Gary D. Brown
Obituary
Gary David Brown, 83, passed away peacefully at home in Santa Rosa, California, on September 6, 2026, just where he wanted to be. He was born on March 13, 1943, in San Francisco, California, and carried with him a lifelong curiosity about the world and a sense of humor that never left him.
Gary grew up in San Francisco and attended St. Ignatius High School. He later attended Sonoma State University, where he earned a degree in biology, beginning a lifelong connection to science, nature, and learning.
Teaching became one of the great threads of Gary’s life. For decades, he shared his love of learning with students, first teaching biology at Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco and later teaching computer science at Santa Rosa Junior College.
Gary also loved the water. In his youth, he was a competitive swimmer and diver, and later enjoyed SCUBA diving. As a young adult, he taught swimming and lifeguarding at the Boy Scouts Summer Camp in Cazadero, sharing his knowledge and confidence in the water with others.
As a proud Eagle Scout, Gary carried a lifelong devotion to Scouting. He gave generously of his time as a volunteer with the Girl Scouts, continuing his commitment to service, mentorship, and community.
At heart, Gary found joy in many things: his family, animals, science, nature, cooking, reading, and photography. He loved deep intellectual conversation, but he was always ready with a joke or a punny remark. It was truly his mission to make every person he
met laugh.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Garland Leon Brown and Hertha Marie Brown (Klinkig). He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Mary Brown (Jensen); six children, Kelly Gast (Brown), Leisa Walston (Brown), Jessica Rackley (Silva), Courtney Quiroz (Longmire), Derrick Brown, and Christina Brown; twelve grandchildren, Emily, Natalie, Isabelle, Sophia, Baily, Alex, Noah, Rylan, Sam, Kristin, Katie, and David; and two great-grandchildren, Oliver and Flora.
A Celebration of Life will be held later for family and close friends, who will gather to remember Gary in the way he would have wanted: with love, laughter, and stories. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gary’s memory to Friends of Trione-Annadel.
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September 12, 2026
Hi, everyone. I just wanted to let you know about Gary’s final days.
It was very peaceful when he went. I was able to be in the rocking chair right by him when it happened. I was glad for my sake. I think he was working on other things at that point. The only pain he experienced was from his neuropathy, mostly in his feet. He only needed Tylenol once a day for that, but then two or three times toward the end. He was bedbound for about three months but was able to move around those confines with varying degrees of help until the last few days. He got on board with hospice just a day before he died and they gave him some morphine pills. When it was clear he was going, and he couldn’t speak, I gave him a few of those just in case.
The neuropathy, the dementia, and complications with the ostomies all played a part. But I think the main reason he went when he did was that he just stopped eating. He weighed 113 pounds when he left the hospital and I’m sure he weighed much less as time went on from there. His spirits were up and down, but he had some good days. The Home Health person who came in three times a week for a couple of hours was a great tonic for him. She laughed at his jokes, some of which I am sure were supplied by “different ones of you”. You know who you are. She listened to all the science-y stuff he knew so much about as well as his moldy oldie music. He even read her a few of his favorite poems. He told me she was an empty vessel waiting to be filled. Ever the teacher!
Thanks for knowing and loving him, some of you for a very long time. Take care.
It was very peaceful when he went. I was able to be in the rocking chair right by him when it happened. I was glad for my sake. I think he was working on other things at that point. The only pain he experienced was from his neuropathy, mostly in his feet. He only needed Tylenol once a day for that, but then two or three times toward the end. He was bedbound for about three months but was able to move around those confines with varying degrees of help until the last few days. He got on board with hospice just a day before he died and they gave him some morphine pills. When it was clear he was going, and he couldn’t speak, I gave him a few of those just in case.
The neuropathy, the dementia, and complications with the ostomies all played a part. But I think the main reason he went when he did was that he just stopped eating. He weighed 113 pounds when he left the hospital and I’m sure he weighed much less as time went on from there. His spirits were up and down, but he had some good days. The Home Health person who came in three times a week for a couple of hours was a great tonic for him. She laughed at his jokes, some of which I am sure were supplied by “different ones of you”. You know who you are. She listened to all the science-y stuff he knew so much about as well as his moldy oldie music. He even read her a few of his favorite poems. He told me she was an empty vessel waiting to be filled. Ever the teacher!
