Dr. CHARLES LEONARD BROWN – November 10, 1928 to November 21, 2021
Dr. Charles L. Brown of Ventura, finished his final race on November 21, 2021 at the age of 93. He passed away at home in the company of his children, after an illness.
Born at home in 1928, in Columbus, Kansas, Charles was the youngest of Richard P and Esther (Hefley) Brown’s six children. He grew up on the family farm, where he soon took his place alongside his family helping to operate the business, completing chores before he went to school and in the evening. Farm life formed the habit of “early to bed, early to rise”; Charles kept to it all his days. Farm life, during the Depression was hard but the family got by better than many. The experience forged a conservative of Charles; he was always careful how he spent money. The family took its religion seriously, and Charles was active in the Blue Mound Methodist Church growing up. He sang in the church choir, and had a beautiful voice. When he passed away, Charles had been a member of Ventura’s First United Methodist Church for nearly 50 years, and a supporter of its music program.
Charles loved family and church, but was not particularly fond of farming. He committed himself instead to public service, to be an educator, to follow his mother’s calling and that of two sisters. In 1946 he graduated from Columbus High School with a diploma that allowed him to teach, and Charles jumped into it: all grades in a one-room country schoolhouse. He reminisced about banking coals in the wood stove at the end of a winter’s school day so a fire could be built in the morning in time to warm the room for his students. Charles loved teaching, and as he pursued his own education, obtaining a Bachelors and a later Master’s degree from Kansas State Teacher’s College, he advanced in his career, teaching junior high school in Kingman, Kansas. In 1951 the United States Army and the Korean Conflict put his teaching career on hold. He served in a quartermaster’s unit, where he made a number of life-long friends. Although he did not speak of it until more recently, Charles was proud of his military service and of being a Veteran.
Just prior to his military service, Charles met Marie Marrello of Carona, Kansas, for a double date. Marie waited for him to return from military service, and they resumed their courtship. They were married in August 1955; the marriage lasted until Marie’s passing in 2019. They were a unit, agreeing in all things pertaining to home and parenting, and provided a model of partnership and stability for their children. They had two children, John in 1958 and Melissa in 1961. Charles and Marie raised them with love, a well-defined sense of right and wrong, religious training, and with solid values. Charles also passed his commitment to public service on to his children, both of whom chose careers in local government.
One week after marrying the couple moved to California where Charles taught in junior and senior high schools in San Bernardino, and where the couple made their first home. They enjoyed exploring their adopted State, snapping photographs of what are now times and places gone by. They also developed a group of close friends – friends who followed them to Charles’ next career assignment, Palos Verdes. Charles counselled students at Palos Verdes High School, and when Rolling Hills High School was opened in the mid-60’s, Charles was appointed as one of its first two Vice Principles. He was later promoted to Personnel Assistant in the Palos Verdes Unified School District office.
Charles earned a Doctorate in Education from USC in 1971. The achievement was a point of pride for him, and the family, and helped him pursue advancement in Personnel Administration, his field of interest. Some are described as “people persons”, and with Charles the description fit. He honestly liked everyone, took a genuine interest in them, was always ready to help, and could talk to anyone about almost anything. These traits served him well as a personnel professional.
The Ventura Unified School District hired Charles in 1972. He was appointed Assistant Superintendent in charge of personnel, and served until his retirement in 1989. He was responsible for recruiting and hiring, training, and evaluating a generation of teachers, and for the educations of thousands of students through those teachers. He took that responsibility personally, and would always spot and name his hires anywhere he went. Moreover, they would spot him and come up to talk, and the mutual respect was evident. Charles was well-respected in his career, and recognized by his colleagues. He was active in the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), during his working life and in retirement, serving in numerous positions and earning a host of awards for his efforts in personnel administration, collective bargaining, and representing retirees. At retirement the Ventura City Council, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, Congressman Lagomarsino, and ACSA joined the District in formally recognizing his achievements. Following retirement Charles mentored young teachers, worked with aspiring teachers through Cal. State Northridge and Cal. Lutheran College, and even assisted in the elementary school classes of two of his grandsons, Daniel and Brennan.
In 1968, at the age of 40, with a focus on fitness of body and mind, Charles embarked on what became a passion: running. This began with laps around a high school track, but moved to roadsides and orchards as he grew leaner, quicker, and desired longer distances. He would change from his suit and tie into his running shorts and a t-shirt and run miles between coming home from work, and dinner. Running was his refuge and his stress reliever, and he was a natural. He regularly participated in the 10K “fun runs” of the 70’s and 80’s in Ventura, and half marathons, and often won or placed in his age group. Back problems ended his running at 60, but he continued to walk several miles daily, around the greater East End for the next 30 years. He was still walking 45 minutes a day until weeks before his death. He was widely known for his walking, and on his walks he came to know many neighbors. He enjoyed visiting with each and every one of them, and they with him.
Charles was the picture of professionalism, taking his role and responsibilities seriously, but he had a fun-loving side too. No matter how prepared she was, Charles would always catch Marie with an annual April Fool’s day prank. He could assume a serious countenance, but had a twinkling smile, enjoyed a good laugh, and could quickly put people at ease. He loved gardening, especially roses, and brought Marie cut flowers every day they were in bloom. He kept that habit after her death, putting cut roses for her into a vase set out for that purpose. He liked a well-tended yard, and maintained his until just before his death. Over the years he grew blackberries, peaches and citrus, and supplied the neighbors with what they would take during season. In earlier life, he loved travel, especially road trips. By 1975 the family had visited every state west of the Mississippi, and crisscrossed California. In later years, he completed crossword puzzles to keep his mind sharp. He left a collection of foreign language dictionaries, used to solve language-related clues, and was not above throwing some French into conversation. He had a sweet tooth. He loved ice cream; homemade vanilla was his favorite. And he loved candy of any sort, and brownies, which he learned to make for himself after Marie’s passing. Charles was gentleman and a scholar in the truest sense, and he will be missed by family, friends and acquaintances. The world is a better place for his having occupied it, and emptier for his having gone.
Charles was preceded in death by his wife Marie, his parents, his brothers Harold and Richard, his sisters Joyce Ward, Ruth Steinke, and Ethel Jones, brother-in-law Mike Marrello, and their respective spouses. He is survived by his son John Brown (Haydie) of Petaluma, daughter Melissa Livingston (Dale) of Ventura, grandchildren Daniel Pacheco and Brennan Livingston, Nicole Senteio (Mike) Diego Rico (Chelsea), Belinda Mausser (Ryan) and Caitlin Brown, and seven great grandchildren. In lieu of a memorial service, the family will honor Charles with a hike at Harmon Canyon starting at 9 am on the first sunny Saturday, January 8, 2022 or later. Those wishing to honor Charles are requested to make donations to either Livingston Memorial Hospice in Ventura, or Food Share of Ventura County.
Arrangements are under the direction of the BOYKO & REARDON TELEGRAPH ROAD MORTUARY & CREMATION, Ventura.