David Elliot Leaves Behind a Legacy of Social Justice and Kindness

I first met the dedicated, energetic, and exceedingly kind David Elliot at least 20 years ago at my office at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC. But the award-winning journalist and I had known of each other before, as we worked in the same nonprofit circles. 

As Abe Bonowitz, a mutual friend of ours in the anti-death penalty movement, put it, “David hated injustice. He had a knack for homing in on the message that would spur people to action. He was a real friend.” Then Abe added with a laugh, “except when playing poker — then he was shrewd and devilish.”

David could rattle off statistics, policy analysis, political prognostication, and memorable messaging with the best of ‘em. But what also really made David stand out were his stories of people suffering due to injustice — and the answers he provided to reverse these realities.

David was a storyteller, and that drew me to him. And he was always excited, always hopeful. He was steadfast in his belief that justice could prevail.

David served as communications director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, USAction, Fair Share, and finally the Coalition on Human Needs — which is a collection of advocates nationwide working to end poverty and advance thriving for all families. 

He told stories of those impacted by economic hardship, exposing bad policies that hurt families, so that he could work to make things better. David worked with me and my Institute for Policy Studies editor, Peter Certo, to post our stories about families impacted by bad economic policies as well, for which we are so grateful. 

Before his advocacy work, David was an award-winning news reporter at the state capitol bureau of the Austin American-Statesman, with a beat covering the Texas legislature. This is a man who knew people, politics, and how to talk about both. In addition to working to end the death penalty, he was dedicated to covering the AIDS crisis and having it understood as a disease that affects everyone.

David left the Statesman for a progressive news startup back in the early 1990s. Here’s an excerpt from the Austin Chronicle at the time, quoting David on some of the reasons why he made the move — and what was really important to him:

“Sure, the writing and the reporting over at the Statesman has improved, but I still don’t think the paper has a soul or any real compassion. I mean, what are the most important traits for a journalist? Intelligence? Writing ability? No, it’s empathy and compassion and tolerance. In order for this country to wake up to the horror of AIDS, must every family in the nation have someone who is affected, someone who dies?”

That compassion carried through in David’s personal life as well. His many friends delighted in his kindness, his ability to care for others, and his unending sense of humor with that infectious smile. 

On his Facebook page in the wake of his passing, friend Michael J. O’Neill wrote of David’s chronicling of the historic broadening of human rights in the U.S. as marriage equality became law. He recounted how, on a ski trip with David’s many friends, David kept them apprised daily of the progress made while they were skiing. O’Neill said:

 “If younger people ask you to recount an earlier time when the U.S. expanded human rights for its citizens, maybe you will remember those apres-ski news briefings he would relate to us. Our country was taking big steps towards equal marriage recognition. It meant so much to me that many of us could celebrate that good news together after our friend and professional journalist, David, informed us of each day’s progress.”

David was also known as a fierce University of Texas sports fan and was as excited about following and prognosticating about all kinds of sports as he was about his other great passions.

David’s dedicated colleagues at the Coalition on Human Needs have written a wonderful tribute to him, ending their tribute this way:

 “David’s friend and colleague Nicolai [Haddal] summed up our feelings by saying ‘There will simply never ever be another David Elliot.’ But we can be guided by his desire for social and economic justice. David’s fierce but humane commitment is his legacy to us, and we’re grateful for it.” 

David faced many challenges throughout his life, including his health. No matter how hard we fight, cancer’s insidiousness is too often beyond what we can withstand. I share that cancer challenge David had, and I don’t know my fate. However, I do hope to face it with as much grace, grit, and humor as David, even though I know I can only fall short of it.

Our mutual friend and colleague, Judy Conti of the National Employment Law Center, said it perfectly: “He was one of the best human beings I ever knew.”

Rest in peace and power, dear, sweet David. You are greatly missed.