Thanks for knowing and loving him, some of you for a very long time. Take care.
October 10, 2026
Gary…..Was, and actually is, a Gift. When he meets us at the Pearly Gates or Your Equivalent, he’ll have that Smile, or look of Pensiveness or one that says…“What Took You So Long, BBQ and Beer is Awaiting”.
What bothers me, due to the slowness of establishing communications with the World Beyond, is the fact that I have to go to ChatGPT to get ponderous questions answered…..Before, I just went to Gary…..
Whether it was Astrology, Biology, Chemistry, Climatology, Geology, Epidemiology, Immunology, Photography, Psychiatry, Theology, Computer Languages, Ohhh Myyy, does it go on you’re saying??…..Yes it Can!!! But I wont, except to add Seinfeld….
What I will say, is that ChatGPT doesn’t have the Humor, Puns, Limericks, Play on Words, Stories, that Gary brought to every discussion…..and finally, that ever Sincere Appreciation and Love for All Living Things.
Whether Gary was your friend or foe, neighbor, colleague, instructor, professor, contractor, acquaintance, patient, customer, stranger, husband, dad, great grandad, or great great grandad…..he left us with his forever presence.
What bothers me, due to the slowness of establishing communications with the World Beyond, is the fact that I have to go to ChatGPT to get ponderous questions answered…..Before, I just went to Gary…..
Whether it was Astrology, Biology, Chemistry, Climatology, Geology, Epidemiology, Immunology, Photography, Psychiatry, Theology, Computer Languages, Ohhh Myyy, does it go on you’re saying??…..Yes it Can!!! But I wont, except to add Seinfeld….
What I will say, is that ChatGPT doesn’t have the Humor, Puns, Limericks, Play on Words, Stories, that Gary brought to every discussion…..and finally, that ever Sincere Appreciation and Love for All Living Things.
Whether Gary was your friend or foe, neighbor, colleague, instructor, professor, contractor, acquaintance, patient, customer, stranger, husband, dad, great grandad, or great great grandad…..he left us with his forever presence.
October 6, 2026
I treasure my long friendship with Gary, and always looked forward to getting together, regardless of the exigencies of advancing years. I miss him greatly.
In 1990 Gary, then serving as Computer & Information Sciences department chair, persuaded me to teach an 8-week DOS class while I was working with him in a special studies course. He then hired me as an adjunct, which launched my SRJC career.
During the first decade of the 2000s, Gary, Pat Grosh, and I taught sections of the Intro to Linux course and met regularly for lunch to compare notes, brainstorm, and develop curricula. Gary and I stayed friends with Pat after her retirement, continued our regular lunch meetings for years, and took a memorable day-long visit to the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. After Pat passed away and Gary retired, we continued our regular lunches up through the present year, always with stimulating and wide-ranging conversations.
Thank you, Gary. Deep gratitute to Mary for her support of our friendship over the years, including all the times she dropped Gary off for our lunches at Kirin Restaurant.
In 1990 Gary, then serving as Computer & Information Sciences department chair, persuaded me to teach an 8-week DOS class while I was working with him in a special studies course. He then hired me as an adjunct, which launched my SRJC career.
During the first decade of the 2000s, Gary, Pat Grosh, and I taught sections of the Intro to Linux course and met regularly for lunch to compare notes, brainstorm, and develop curricula. Gary and I stayed friends with Pat after her retirement, continued our regular lunch meetings for years, and took a memorable day-long visit to the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. After Pat passed away and Gary retired, we continued our regular lunches up through the present year, always with stimulating and wide-ranging conversations.
Thank you, Gary. Deep gratitute to Mary for her support of our friendship over the years, including all the times she dropped Gary off for our lunches at Kirin Restaurant.
October 5, 2026
I first met Gary in the fall of 1970 after recently graduating from college and starting my first year of teaching at Sacred Heart High School. The most remarkable quality I recall about Gary is his generosity of time and expertise. He was invaluable to me in classifying hundreds of teacher questions according to “Bloom’s Taxonomy of Higher Order Thinking Questions” for my master’s thesis, and then he did the statistical analysis showing the difference in teacher questions in the classroom versus in the field.
