Remembering Douglas Holbrook

by Muriel Vasconcellos

Yesterday my neighbors John and Liz Baker came by to tell me that our friend Douglas Holbrook had died. I couldn’t believe it. Douglas, such a force of nature, isn’t the kind of person who dies. I had talked with him for over an hour several days earlier and he seemed to be in perfect health with big plans for the future, excited about the success of his radio show, and overjoyed that his little granddaughter was going to be in San Diego. His mother was about to celebrate her 92nd birthday. …

I dreamed all night that it wasn’t true, but the news was on the Internet this morning.

Others will tell the story of his career as a criminal defense attorney, his radio shows, his stint teaching political science at the State University of San Diego, the pride he took in his Irving Gill home, and the love he had for his two daughters. I will focus here on what he meant to me as a friend.

Douglas and I shared many experiences. We met on the battlefield of HOA politics, fighting on the same side (I would not have wanted to be his opponent). As we schemed over next steps to be taken in our campaign, I learned that we had other interests in common: the Enneagram of Personality and Emotional Freedom Technique—both of them frameworks for personal growth. For a number of years he regularly attended monthly Enneagram study meetings at my home. He straddled the Enneagram domains of the Six and the Seven, evincing some of the highest qualities of both: the loyalty, reliability, and perseverance of the Six and the optimism, versatility, and playfulness of the Seven.

He was also a superb teacher. When he taught me how to make a website, I was amazed at his patience and the clarity of his explanations.

He enlisted my Spanish interpreting skills on numerous trips to Mexico to take advantage of skilled low-cost labor such as furniture-making, shoe repair, and most important, body work on a series of different cars. He also liked to shop for Mexican crafts. Each trip became an adventure and I always ended up laughing myself silly.

Douglas also introduced me to his good friend Tony Sawaya, a kind and generous soul who is far more than just the best mechanic on the planet. In fact, Douglas attracted many amazing people into his orbit. That was one of his gifts.

While I prefer to remember Douglas for who he was than what he did, I know he was particularly excited about the success of his radio show, “The Talk of The Town,” with John Baker and (former San Diego city attorney) Mike Aguirre. I hope the show will continue.

About the Author

In addition to her work as an author and blogger, Muriel Vasconcellos is a translator by profession. Her translation career spans more than four decades and she has clients throughout the world.

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Thank you, for this lovely post about your remarkable friend, Douglas Holbrook.

The universe became a little less lustrous over the weekend. We lost a driving force of goodness in this world and we are all the less without him. On the other hand, he left us with a legacy so clear and delightful, we should all keep it going in memory of him. I hope the radio show continues with his fellow wise-guys continuing the fun and important messages. I send condolences to all of Doug’s family and friends. I know there is a lot sorrow around San Diego but there should also be a lot of comfort because you were blessed to be in the company of a great man for a long time.

Diane Smelser

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I’m pleased that you remembered him in this way and I thank you for writing this. I have great memories of him and you are a part of one of many memories.

Michael Zau

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I was very pleased to read about Mr. Holbrook, but naturally saddened that the reason for the blog was his death. People of that caliber are always a major loss to everyone, whether we knew them personally or not. I’m sure that I would have liked him a lot, and am glad that at least I can at least vicariously enjoy what he was like, through reading about him.

Kate O’Connell