Brooks Lambert Obituary (1960-2021) – Aptos, CA

Brooks Lambert
January 18, 1960 to September 21, 2021
Aptos, California

Brooks Howard Lambert died on September 21, 2021 with his family at the age of 61 after his stoic battle with multiple myeloma. He was born on January 18, 1960 in Pasadena, California, to Bryan Lambert and Elle Lambert.
Brooks attended Kirkwood High School in Kansas City, Missouri and Peachtree High School in Dunwoody, Georgia. He spent his college years at BYU. He lived in too many places around the country to list but settled in Santa Cruz County in 1993.
Brooks was the founder, CEO and President of Enhance, Inc., specializing in the design and development of electronic products. After selling the company in 2006, he founded Under Development, Inc. The motto was “bring some fun to a world that sometimes takes life too seriously”. Within that company, he was the creator of The Beerbelly and the WineRack. Then he dared and from 2011 to 2016 was the founder and CEO of Qwikon, an SMS platform for small businesses.
Brooks was a true entrepreneur. In addition to starting numerous companies, he has worked with others to help them become entrepreneurs. He loved to brainstorm, collaborate and connect people. He was selfless and gave his time.
Brooks was a volunteer and board member of Ride-A-Wave, which offers children with special needs the opportunity to experience marine events at Cowell’s Beach. He took that concept further and in 2008 co-founded and director of the Best Day Foundation, which enables communities to share the thrill of surfing, bodyboarding, and kayaking for children with disabilities. The name “Best Day” came from the countless parents who chatted with Brooks after a Ride-A-Wave event and pointed out that it was the best day of their child’s life. These began with the first chapter in New Jersey and became further chapters in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. He also founded chapters in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The Best Day Foundation hosted over 50 events per year that served over 2,000 children with special needs annually, with the support of each community and all of the volunteers who were essential to the success of the program. He poured his enthusiasm into this non-profit organization until his death.
Brooks was an outdoor enthusiast. He enjoyed sailing, climbing, fishing, mountain biking, and snowboarding. But surfing was his passion. His goal was to surf at least 100 days a year until he was too sick to get in the water. Brooks was an art lover and loved working with wood, stone, and metal. But above all, Brooks was a real, positive, and kindhearted man. His bright smile, infectious laugh and big hugs were shared with everyone. He had a warm energy, loved being silly, and always had to be part of the fun. He was happiest with friends and with his children and grandchildren around him.
Brooks leaves behind his wife Lisa Cardoza of Aptos, children Lexi Lambert and their son Bodhi of Vancouver Washington, Chase Lambert, his wife Johanna and daughter Kyla of Aptos, Taylor Lambert and partner Ali Barrick of Aptos, Cuddy Lambert and his wife Bri by Loomis and Ryan Howard and his partner Ryland Cleveland from Aptos. He also leaves behind his father, Bryan Lambert and wife Barbara from Toccoa, Georgia, and mother Elle Lambert from Centennial, Colorado, sister Janie Stoker and her husband Craig from Palm City, Florida, sister Amy Lambert from Rock, Colorado, and several nieces and nephews.
Donations on behalf of Brooks can be made to Ride-A Wave, 849 Almar Avenue # C-324, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. A paddle and a celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Check out the Brooks Lambert Memorial online

Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on October 3, 2021.