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Richard J. 'Dick' Brown Eaton, CO Fort Collins, CA Pensacola, FL San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA QCWA # 8847 |
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Dr. Richard J. Brown, W5AA, husband, father, friend and lover of life, has gone to live with our Lord. He passed away Tuesday, August 12, 2003 after a brief bout with cancer. Dick was born in Greeley, Co on January 30, 1933, graduated from Colorado State University in Veterinary Medicine, and specialized in pathology at AFIP, Walter Reed Army Hospital. His Air Force career included multi-engine pilot and veterinary clinical specialist. He was one of the veterinarians who worked with the chimpanzee, Ham, on Project Mercury. He published for various medical journals many research studies which were conducted in Taiwan and Indonesia. One of his proudest accomplishments was in amateur radio where he worked 5 band DXCC from three different countries and DXpeditions to Navassa Island and the Pribilof Islands. May we all be so fortunate as to accomplish as much as he did.
He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann; sons, Cary, Kirby (wife Lourdes), Mary and Lindsey; three granddaughters, Kisly, Kristel and Kay LaRue, (Kirby's family) a nephew, Dann Brown and niece Sharon Hooper.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 18, 2003 at Naval Aviation Chapel at NAS Pensacola with Chaplains J.D. Atwater and David Gibson officiating. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home, 100 Beverly Parkway, is in charge of arrangements.
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel from 4 to 96 p.m. on Sunday, August 17. In lieu of flowers, donations may be make to Christian Veterinary Mission, (Ethno Vet) 19303 Fremont Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98133. The family wishes to give a special "Thank you" to the nurses in SINU at Baptist Hospital for their special care.
SILENT KEY - RICHARD (DICK) J. BROWN - W5AA
"We are very sorry to say that on Tuesday night (August 12, 2003) our wonderful husband and father passed away after a short but brutal battle with cancer. He loved us all and touched each and every one of us in a very special way. We will miss him greatly and thank you all for being such great friends of his."............... The Brown Family
Dick was a retired US Air Force officer and had Doctoral Degrees in Veterinarian Medicine and Pathology. During his military career he was part of the Project Mercury Space Program, working with the chimpanzee named "Ham." A photo of Dick giving Ham an examination was published in the August 2002 edition of CQ Magazine. Dick also had it published on one of his well known QSLs.
Dick was also famous for his tireless DXing. He had the distinct honor of holding 5BDXCC plaques from three different countries...the only DXer to achieve that honor. These included his operations as W0EXD/4 from Pensacola, Florida; as YB0ABV from Jakarta, Indonesia; and as W5AA/TI8 from Costa Rica.
Dick had the unique pleasure of sharing the love of amateur radio with members of his immediate family. All are hams including his lovely wife Jo Ann, N5FBW. His sons live in Central America and where frequently visited by Dick and Jo Ann. They never missed an opportunity to get on the air regardless of their location. The photo above shows W5AA and N5FBW in front of their beautiful home on the Gulf Coast. They had a wonderful view of the Gulf of Mexico from their third floor ham shack.
The passing of any ham is often bittersweet, as is the case with Dick Brown - W5AA. The Magnolia DX Association wishes to take this opportunity to convey our sincere sympathy to the Brown Family on their loss of a wonderful husband and loving father. And at the same time we would also like to express our gratitude to the long lasting achievements Dick made through the hobby with which we share a common bond...ham radio and the spirit of never ending DX!
W5AA de K5MDX..73...SK
W5AA de KG9FO...SK
