Gary William Brounstein passed away Nov. 22, 2021, at age 79. Gary is survived by his brother, Dale Brounstein; sister-in-law, Cherrie; sister, Carol Buckle; and the nieces and nephews who loved their 'Uncle G'.

Gary was born Aug. 17, 1942, the eldest son of Bernard and Celia Brounstein. He grew up in Northeast Portland, graduated from Grant High School and earned an AA degree at Chemeketa Community College.

He worked for the Oregon Employment Division for more than 30 years in social service programs and job counseling. Through his work, he lived in several different cities in the state, with Lebanon being his favorite. He lived most of his life in Portland.

When Gary was a young child, his parents were told that he would never walk. For years, his mother took him on the bus across town to the Jewish Community Center for physical therapy and swimming. And he did learn to walk.

Gary's physical disability meant that he had to work twice as hard to achieve what he wanted to accomplish. He was an avid weightlifter, a big fan of wrestling, and loved listening to his collection of rock and roll vinyl and CDs. Gary embraced the free spirit of the ’60s. It is that spirit, his unique character and positive attitude are what will be missed most by family and friends.