David Paul Bennett

May 30, 1945 – September 2, 2018

We are saddened by the passing of our creative, kind, and generous partner, brother, uncle and friend, David Bennett. David was born on May 30, 1945 in Port Arthur, Texas, to William Bennett and Carol (Lefkovits) Bennett and grew up with his sister, Karleen and brother, Herman. He passed away at home in Portland on September 2, 2018.

As a young man, David was often called David Paul by his family. A niece had a difficult time pronouncing that name and called him Bapoo instead. The nickname stuck and he was called Bapoo by family and friends throughout his life.

David graduated from Port Arthur Thomas Jefferson in 1963 and the University of Texas in Austin in 1967. He registered as a conscientious objector and fulfilled his conscientious objector service in Oakland, California and throughout his life believed that the way of peace was the best way for him. David became a registered nurse and worked in a hospital in Fresno before moving to Portland in 1979. In Portland, he continued working as a nurse in critical care units, as a home health care nurse for people with HIV/AIDS and finally as a nurse in Our House. David was a licensed massage therapist. David took great joy in nursing and giving massages.

The desire to help people led David into activism. He assisted in the development of the needle exchange program at Outside In, was a longtime volunteer with the Cascade AIDS Program and supported many other non-profit agencies with his time and with financial resources. Many participants in a camp for abused children received quilts that David made for them by hand. He supported small, locally-run businesses and was active in the LGBT community.

As a talented and creative person, David was a prolific writer who had a novel published right before his death and will have two additional novels published posthumously. He sewed lovely quilts and quilted wall-hangings which were frequently displayed around town.

Traveling was a passion for David and he was often happiest on multi-day road trips throughout the west coast and in the southwest desert. His nomadic ways saw him travel around the US, Canada and Europe. David divided much of last two decades of his life in his home in Astoria and his partner Ken’s home in southeast Portland.

David is survived by Ken LaCour, his life partner of 23 years; sister, Karleen Hebert; Brother Herman Bennett; as well as nieces and nephews and many, many dear friends. We will all remember Bapoo for his courageous and generous spirit, his dry wit and sometimes silly sense of humor, and his ability to always do the right thing and to love without expectation. We know his presence in the world made it a more peaceful, healthy and happy place.

Please leave a memory or message about David by clicking on the Tribute button above. A memorial service will be held in the future.