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The people who worked closest in the health and pride communities with David Hurst, the Livermore man stabbed to death in his home last month, are paying tribute to his legacy while still grappling with the grief of his sudden loss.
A co-founder and active board member of Livermore Pride, Hurst worked as chief business development officer at the San Jose-based Valley Health Plan and served as an appointee on the Alameda County Public Health Commission.
“David’s life was taken from us far too soon. His absence is deeply felt, but his impact remains, in this organization, in this community, and in every step we take toward the future he believed in,” Livermore Pride officials said in a statement on New Year’s Day.
“His dedication, wisdom, and steady, calming presence were instrumental in shaping this organization and the community we continue to build,” they added.
Colleagues at VHP remembered Hurst for his legacy of “service, integrity and humanity”.
“His deep knowledge of the healthcare system, combined with his sincere care for employees, colleagues, and community members, helped shape programs, partnerships, and people in meaningful ways,” VHP officials wrote in a tribute on the company’s website.
“While his passing is a profound loss, David’s influence lives on through the work he championed, the teams he mentored, and the many lives he touched with kindness and purpose. He will be remembered not only as an accomplished healthcare leader, but as a wonderful human being,” they added.
Hurst, 55, was found dead in his home on North P Street on Dec. 2 by police officers conducting a welfare check after he hadn’t been heard from for four days.
Brayam Adoni Chirinos, identified as Hurst’s roommate, was arrested the next day with the victim’s car in San Francisco and has been incarcerated in Santa Rita Jail ever since, according to authorities.
Chirinos, who turned 31 in custody, was subsequently charged by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office with first-degree murder and special allegations including deadly weapon use, causing bodily harm, vulnerable victim, planning and sophistication, committing the crime while in a position of trust, violent conduct and prior prison time on his record.
He was arraigned on the charges but has not yet entered a plea. He is scheduled to do so Jan. 20 at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin.
The early weeks of Chirinos’ criminal case got delayed when the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office declared a conflict of interest – for reasons not immediately clear from court records. A judge later assigned a court-appointed private attorney to represent the defendant.
The case file at the Alameda County Superior Court sheds little additional light on the circumstances of the crime and investigation, with one notable exception: the revelation police allege Chirinos confessed to the stabbing.
“Chirinos provided a mirandized confession of the killing of the victim,” Nancy Duenas, of the Livermore Police Department, wrote in a four-paragraph probable cause declaration.
The rest of Duenas’ declaration was a high-level recap of the version of events shared by the department publicly at the time of Chirinos’ arrest, providing no specifics about how he was identified as the suspect and other key evidence against him in the crime.
In a press release Dec. 4, police said they responded to a home on 1000 block of North P Street on the afternoon of Dec. 2 for a welfare check on a 55-year-old resident who had not been heard from since Nov. 28. Officers found the man – later identified as Hurst – dead from apparent stab wounds inside the home.
Livermore police said they developed information indicating Chirinos, the roommate of the victim, was the prime suspect. San Francisco police allegedly apprehended Chirinos driving the victim’s vehicle in their city on the morning of Dec. 3.
Authorities allege Chirinos has a criminal history out of Florida and Texas that included prior arrests for DUI, assault, domestic violence and false imprisonment, as well as an active warrant from out of Florida for battery and probation violation.
The circumstances of the killing remain confidential, with Livermore police declining to release any more details when contacted Monday morning. The remembrance post from VHP cites Hurst’s date of death as Nov. 28.
Hurst had more than 30 years of experience in health care marketing, communications and program development, according to his employer. He had a long career at the Health Plan of San Joaquin before joining VHP in 2020.
“David brought deep expertise and a thoughtful vision to Valley Health Plan,” the organization said. “He played a pivotal role in advancing new product strategies, strengthening and growing existing programs, leading a comprehensive rebrand, expanding digital engagement, and optimizing the County of Santa Clara’s Primary Care Access Program for uninsured residents.”
“He also served as an executive sponsor for key enterprise initiatives, including strategic planning, employee satisfaction, government relations, and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts,” VHP reps added.
Focused on diversity and inclusion closer to home too, Hurst was a co-founder, past-president and board member of the LGBTQ+ community group Livermore Pride. The organization said he was a key member of the steering committee that helped the local Pride team into a certified nonprofit.
“We will always remember seeing David and his friends on ‘Rainbow Knoll’ at the Thursday night farmers market, a quiet, constant presence that made our community feel more like home,” Livermore Pride reps said.
“David had big dreams for the future of Livermore Pride, including his hope that one day we would host essential health services from a dedicated physical Pride Center,” they added. “While we are not quite there yet, we remain committed to building connections to increase equity in public health, doing our very best to make him proud.”
