Beloved D.C. bartender Brooks Davis dies at 29

Brooks Davis, a D.C. resident since 2018 who worked for the luxury retail outlet Louis Vuitton and later operated his own exotic plant business before becoming a bartender at the D.C. gay nightclub Bunker, died on July 17 at the age of 29.

Family members have asked that the cause of death remain private.

“Brooks brought tremendous joy and light to everyone’s lives, and we are heartbroken that he left us too soon,” a Facebook message posted by his friends says.

Larry Richardson, Davis’s husband, said Davis was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and graduated from Austin’s West Lake High School.

“And then just after graduating from high school he started working in luxury retail, which was his passion,” Richardson said. “So, he worked at Louis Vuitton in Austin and then transferred and did the same thing here in D.C.,” Richardson told the Blade, noting that Davis moved to D.C. in 2018.

“And he pretty much stayed in luxury retail and then during the pandemic he started his own exotic plant business,” Richardson recounted. “And then after the pandemic peaked, he went back to luxury retail and then transitioned to becoming a bartender at Bunker.”

Richardson was referring to the D.C. gay nightclub Bunker, which opened in February of this year as a dance club and a venue for drag shows located at 2001 14th St., N.W. Davis began as a bartender at Bunker at the time of its opening, according to Richardson.

“He was always self-motivated to teach himself new skills,” said Richardson. “So, he actually taught himself how to be a bartender.”

According to comments posted on social media, Davis became a beloved figure at Bunker among its many patrons.

“We were going to celebrate his 30th birthday with a sailing trip to the British Virgin Islands, which he loved,” said Richardson, which would have taken place in February 2024.

“Brooks had the biggest heart of anybody that I knew,” Richardson recounted when asked what he remembers about his husband. “And he always gave all of his emotional strength and energy to his friends and family.”

Davis is survived by his husband, Larry Richardson; his parents, Stacy and Kevin Davis; his brother, Todd Davis; many friends; and his and his husband’s beloved rescue

Michele ‘Mickie’ Ballotta dies at 67

Michele Judith Ballotta, affectionately known as Mickie, passed away on June 24 at age 67 in Seaford, Md. She spent decades working on behalf of causes she embraced, including the fight against breast cancer.

After earning her bachelor’s degree at Trinity’s women’s college and spending a year in London, Ballotta worked at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf at Gallaudet University, the Human Rights Campaign, the Whitman-Walker Clinic, Food and Friends, the Breast Cancer 3-Day, and the Children’s Law Center, according to a statement from family and friends.

In her professional endeavors, Ballotta fought for human rights, provided essential healthcare services, supported breast cancer research, and advocated for children in need. Her dedication and hard work touched the lives of many, leaving a lasting impact on the communi-

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ties she served, the statement says.

“Mickie will be remembered for her selflessness, compassion, humor, and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place,” the statement says. “She will be dearly missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing her. … Mickie made a significant impact on our world through decades of raising much-needed funds.”

She is survived by her sister Cookie M. Bowman, childhood and lifelong friend Joseph Peacock, and loyal companion Fred, as well as her chosen family of dedicated friends. Her love for animals was evident, and she especially adored her dogs. Ballotta’s kindness extended beyond her furry friends, as she dedicated her career to various organizations. A get together to honor her life and contributions will be scheduled at a later date. Donations can be made to House with a Heart, Senior Pet Sanctuary,

Carlos Noel honored with Lord Botetourt Medal from William & Mary

By PETER ROSENSTEIN

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at: comingsandgoings@washblade.com.

Congratulations to Carlos Noel on receiving the Lord Botetourt Medal from William & Mary College. The Lord Botetourt Medal is presented each year to the undergraduate student who has most distinguished him or herself in scholarship during their time at William & Mary. Noel was recognized for his scholarship as well as his humility, character, empathy, and commitment to inclusion. In the words of an adviser, “Carlos is a rare gem who the academy or the world only has the chance to engage with once in a lifetime.”

This honor is just one of a host of honors Noel has received. Noel diligently pursued research at William & Mary, earning recognition by the Barry Goldwater Schol- arship, one of the most prestigious national undergraduate scholarships in natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. He gave a poster presentation at the American Society of Biochemistry 2023 Annual Meeting and is the first to investigate N2a neuronal cells in the lab of Professor Shantá Hinton, enhancing her research programs as well as contributing to understanding neurological disorders such as dementia.

In addition to a perfect GPA, Noel has received a plethora of scholarships. He is a Murray 1693 Scholar, Monroe Scholar and WMSURE Scholar. As part of the REACH Undergraduate Research Program, he worked with Dr. Vanessa B. Shepard at VCU Medical School on research focusing on hypertension in Black breast cancer survivors. Noel is also a Hulon Willis Memorial Scholar, Virginia Space Grant Consortium STEM Bridge Scholar, and Phi Beta Kappa inductee. Recently, he was named the Albert and Phyllis Cornell Pre-Medical Awardee. This award, established in honor of the late Dr. Albert Cornell huskies Tailz, Pfieffer, and Wally. housewithaheart.com or your favorite charity. FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Celebration of Life for Davis for family and close friends was scheduled to be held Sunday, Aug. 6, from 6:30-9 p.m. at Bunker nightclub. Joe Devito, a Bunker employee, and close friend of Davis released a statement saying others who knew Davis along with the general public could join the commemoration at 9 p.m., when Bunker will open its doors to the public.

’30 is made annually to two graduating senior premedical students who show great promise to become outstanding physicians.

Noel co-founded the W&M chapter of MindVersity, an organization focused on mental health, and has advocated for policies that relieve academic stress. He was a music director for the Gentlemen of the College, and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

In addition to all this Carlos was accepted into many prestigious medical schools, including being offered a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University Medical School, and a 90% (the highest provided) scholarship to Harvard University Medical School, which he will attend.