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The family of Dave Brittell uploaded a photo
Friday, June 1, 2018
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The family of Dave Brittell uploaded a photo
Friday, June 1, 2018
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Vivian Mcculloch posted a condolence
Friday, March 10, 2017
Diane, so sorry to hear your mom gone also. We loved her and wish we had known. Tried to reach you but can’t seem to connect. Email me if you can.
surreytraveller@aol.com
Vivian and Tod McCulloch
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Mel and Kevin posted a condolence
Monday, February 9, 2015
A year it has been dear Davey since you left us…It is K and I’s annivesary and we are sharing a peice of cake for/with you. Happy Birthday Beautiful Cousin of mine…
J
Jessica Reeves-Rush posted a condolence
Sunday, July 6, 2014
I hadn’t seen Dave in many years but he is a big part of my earliest memories. Tracking bobcats with my father I met Dave and not only was he a family friend but a mentor. There was a time when I thought I wanted to grow up to be just like him, but I ended up an English Lit major for fear of math. Dave showed me a fabulous world of going where the animals are, interacting as little as we must, releasing and watching them from afar. I give my love to him as a friend, mentor and one who helped to cultivate in me an environmentalist. I miss him dearly and will never in all my life forget the sound of his voice. I love you Dave, and miss you. God Bless… Jessica
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Lora Leschner posted a condolence
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Hello family and friends of Dave Brittell,
I really miss Dave. Every day, there is a memory or event that makes me think of him. He will remain in my heart and his wisdom helps direct my future actions and he is an inspiration for work and life.
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Dave Ware posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
The Legacy of Dave Brittell
Although most of us don’t know Dave’s family well, we are certain of their importance to him. He talked about them often and took great pride in his daughters Megan and Bess and of course his life partner, his wife Diane. Although it wasn’t until his retirement party that he publically admitted that Diane made all of his delicious contributions to agency celebrations and “pot lucks”.
Dave also frequently talked about those he shared experiences with (in addition to his daughters) hiking the Cascade Crest trail, great hunting adventures in other states and Canadian Provinces, and helping friends with a myriad of construction projects.
In addition, he will be remembered long into the future for his contributions to wildlife management in Washington and particularly his incessant quest to secure key pieces of land that will result in healthy, sustainable wildlife long into our future. This part of his legacy will likely be the one that survives the longest in Washington history and deservedly so. Fifty or a hundred years from now, citizens will look back be thankful for the vision of Dave Brittell who protected key wild places forever. They may not remember the battles, but they will respect and cherish the results regardless if they know who was a key player in securing that protection.
Many have and will express these facets of Dave’s life to others.
I want to express the legacy that Dave leaves in the hearts and lives of the people he worked with. That legacy will live on in all of us to whom he passes on his torch. Whether you recognize that Dave may have ignited or his legacy contributed to or at least is consistent with a similar fire in you.
Many talk about the qualities of leadership and those leaders who inspire others to live up to or perhaps exceed their potential. Dave Brittell was one of those leaders, not that he handled every situation perfectly, but his understanding of complex situations, understanding of individual needs and values, and his ability to frame what is important about issues was indisputable. This complex understanding combined with his greatest strength which was his sincere respect and caring for people and desire for everyone to succeed. This was the basis of his commonly quoted mantra of “hard on issues and soft on people”.
What I would like to expound on is his greatest legacy which was how he infused his core values into the people and culture of the Wildlife Program as well as the agency. This legacy of Dave Brittell will live on through the people he interacted with directly and all those who follow.
Dave took over the leadership of the Wildlife Program at a time when the program had been floundering for many years. His confidence, leadership, and work ethic was grounded on core values that were easy to embrace because most people in the Program already held those values deeply. The difference in his leadership was that he understood how to achieve those values through people. Not everyone functions on the same set of personal values; Dave knew that and inspired others to function at a high level based on their own personal values. He also understand the “state governance system” at its basic level, he knew that to be successful, one needed to understand that there were ways to get around or quickly satisfy hurdles and rules. He passed those values to all of us he mentored in the agency.
One of those culture changing values he instilled was that if resolution of an issue is important to achieve core values, then we need to be smart and diligent enough to resolve the issue. Others have been credited with the term “no victims”, but Dave embraced it and encouraged it in staff. The bottom line is that we should not wallow in the problem statement… figure out how to deal with the problem and identify solutions, so you can resolve the issue. For managers Dave would diplomatically suggest: Don’t tell me about the lack of funding or resources to achieve priority issues; it is our job to figure out how to get the resources. If the issue is funding, find the money; if the issue is Commission support or regulations, convince them and change the rules; and if the issue is Legislative support or laws, then change the laws.
He infused all of that into others by supporting us in our efforts to address the important issues and get past the hurdles. This was probably his greatest strength during the later part of his reign as Assistant Director of the Wildlife Program. At this point in his leadership of the Wildlife Program he may have recognized that to pass on his passion and shared values, he needed to transition from a detail oriented manager to one who allowed others to try; he needed to support their efforts; and demand that they learn from their mistakes…No Victims.
It is these shared values, Dave’s values, which allow us to continue to recruit top candidates into the Wildlife Program and the Department. If you want to make a difference in how wildlife management embraces the future; if you want to be able to pass on your advocacy for wildlife; if you want to make a difference; if you know that your job is to be a professional scientist or support good science and as such you understand that you must be objective; that you work for the public and they ultimately make the decisions; and you are willing to work hard and smart in how to achieve those values, then you share Dave’s legacy.