Not only was Gary generous, but he was also someone who was extremely interesting and never provided dull moments. He was just a good man who brought joy to others.
May he rest in peace.
Not only was Gary generous, but he was also someone who was extremely interesting and never provided dull moments. He was just a good man who brought joy to others.
May he rest in peace.
October 3, 2026
Gary had the quickest wit, puns galore, and made the best bbq ribs. You will be missed.
September 23, 2026
So sorry to hear about Gary’s passing. While I didn’t know him well, I remember seeing him at family reunions/events throughout the years. I remember him as being very kind. Ditty, sending love and hugs your way. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Sorry for your loss.
September 23, 2026
Love this picture
September 16, 2026
Very sad to hear of Gary's passing. Very sad. RIP Gary ♥
September 16, 2026
Several words come to mind when thinking of Gary: irrepressible and polymath. I remember his humor and broad knowledge of the world around us. In addition, he was a genuinely kind man with a generosity of spirit that was reflected in his deep and enduring love for Mary and his kids. His health challenges in later life would have ruined many of us early on but he was a man of spirit and courage throughout. The world is a better place because of Gary's teaching vocation and his embrace of the good life with family, Thank you. Vaya con Dios.
September 15, 2026
Unlike others who have posted, I (we) did not know Gary well at all. In fact, to the best of my fast-fading recollection, we only encountered him twice . . . once at a family reunion and once (maybe) at a wedding, both held in Oregon twenty-plus years ago. I have no specific memory of any conversation with him, neither topic nor duration, though based upon what I’m reading on this forum, it was likely robust and engaging. Nevertheless, despite our lack of personal interaction with Gary, we take it as a given that he was a ten in every respect, best evidenced by his 27-year partnership with Ditty, a fellow ten. We trust that fond memories of Gary will overcome any lingering sorrow experienced by Ditty, family and friends and that the Lord, in his mercy, will wipe away every tear.
Scott & Pamela Jensen
Scott & Pamela Jensen
September 14, 2026
What a great man, a true gentleman, teacher, lover of life and jokes. I can remember his daily routine: “There once was a man named…” and then a limerick would follow.
Be pain free Gary and know the world is a better place due to your presence.
Be pain free Gary and know the world is a better place due to your presence.
September 14, 2026
I met Gary 41 years ago when Kelly and I started dating. He probably should have told her to stop seeing me because I was 19 and she was 15. Fortunately, he gave me a lot of grace and eventually I became his son in law.
From the beginning Gary was very welcoming, and I enjoyed many dinners at his home.
He loved showing off his knowledge and intellect on pretty much every subject (except home repairs).
He possessed a tremendous knack for storytelling and off-color jokes.
No one could deliver them as well as he could. I have tried.
I will keep practicing!
Gary had a habit of collecting things such as computers, cameras, books, cats, dogs and children. He opened his home and heart to many others, and his generosity had no bounds.
He will be missed!
From the beginning Gary was very welcoming, and I enjoyed many dinners at his home.
He loved showing off his knowledge and intellect on pretty much every subject (except home repairs).
He possessed a tremendous knack for storytelling and off-color jokes.
No one could deliver them as well as he could. I have tried.
I will keep practicing!
Gary had a habit of collecting things such as computers, cameras, books, cats, dogs and children. He opened his home and heart to many others, and his generosity had no bounds.
He will be missed!
September 14, 2026
A mentor to any one he met, and a lover of puns - ya gotta love that! Gary had a vast library of knowledge in his head, but he was always humble about it. And kudos for his devotion to Nina and Derrick. Glad your suffering is over, brother. Hope the heavens are ready for an onslaught of puckish humor!
