David Brown

David Brown, August 11, 1930-May 31, 2025

Born in New York City to Jewish immigrant parents Isidor (Bronshvak) Brown and Anna Katz, David grew up near Bronx Park in the United Workers Cooperatives, known as 'The Coops', a cooperative housing project.

Always curious about the world and how things worked, he thoroughly enjoyed learning, and early in life began reading a set of books his parents gave him, called "The Book of Knowledge". Later on, he joined a group of local kids from The Coops in a club known as Club Dynamo, who were interested in tinkering on projects involving electricity and building things. David attended City College of New York and received a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1953, and then went on to earn a MS in Electrical Engineering at Columbia University in 1956. After graduation he began work as an Electrical Engineer.

After being introduced to the outdoors through summer camping experiences in New York, and later in the Canadian Rockies, he avidly and enthusiastically took up rock climbing and downhill skiing. While his work was always in electrical engineering, his weekends and vacations always involved time in nature. He met Faye Noreen Kelsch, his wife, While Rock climbing in the infamous Shawangunks near New Paltz, NY. In 1962 David and Faye married and had a son, Nicholas.

The family moved to Geneva, Switzerland from 1964 to1967, where David worked at CERN. David continued his love of outdoor recreational pursuits there; skiing, hiking, and climbing in the Alps, making friends with fellow enthusiasts. Throughout his life, his wife and son shared in his adventures. In 1967 David and his family moved to Los Alamos where he began work at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in NM, where he specialized in analog and digital circuits, nanosecond electronics, TV systems, interfacing experiments to computers, electro-optical systems, MWPCs electronics, and data handling work. He chose Los Alamos due to its proximity to skiing and the mountains. He loved hiking up Pajarito Mountain for a quick jaunt, and spent many weekends skiing Pajarito and in the northern NM mountains during the snow season.

David and his family's vacations and weekends were always nature focused. During a 1968 mountaineering trip to Mt. Robson in Canada, he got caught up in an avalanche upon descent. Due to a significant compound leg fracture he had a dramatic helicopter evacuation two days later. He nevertheless went on to climb all the 14,000 foot peaks of Colorado, mastered tele-mark skiing, backpacked, hiked, and canoeed throughout the western U.S. 

In the 1970's,  David and his wife Faye went on many adventures, including chasing full solar eclipses throughout the world. They also enjoyed autumn bicycle treks both in the US and abroad, cross country skiing trips and tours, including the 10th mountain hut system, and volunteered in local and regional trail building, tree planting efforts and worked on several Habitat for Humanity builds. Into his 90's, David loved his recumbent electric assist bicycle, and in place of a walker, insisted he use his trekking poles instead. During his lifetime, David gave generously to many environmental and social justice groups. He also helped support his uncle Louis, whom he was close to, by bringing him to Los Alamos in the last few years of his life, and taking him on many local walks.

David is survived by his son Nicholas Brown, his daughter-in-law Joan Henderson, and two step-grandsons, Elliot Nicholas and Zachary Nicholas. David was incredibly fortunate to have had several wonderful caregivers around him as well, especially Anna Yarrow, who wrote and performed in a play featuring many of her photographs. Entitled, "The World Beautiful", it is about their relationship and times in nature together. David was grateful and appreciative of all the relationships he forged throughout his life via his love for the outdoors and for those wanting to work on causes related to conservation of the natural world and improving the human condition.

David peacefully departed the world he so gently treaded upon, and will return to the earth he so loved. 

A Celebration of David's Life will be held at Pajarito Mountain in Los Alamos, NM, on September 28, 2025. For details please contact Nicholas Brown at nicholas11tigers@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, those interested are encouraged to make donations in David Brown's name to any of the following organizations: Amigos Bravos, PEEC, Caldera Action, Habitat for Humanity, ACLU, People for the American Way, Common Cause New Mexico, Jewish Voices For Peace, Tomorrow's Women, and Tewa Women United.

The family of David Brown has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.  505-747-7477