commercial real estate tenants Mr. Brewton worked with in Hazelwood.

Tim Kaulen, Industrial Arts Workshop executive director: Remembering Dave Brewton will be easy on one hand and also incredibly hard to reconcile with losing him.

When I first met Dave, he introduced himself and then quickly stated that I was his second favorite artist, second to Michelangelo. How could we not become instant friends with such a forward sense of kindness? From there, we started our scheduled meeting for my benefit of understanding the ways of establishing a community resource and nonprofit in Hazelwood.

Our connection as friends grew at every step in the complicated work over the years. Dave mentored me on all facets of community engagement as well as the practical steps to being a responsible neighbor, tenant and ambassador for the arts in Hazelwood. Dave had a high level of professional respect and care and at the same time accountability in doing the challenging work of real estate and community development. To Dave it wasn’t only work, it was service to community.

Even during his battle with cancer and while working at Hazelwood Initiative, Dave led every opportunity with an eye toward the greater good. He led with compassion, humor, wit and respect for those who worked with him and around him. He always put the interests and needs of others as the number one priority.

I will miss Dave dearly. I also know that the success of the work that we currently do in Hazelwood will always be a result of his service to the community. And as I look around at the positive impacts of our programs, I will be reminded of Dave and his commitment to others. We are all in a better place because of him.

More tributes

Andrea Boykowycz, executive director, Oakland Planning and Development Corporation:

All of us at OPDC are sad to learn of Dave’s passing but grateful for his many years of service as a dedicated West Oakland community member, his work with Breachmenders and the Friendship Community Church, and the generous hours he put in with OPDC’s real estate committee and the board of the Oakland Development Fund.

He was friendly, thoughtful, always engaged, and eager to do the often-unglamorous work to make Oakland a better place and its community organizations more effective. We learned a lot from Dave, and it was both a joy and a privilege to have known and worked with him. Our thoughts are with the Brewton family and the many neighbors, colleagues and friends whose lives he touched.

April Clisura: Condolences to Dave’s family and co-workers. As a role model of exemplary principles and practical action, he made a big impact.

Shelley Dzura-White: Dave was truly one of the best humans and will be missed by many! Such a humble man! Fly high with the angels Mr. Dave, rest with our Lord.

Pamela Guercio: Dave was a genuine good person. I’m sad to hear of his passing rest well dear sir.

Caroline Mitchell: The world with Dave Brewton in it was a better place. Farewell, good friend. I so miss the sight of you walking across the green grass in the mornings. You now sing with the angel band: o come / angel band / come and around me stand/ bear me away on your snow white wings / to my immortal home. . .

Holly Ann Normand: Dave was a beautiful soul.

Mark Rauterkus: Dave was a giant in my book.

Nancy Schaefer: Reconnected with Dave in Schenley Park last year; he was the same wonderful, kind person I met so many years ago at Breachmenders.

John T. Tokarski: David... You will be missed by so many that words can’t even begin to describe the impact that you had on Pittsburghers, their communities and the city itself.

When I told you of my cancer diagnosis, you empathized with me by sharing your journey and battle against the disease.

I will always remember and appreciate your time, kindness and open ear to listen to my own fear with what I was facing.

A Thank You is all I can offer at this time...Until we meet again.

Matthew Young Bolton: The first time I met Dave for a work-related meeting he fed me homemade chocolate. A very special man that made this world a better place.

Author’s note: I was fortunate to work with Dave at Hazelwood Initiative Inc. If he was in the office, he was sure to greet me with a bright smile. His joy was infectious.

I was also lucky to receive the benefit of his wisdom. He filled me in on the history of different projects and people in the neighborhood when I was new to covering Greater Hazelwood and surrounding communities. He praised my work sincerely but offered feedback that was frank but gentle and extremely useful.

The last time I was in contact with him, he told me that he was starting hospice care.

“I’m ready,” he wrote.

I don’t think anyone else was. Godspeed, friend. I will not forget you.