Daniel-Brandhorst-Gamboa-Obituary

Daniel Brandhorst-Gamboa

Los Angeles, California

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Los Angeles, California

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Daniel and Ron and their son, David; victims of United Airlines Flight #175 on September 11, 2001. Dear friends of Donato Tramuto and Jeffrey Porter of Ogunquit. A celebration of their lives will held on Saturday, October 6th at 11 o'clock at the Ogunquit Baptist Church, 175 Shore Road, Ogunquit. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Brandhorst-Gamboa Memorial Bench Fund, c/o Tramuto-Porter, P.O. Box 1728, Ogunquit, ME 03907. J.S. Waterman & Sons-Eastman-Waring 617-536-4110
Paid Notice published in THE BOSTON GLOBE on September 30, 2001.

Proud Adoptive Parents
Daniel Brandhorst and Ronald Gamboa changed their flight plans so they could return to Los Angeles from Boston on Sept. 11 with their son, David Gamboa-Brandhorst, on United Airlines Flight 175.

Mr. Brandhorst, 41, was an accountant for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Los Angeles and Mr. Gamboa, 33, was the manager of a Gap store in Santa Monica. David, 3, who was named for Daniel's brother, was adopted in 1998. He had, said Donato Tramuto, the friend they had visited in Maine over the weekend, "the spirit of Ron and the intellectual curiosity of Daniel."

Mr. Brandhorst and Mr. Gamboa had been introduced at a party 13 years earlier. Mr. Gamboa was the lighter side of the two. "He could make a rainy day look happy," Mr. Tramuto said. David Brandhorst, Daniel's brother, said "Ron was the other side that kept Dan civil."

In 1996, Mr. Brandhorst and Mr. Gamboa moved to Los Angeles, when Mr. Gamboa became a troubleshooting manager at the Gap and Mr. Brandhorst got on the road to his partnership at PricewaterhouseCoopers. David arrived in 1998, with Mr. Brandhorst and Mr. Gamboa there at his birth. Mr. Brandhorst, said Scott Pisani, a senior consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Los Angeles, "was very intense and focused at work." But with the arrival of David, "he made a tremendous amount of time for his family," including taking his son to work with him.

Few people on the work side knew about Mr. Brandhorst's family. "My brother led two lives," David Brandhorst said. "A private personal life and a business life."

Mr. Tramuto said that Mr. Brandhorst himself was "very skeptical about what this lifestyle meant." But after years together with Mr. Gamboa and their success as parents, Mr. Tramuto said, "I told him that `you and Ron have convinced me that two men can really raise a child.' " The proud parents, Mr. Tramuto added, had planned to adopt another child.

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

Dan
Gary here again. I was looking at the messages many others left for you, Ron and little David. It’s a tribute to you that so many keep in touch and have their own memories to share, year after year.
I happened to see a note I left for you back in 2016 that was saved in David’s book. Here it is again, and every word still comes from my heart
Gary
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Hi Dan-
I'm staring at my TV, on this early Sunday morning in Pasadena, as your name scrolls...

Always remembered...

Hi Dan -

It is hard to believe that another year has passed since
you, David and Ron left us. When I shared a post about
you on my Facebook page, several Oscar production staff
who worked with seatfillers remembered you. They said
you were a great seatfiller!!! I know how much fun you
had participating! Brings a smile to my face! Miss you
my friend! Much love!

Every year I try to post a remembrance of Dan and his family. He was such a warm person in the office next to me at PwC. And meeting his brother after 9/11 and hearing stories and helping him through this tragedy. I just wish this never happened.

People are worried that the younger generation will not understand what happened on September 11. It isn’t something that can be explained fully. How can you explain the loss of a beautiful family and a wonderful friend and then multiply that by 1000? I still think about the fun times in the office and the ski trips with Jildy and Kyu Hong. You got me through some tough times and were always there for your friends. There is a tree in Central Park in your memory.

Dan
I heard on the radio, as I’m sure you know, that thousands gathered in New York to remember, together, those that passed on this day years ago. I’m in Pasadena, still, but my remembrance of that day is as real for me as for those in New York. Many of them have gathered there every year as my thoughts have been with you every year. Dan, I’m a Grandpa now which has made me think about generations past, here today, and those to come. I have passed your story along to my kids, and now...

We have never forgot you Daniel, Ron and David. I also had some time with your brother Daniel after while I worked at PwC. We miss all of you

Forgot to say I hope you and Kyu Hong have found each other in the afterlife. Too soon.

Dan I don’t know how we all got through another year. We miss you. Thank you for being a part of our lives.