Donald Brown Obituary

Durango resident Donald R. Brown died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, at his home. He died at age 76 after a rapid return of

cancer.

Mr. Brown was born to Noland and Josephine Brown on Sept. 6, 1933, in Pontiac, Mich., and grew up in Walled Lake,

Mich. He graduated from Walled Lake High School in 1951. Mr. Brown achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was a member

of the Order of the Arrow.

He earned a degree in park management from Michigan State University in 1955. While in college, he was a runner and

captain of the Spartan track team.

After graduation, Mr. Brown joined the Army as a mountain-warfare instructor in the Mountain and Cold Weather

Training Command at Camp Hale, located between Leadville and Red Cliff.

After his discharge in 1957, Mr. Brown began his career in the National Park Service as a seasonal ranger at Rocky

Mountain National Park and returned there to end his rich career as the assistant superintendent of the park in 1989.

During his 32 years with the park service, Mr. Brown had the opportunity to live and work in the Everglades, Sequoia,

Olympic and Grand Canyon national parks and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Park Service assigned him to teach at the University of Michigan, where he was the director of the International

Seminar on National Parks and an adjunct professor. In 1977, Mr. Brown became the first superintendent of Sleeping

Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. He moved on to work as superintendent of Isle Royale National Park, also

in Michigan, before returning to Colorado.

On Nov. 1, 1980, he married Virginia Wood in Houghton, Mich. The Browns moved to Durango in 1993.

In his “retirement," Mr. Brown worked for Boulder County Parks and Open Space and the Purgatory Ski Patrol. He

volunteered for the Durango Fire & Rescue Authority and was often seen assisting patients at the Durango Cancer

Center.

“Don was a passionate skier, one who sought the poetry in carving the perfect turn and experiencing Colorado's beauty

with those he cherished," his family wrote. “He was proud to have logged over 55 years of consecutive ski seasons. He

enjoyed a good cold beer at the end of the day, or sharing stories with others over a cup of warm chai."

His family said Mr. Brown's attention to detail can be seen in the Durango homes he and his wife, Ginny, enjoyed

remodeling together. He enjoyed spending time with his best friend and “wingman," Darin Martens.

“Many may remember Don as the man with the two white dogs, walking his pals Forrest and Maddie," his family wrote.

“He was the master of communication, guiding many when needed with their own life challenges and triumphs. A

consummate gentleman and mentor to many, he loved to pass on a great joke, goofy story or inappropriate humor."

Mr. Brown is survived by his wife of 30 years, Ginny Brown, of Durango; daughters Jenny Roberts and Alison Jackson,

both of Durango, Katie Myers of Traverse City, Mich., and Gretchen Brown of Springfield, Ore.; and five grandsons.

A service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. A gathering at the church

will take place afterward.

Memorial contributions to honor Mr. Brown's love of skiing may be made to the Durango Winter Sports Foundation, P.O.

Box 4104, Durango, CO 81302.