The Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ) mourns the passing of longtime Board Member David Bracker, who passed away on October 7, 2025. For more than two decades, David was an extraordinary advocate, leader, and friend to CJCJ. His wisdom, compassion, and unwavering belief in second chances helped shape much of who we are as an organization today.
A native San Franciscan, David was deeply proud of his Mexican and Mission District roots. He graduated from Lowell High School, earned his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, and went on to receive a Master of Social Work from San Francisco State University.
David’s lifelong commitment to public service and his community defined both his professional career and personal life. Over several decades, he served in leadership roles across San Francisco – based nonprofits dedicated to health, social services, and job training for underserved communities. He began his career in the 1970’s at Arriba Juntos, where he later became Executive Director. His nonprofit work also included service at the Mission Neighborhood Health Center and the Hearing Society for the Bay Area. Later in his career, David worked as a management consultant, helping strengthen the administrative and programmatic capacity of many community organizations.
David joined the CJCJ Board of Directors 25 years ago, during a particularly challenging time for the agency. His strength of character, clear vision about CJCJ’s mission and values, and steady guidance were critical to the agency’s renewal and resilience. Over the years, David continued to be instrumental in developing CJCJ’s organizational capacity. He was highly respected and deeply admired by the CJCJ Board of Directors and staff, who appreciated his commitment to fairness, social justice, and second chances.David was not “all work and no play.” He loved cars, wine, tennis, travel, and time with his family and friends. He and his wife, artist Kathy Kenny, shared 38 joyful years of marriage. In addition to Kathy, David is survived by his beloved daughter, Megan Peterson, and many extended family members and friends.
To celebrate his life and honor his connection to CJCJ, David’s family has lovingly created a memorial page where friends, colleagues, and community members can share stories and memories: https://www.forevermissed.com/
Those who wish to honor David’s legacy can give via the GoFundMe account set up to honor his life: https://gofund.me/9f8d1b344 Donations will be directed to CJCJ in David’s memory. Your support helps continue the work and values that David so deeply believed in — creating opportunity, advancing justice, and building a more compassionate San Francisco.
Rest in peace, David ~ your belief in second chances will forever be part of who we are.