Brian D. Cabral, 52
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Brian David Cabral, 52, of Main Street died peacefully at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014.
Born in Middleborough on Oct. 15, 1961, the fourth child of Christine A. Burke Cabral and the late of John P. Cabral, he was a 1983 graduate of Harvard, studying behavioral psychology with B.F. Skinner and Richard Herrnstein.
Mr. Cabral had an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for technology that led him to help establish Information Foundation, a computer consulting firm. From 1985 to 1994, he expanded the firm to more than 100 programmers working on software projects for Fortune 500 companies. During this same period, he wrote and co-authored numerous courses and articles for computer professionals. He left Information Foundation in 1994 to pursue his other passion, writing, in Hawaii, on the island of Maui.
Over the years, he was involved in various computer software startups including Skillview, Tecado and Kaivo, often jokingly calling himself a "serial entrepreneur." He recently entered the insurance industry as co-founder of CFB Partners, a wealth management company located in Williamstown.
He was the beloved husband of the former Alexandra E. "Alix" Douglas, whom he met in Hawaii in 1995; they moved to Williamstown two years later.
He will be remembered by those who knew him as wickedly funny, possessing a lightning fast wit and the ability to turn a phrase. He was also a wonderful teacher, with the ability to discuss complex ideas in understandable terms that endeared him to many young people who valued the way he treated them as equals. A vegetarian for more than 15 years, he couldn't stand to see any living creature mistreated and was in awe of the natural world. Combined with a lifelong love of travel, this took Mr. Cabral to such farflung destinations as Tanzania, Argentina, Japan, Costa Rica, Australia and New Zealand, as well as across the United States and Europe. His favorite adventure was spending three days in the Mahale Mountains of Tanzania observing chimpanzees in the wild. He also enjoyed playing tennis and platform tennis and walking his adored dog Bonnie Belle.
He served on the boards of the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Williamstown Film Festival, both organizations close to his heart. As a passionate supporter of the Berkshire Humane Society, he worked to raise the money to pay off its mortgage and spent the past year reaching out to potential donors. In addition he built the society's website, acted as volunteer webmaster and, with his wife, co-founded The Humane Race and the Leaders of the Pack Membership Program, which together have so far raised more than $600,000.
Besides his wife and mother, he leaves three brothers, Rick Cabral, John Cabral and Jeff Cabral; and two sisters, Joyce Cabral-Hennessey and Cindy Donaldson.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mr. Cabral will be held Saturday, Jan. 18, at 11:30 a.m. at Thompson Memorial Chapel on the Williams College campus. Burial will be private.
Calling hours will be Friday, Jan. 17, from 4 to 8 at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brian D. Cabral Memorial Fund at the Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201, 413-447-7878.