Richard Allen Brown

Rick Brown passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in his home on Monday, July 6, 2015. Rick was born in Canada on Halloween in 1945 to Frances and Albert Brown. His family included older brother Larry and younger brother Bill. The family moved to Chicago shortly after Rick’s birth and then to San Diego when he was 6, where he grew up.

At 18 Rick joined the National Guard and moved to the LA area where he worked at the Jet Propulsion Lab. Within a few years he moved to San Jose where he earned a Bachelor’s degree and a teaching credential at San Jose State University. Credential in hand Rick began a long career teaching elementary school. Over his career which ultimately spanned several school districts and private schools in California, he taught a variety of grades, K - 6.

After 18 years in San Jose his love of downhill skiing led him to move to South Lake Tahoe. In 1982, while on a visit to family in San Diego, Rick met Kathy Krentler. As much as Rick loved Lake Tahoe, he quickly found that he loved Kathy even more. Within a year of their meeting Rick returned to San Diego to teach and be closer to Kathy. Rick and Kathy married on April 15, 1984.

Daughter Sarah Krentler Brown was born December 20, 1987 and daughter Hannah Krentler Brown on November 6,1989. Following Sarah’s birth Rick took a five year hiatus from teaching to be a full-time stay-at-home dad. This was an unusual decision but he could not have been happier or prouder of his job as Mr. Mom. Rick returned to teaching when Hannah started school. Rick, Kathy, Sarah and Hannah traveled often as the girls were growing up. They often spent a month traveling through Europe or some other international destination during the summer.

Rick spent the last several years of his teaching career at the Balboa Park Program leading 5th graders from around the county through museums and the zoo. Rick retired in 2011 when the Balboa Park Program closed as he knew that no matter how much he loved teaching, no traditional classroom could be as much fun as Balboa Park.

With Kathy still working, Rick embraced retirement first by beginning a walking program along San Diego Bay and ultimately through walks, making new friends who introduced him to fishing, a hobby he fell in love with – most certainly for the camaraderie with friends as much as for the fish.

The greatest pride in Rick’s life was his daughters. His oldest daughter Sarah graduated from UCLA, where she now works full-time, and lives in Santa Monica with her boyfriend Nathan McCurley. Hannah, his second daughter, graduated from UC Davis and earned a master’s degree from UC Santa Barbara. She is a humanitarian aid worker with the International Rescue Committee, most recently working in western Tanzania.

Rick never met a person he didn’t enjoy chatting with. Strangers became acquaintances and then friends within minutes. He was loved by so many and will be so dearly missed.

The details of the memorial celebration are as follows:

Saturday, August 22, 2015

3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Planned Remarks at 4:00 p.m.

Corky McMillin Companies Event Center at Liberty Station

2875 Dewey, San Diego, CA 92106

This celebration of Rick’s life will be an opportunity for everyone who knew him, and therefore loved him, to come together. Please join us and tell all he knew to join us as well. Wear your happiest summer attire and of course if you’re male, shorts are mandatory.

This celebration is wide open to everyone who loved Rick and an RSVP is absolutely not needed, however if you know you will be there you can let us know here: http://goo.gl/forms/s4TCXmonq5.

In lieu of flowers, Rick's wife and daughters have requested that you consider a gift to the International Rescue Committee (https://engage.rescue.org/donate/make-tribute-donation).