Brian Willoughby, a former Columbian social-issues reporter who went on to champion compassionate causes such as children’s mental health, housing for the homeless, diversity and civil rights, died in a house fire on Tuesday evening. He was 56 years old and is survived by two children, Clara and Jay.

Willoughby frequently described his latest job as the best gig anybody could have: granting dollars to human-service projects as director of community benefit at Legacy Health. In recent weeks, he saw to it that $150,000 went to Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington for part-time mental health therapists at three of its clubhouses. Earlier this year, he helped launch Portland’s Unity Center for Behavioral Health, a dedicated mental health “emergency room” that’s an innovative partnership project among Legacy and other major local health care players.

“We are in a state of shock,” said Matthew Butte, development director for Children’s Center, a homegrown Vancouver nonprofit agency that provides mental health treatment for uninsured children and their families. Willoughby was on the board of directors and a passionate advocate for that cause.

“He was a constant source of perceptive advice and support,” said Children’s Center Executive Director Pat Beckett. “One of Brian’s many gifts was his incredible joy for life. In keeping with Brian’s spirit, we ask that everyone do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone in need, in his name.”

Fellow activist Kathy Deschner, who works for the Battle Ground Prevention Alliance, wrote on Facebook that Willoughby was “the reporter who wrote the heart of the story brilliantly, and faced tough topics head on … the incredible and devoted dad through the best and most difficult times; the admired community leader who had a hard time saying no when anyone needed help; the courageous advocate for those who needed a voice; the loving friend we were so blessed to have; the living breathing example of compassion.”