We have lost a friend and a damn great lawyer

David Ernst Obituary

Those who knew him enjoyed a century of laughs in 64 years. Still, when Dave Ernst died, on July 28, 2025, he left us wanting much more. 

Other-oriented, jovial, a listener and asker, Dave missed no chance to make you giggle with his self-effacing wit. One was as likely to find Dave dancing with an infant relative as huddled with the head of a Fortune 500 company. Whoever and wherever, Dave liked people and people liked Dave. 

Dave was born on October 2, 1960, to Gloria and Walter Ernst. He was the youngest of three siblings; his sister Nancy Hasselblad and his brother Bob Ernst survive as does his mother. He was raised in Troutdale, Oregon, attended Reynolds High School, and studied music at Oregon State University. 

After graduating from Lewis & Clark Law School, Dave worked for over 25 years at the Portland law firm of Bullivant Houser Bailey, where he served as the firm’s president. He then continued his work as a nationally renowned food safety attorney in the Portland office of Davis Wright Tremaine. 

Dave gave tirelessly of his time to help other lawyers succeed, mentoring colleagues young and old. Prior to his retirement from DWT, Dave served as the firm-wide Succession Planning Partner. His passion for mentorship and passing down knowledge continued into his retirement, during which he put his special personal skills to work as a food safety mediator and law firm succession planner. 

Dave’s civic and professional accomplishments coalesced his love of the arts and the law and included serving as chair of the board of Business for Culture & the Arts, on the board of visitors of Lewis & Clark Law School, and on the boards of Classroom Law Project, Portland Youth Philharmonic, and Portland Baroque Orchestra. 

Although he began dating his wife, Kathryn, a few years after law school, he had in fact connected with her family years before: while an undergraduate at OSU, he gave trumpet lessons to Kathryn’s youngest brother, Tom. 

In their 38 years of marriage Dave and Kathryn raised two wonderful children, who became the center of their world: Abby, a mental health therapist in Portland, and Brian, an attorney in Seattle. Dave was immensely proud of both. Dave and Kathryn built a loving home filled with fun and laughter, games and music, and an open welcome to friends and family. Cooks and learners, the family celebrated each Christmas by making dishes from the cuisine of a country they picked out of a hat. Two weeks before his death, Dave was delighted to add another daughter to his family: Brian’s spouse Emilie Kurth. His lovable grand-dog, Gio, also brought Dave much joy. 

Due to his nationwide demand as an attorney, Dave developed a fondness for travel and geography, the more unusual and unique the better. In addition to visiting all 50 states, Dave traveled to Greenland, Iceland, and Yellowknife, Canada. Dave relished a family trip to Italy, biking in the Alps with his brother-in-law, a father-son trip to Thailand and Laos, and many family vacations in Hawaii. For Dave, the love of those Hawaii trips–and all travel–was enjoying it with family. 

No matter where he was, Dave made everyone feel at home. Dave was genuinely interested in others and made every conversation about them, even when one might expect his terminal cancer to take center stage. Dave loved gathering with friends, whether over a Pitch game, on a bike, or in his backyard over a Gin and Tonic. Dave died as he lived–surrounded by his most loved ones. 

If you wish to honor Dave’s legacy, please consider donating to Civics Learning Project, or enjoying a Gin and Tonic with those you love.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.