Dave Brann: An ordinary man who does extraordinary things </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:19 PM on Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Dave Brann: An ordinary man who does extraordinary things

I do not know much about the ASAA Hall of Fame, but I do know a couple of things about Dave Brann, recently inducted in their entourage. An educator, a writer, a historian, an artist, an outdoor leader, a naturalist, a steward, a communicator, a volunteer, a doer ... in short, Homer’s own Renaissance Man … yet an ordinary man (that is why we treasure him so) who does truly extraordinary things for his community, his family and his friends. A citizen who has been responsible for years toward the community of Homer, yet who exemplifies the qualities of good citizenship, regardless of his place of residence because that is who he is, what he does and how he acts (lucky us Homerites).

Photo provided
Dave Brann, who recently was inducted into the ASAA Hall of Fame, is shown canoeing on Dolly Varden Lake in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Sterling in October. It is Brann "truly in his element," writes friend Hal Neace.

When Mr. Brann retired a decade ago at the school I teach in, I remarked later that what I missed most in his absence was his consistently balanced and fairly presented viewpoints (couched with no hidden personal agenda nor clout) on any topic or discussion in our meetings.

There is a word for that kind of repeated interaction in a group. We are literally drawn to it in its presence. Some call it wisdom, others as “being raised in Maine.” Dave, as usual, shrugged my assessment off with, “but that is so normal.”

Hmmm …

Years ago when he drove to Alaska on the Alaska Highway, he stopped at my cabin in North Idaho for a cup of coffee and a night’s rest. We only had a few hours to visit, as I had to catch a flight out of Spokane. That summer our family had to topple my Grannie Della’s prized birch tree as it was dying. Little did I know that Dave took a bolt of that birch. Later that Christmas, he presented it to the Neace family: a beautiful polished wooden bowl as a lifelong remembrance, now resting on the mantle in our cabin. Thoughtful, reflective … always giving the time …. all are Dave.

His stories of Russia and Lake Baikal are now legendary. If you get a chance, listen to them. You’ll soon realize his impact is more than contributing to one of the greatest trail systems on this planet in one of the world’s most pristine and wild ecosystems.

He is one of Homer’s finest ambassadors extraordinaire. Local Rotarian sponsorship sends Dave abroad. Those who get the opportunity to sit around a campfire with Dave or work alongside him with a Pulaski on the shores of Lake Baikal undoubtedly come away with a renewed sense of international goodwill and understanding — something that seems not in an abundant supply from the front pages of the daily newspapers I have been reading lately.

He has hosted many of his new international friends in Homer where I have met them around our own bonfires. You’d never know we had gone through a 45-year cold war. The power of common hopes, dreams and warmth.

Time is a luxury that has often been defined as “something we give to ourselves.” With Dave Brann, it’s what he so generously gives to us, to our communities and the world at large. His latest effort is organizing the Fridays-in-February-Torchlight-Ski-Tours along the Baycrest Trails. There is one left in the month. If you attend, you’re guaranteed to be inspired and rejuvenated from your work week. All proceeds go to help purchase land for the ski trails through the Kachemack Heritage Land Trust.

If all this weren’t enough, and in addition to the thousands of hours of volunteerism so often reported in our local press, it is unmistakably known by all that know this man from Maine that he is as humble as his heart is huge. So to this fellow who gets things done, thanks, Dave. Voila.

Hal Neace has been an educator and resident on the southern Kenai Peninsula since 1976.