David B Nadal

Our brother Dave passed away due to heart failure on Sunday, January 20, 2019. His outgoing personality, BIG laugh and insatiable curiosity will be greatly missed by family and friends. In addition to his big heart and caring nature he will be remembered for his dedication to environmental causes and social justice issues. As president of his sophomore class at Woodrow Wilson High School he organized the signature gathering that put the original Oregon Scenic Rivers bill on the ballot. Two years later he opened and ran the CAMP (Citizens Advancing McCarthy’s Policies) office in Portland to support the presidential campaign of then Senator Eugene McCarthy.

He attended college at New York University, Reed College and then Lewis and Clark College where he had a double major in biology and history. He never pursued a traditional career and primarily supported himself working as a legal wordsmith at large law firms in Los Angeles and Portland. This allowed him to spend almost six months each year on his five acre paradise in Halfway, Oregon as well as time in Salem researching environmental law and lobbying the state legislature on mining regulations and other environmental concerns.

Dave developed Type-2 diabetes and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure six years ago and this severely restricted his activity. He continued to research both environmental and historical topics and loved free-wheeling intellectual discussion. At the time of his death he was corresponding with the city about the potential environmental impact of a proposed second OHSU tram. He continued to be a devoted uncle, brother and friend and became the foster parent to a menagerie that included chameleons, finches and some really cute rats.

In addition to his menagerie (who all went to new homes) he is survived by his two sisters, Katy Nadal (Hansen) and Barbara (Dick) Kuehner and his two brothers Joe (Diana) Nadal and Tom (Lynn) Nadal and five nieces and six nephews who all adored their Uncle Dave.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts in memory of Dave be made to Oregon Wild, The Audubon Society, or The Oregon Human Society.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.skylinememorialgardens.com for the Nadal family.