September 13, 2026
My dad was the best dad ever he adopted me when I was two years old 3/1343 he adopted me when I was put up for adoption in Santa Rosa California I had no home so he took me and my brother Derrick in and adopted us both and gave us a great and loving home with him my dad was the best dad ever I miss him so much I’ll never forget him he will all ways be in my heart I miss u dad love ur dotter Christina Louise brown
September 13, 2026
Mart kellu lisa ur dad's loss is a very difficult thing for me. We shared happy times along with sad times. Going back to 1969 when he introduced me to petaluma and we car shared until he left. Most memorial was making german stolen all day for xmas by then of the day we were lucky to remember the receipe will always treasure our friendship
September 13, 2026
I agree that Gary‘s passing is going to leave quite a hole in many lives. I’m pretty sure he’s in a better place now, where he can joke, laugh, wax philosophical, and be a delight to everyone around him. I can’t wait to see him in the great beyond along with everyone else.
September 12, 2026
Gary and Mary and some of her family were vacationing down in the waters off of Puerto Rico many years ago. Our anchor got stuck in I don’t know how many feet of water and our captain was trying to figure out what to do. Gary said, “I got this,” and promptly dove into the water, staying down for quite a long time. When he finally came up with a smile on his face and a thumbs up, we gratefully welcomed him (and the anchor!) back onto the boat. An hour later, he was giving a dissertation to my brothers on the Bernoulli Principle as it related to sailing our boat. And then, of course, an hour after that, he was probably telling the stupidest joke I’ve ever heard and laughing uproariously.
Not only was he an athlete in all things aquatic, and a professor with a tremendous scope of knowledge, he was also the most good-natured person I’ve ever known. A typical outing with him in the last 10 years of his life was going to lunch for fish and chips on the coast or a burger up on the river, meandering through the back roads of West Sonoma County, laughing, learning, caring. He was an excellent conversationalist, interesting and interested, and listening and engaging in a way that was a delight to partake in.
I know very well after many heartfelt and intimate conversations with him that he was completely devoted to my sister, and that they “loved with a love that was more than love“ (he was an Edgar Allan Poe fan, but I didn’t learn that until his final days). Their affection for each other was quite obvious and their support of each other through thick and thin was a never ending inspiration.
I miss you terribly, brother Brown, and you leave such a large hole in our lives. Rest in peace, my friend.
Not only was he an athlete in all things aquatic, and a professor with a tremendous scope of knowledge, he was also the most good-natured person I’ve ever known. A typical outing with him in the last 10 years of his life was going to lunch for fish and chips on the coast or a burger up on the river, meandering through the back roads of West Sonoma County, laughing, learning, caring. He was an excellent conversationalist, interesting and interested, and listening and engaging in a way that was a delight to partake in.
I know very well after many heartfelt and intimate conversations with him that he was completely devoted to my sister, and that they “loved with a love that was more than love“ (he was an Edgar Allan Poe fan, but I didn’t learn that until his final days). Their affection for each other was quite obvious and their support of each other through thick and thin was a never ending inspiration.
I miss you terribly, brother Brown, and you leave such a large hole in our lives. Rest in peace, my friend.
September 12, 2026
I'm so glad I knew you and shared time with you, Gary.
You had an irrepressible humor that came out no matter the mood you were in. For you, there were no bad jokes. Just jokes that needed a little more accent, or different timing. I can just hear you saying, "Did you hear about Father O'Leary?" in a thick Irish brogue.
I enjoyed sharing experiences about Catholic upbringing. And I knew I could ask you about anything in the world of biology, science, plants and animals, and so much more. It was obvious that learning and sharing knowledge were part of your core.
I will always picture you on the Stumptown deck, the sun on your back, a pint in your hand and a twinkle in your eye.
You had an irrepressible humor that came out no matter the mood you were in. For you, there were no bad jokes. Just jokes that needed a little more accent, or different timing. I can just hear you saying, "Did you hear about Father O'Leary?" in a thick Irish brogue.
I enjoyed sharing experiences about Catholic upbringing. And I knew I could ask you about anything in the world of biology, science, plants and animals, and so much more. It was obvious that learning and sharing knowledge were part of your core.
I will always picture you on the Stumptown deck, the sun on your back, a pint in your hand and a twinkle in your eye.
Celebration of Life
celebration of life
Kenwood Depot
314 Warm Springs Road
Kenwood, CA
314 Warm Springs Road
Kenwood, CA
Saturday, October 17, 2026
2:00pm
2:00pm
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