In order for us to achieve lasting success, we must embrace the same values as Dave: “hard on issues, soft on people” and I would add that we need to be strategic about how to achieve support from the public for important values. We all make mistakes, which should be embraced by management; what we should be held to is learning from mistakes; and we should be rewarded for significant accomplishments. That is Dave’s legacy.
His life and his values live on in all of us.
To Dave:
Know that you have passed on your legacy to your immediate family, but also to those in the Department of Fish and Wildlife who think of us as a family. We who believe in an afterlife look forward to joining you later.
All of us thank you for sharing your life with us and we pray that you rest in peace.
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Beau Patterson posted a condolence
Thursday, February 20, 2014
I just learned of Dave’s passing and wish to express my appreciation for him and condolences to his family. I had many good conversations with the man, and highly respected his opinion. He truly embodied his philosophy of “tough on issues, easy on people”. Wildlife has lost a great advocate.
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Don P. Fowler posted a condolence
Monday, February 17, 2014
Dave and I grew up together in the community of Illahee on Puget sound. We both graduated from East Bremerton High school, Dave in 1970 and I in 1972. Dave was best man in my wedding and I was best man in his. We lost touch probably 7 or 8 years after high school and didn’t reconnect until a couple of months ago. It was so good to hear his voice and catch up on all that we had missed over the last 30 years. Dave, being Mr. positive as always, said things were going good and he was on the mend. We had hoped to get together in the next couple of months. My sincere condolences to Diane, his daughters and his family. Dave was an extraordinary individual and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to have grown up with him. We did so many things together like hiking, fishing, water skiing, motor cycle riding, going to concerts, movies and ball games and working together. Of all the things we did though I will always cherish the memories of the hikes we went on and the fishing that we did in the high mountain lakes and rivers. It was clear that wildlife management was a perfect fit for Dave from a career stand point. It was clear to me back then that whatever Dave did in life he would give it his all and excel in it. From everything that I have read, he certainly did. There is no doubt in my mind that John David Brittell, through his friendship and mentorship played a major role in helping me establish the values and work ethic that would guide my life. Thanks so much Dave! I so wish we could have had time to catch up some more!
I heard there might be a memorial service in the spring. I would love to attend if some one could tell me when and where. Don Fowler – (206)-793-5422 – dfowler@triumphgroup.com
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Pat Miller posted a condolence
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Dave and I started in the Game Program atabout the same time and over the years we became friends. I enjoyed our days in the duck boat talking about our families and places to hunt and fish in the future. He volunteered to come out on a deer transplant when we had our worst day ever and yet he found the way to make me feel like the day had gone well. As a leader of the Wildlife program we have known no one better. His leadership style was always supportive of his people. I was looking forward to hunting and fishing with him in my retirement and I will miss not doing that, but I have some great memeories of the times we did get together. My family will keep a good thought for Diane and the girls.
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Celia Roberts posted a condolence
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Dave was my “temporary RD” while Michele was out on family leave two years ago. He always had a smile. Always listened. Always expressed true concern and caring. It is good to know the DFW family has had such a powerful and positive example of the right way to lead your life. He is not gone. He has merely gone on before us to light the way.
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Rich Finger posted a condolence
Thursday, February 13, 2014
I was not fortunate enough to know Dave personally but in my few and brief discussions with him I found him to be very friendly and genuine and truly interested in making a difference for field staff. His reputation preceded him as a respected leader and conservationist and I regret missing the opportunity to get to know him better. I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends.
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Ellen Rice posted a condolence
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
I think of Dave as such a kind person. It seems so unfair that he did not have more time to enjoy his retirement. Our thoughts are with his family. Our hearts go out to you.
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James Gallegos posted a condolence
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
I want to extend my sincere condolences to Dave’s family. I first met Dave as a regional program manager in region 6. At times early in my career I worried I would be laid off because of my temporary status. Dave would always say don’t worry about it we will work something out, and here I am 28 years later. Dave pulled a rabbit out of his hat many times for me and lots of other folk. Dave’s family and the Dept. family has suffered a grave loss.
We will always have him in our memory’s.
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Rhonda Fenrich posted a condolence
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Dave was the consummate professional and bridge builder. As the attorney for the union representing most of his employees, I can say that his care and concern for his employees is unparalleled. I am honored to have known Dave. I will miss my friend.
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Bob Vadas, Jr. posted a condolence
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Even though I never worked with Dave, he said hello and spoke with me like a friend in the work hallway. So I knew he was a friendly man, a real mover and shaker from what I’d heard. My condolences to his family for their substantial loss.
J
Jim Brown posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Dave was great person, was always generous, attentive, and professional. His contributions to the fish, wildlife, and habitats of this state will be felt by generations. His ‘fingerprints’ on issues will live on in so many ways. I will miss the support and guidance he provided me in my career endeavors. He was always looking for the positive outcome from difficult professional challenges, not unlike the outlook he had on his health related challenge. I want to extend my sincere condolences to Dave’s wife and family, and wish them well in tis time of difficulty and change. Jim
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Marc Hallet posted a condolence
Monday, February 10, 2014
I want to extend my sincere condolences to Dave’s family. I have always thought very highly of Dave both professionally and personally ever since I met him as a lynx biologist in Okanogan County. Since then, not surprisingly, he accomplished great things for wildlife, the department and the people of Washington. Importantly, he was very gracious in doing so. I am grateful that our paths crossed and will always remember Dave with great fondness.
Marc Hallet
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