Biography
Doug Brown
August 12, 1931 – July 18, 2009
Douglas Peter Brown was born in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the son of Helen Wiser and Louis Brown. He was the first of four children. When he was a baby a pot of hot coffee was accidentally spilled at the dinner table and the liquid seared his chest. Thereafter, his protective mother discouraged him from sports and physical risks, and he became interested in drawing as a child in elementary school. He excelled through his self-determination with little formal instruction and much zeal.
Doug’s family moved to Tucson, Arizona when he was in his last year of high school. After graduation, he entered the Navy and served as a sonarman aboard the destroyer Charles S. Sperry (DD697) during the Korean War. One of his Navy buddies remarked at a Sperry reunion decades later, “Doug is the only one I know who grew up to be what he wanted to be.”
After completing his tour of duty he briefly returned to Tucson to attend college and to work in a design firm, then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in interior design. His first job in California was with a firm in Beverly Hills, but in 1956 he took a job with H. J. Perry furniture store in Whittier, California where he was responsible for advertising, made a commission on furniture sales and designed interiors for the store’s customers. He remained there for 20 years.
Doug met his wife, Rosemarie Sands in 1958 through a mutual friend, Patricia Roberts who was a fan of his artwork at Perry’s. When Rosemarie was offered the opportunity to spend a year (1960-1961) teaching at the US Air Force School in Germany, Doug wrote to her every day. She returned, and they married in 1962. Meanwhile, Patricia married Rosemarie’s brother Charles.
Doug and Rosemarie soon had three children, Rob (1963), Paul (1965), and Jean (1967). Their fourth, Chris, was born in 1975.
In 1972, Doug and another artist, Ernest Lacy, obtained a small press and opened up an etching studio in Whittier. For about four years they developed their skills in etching and embossing techniques. In 1976 Doug left H.J. Perry and worked as a designer for Betty Willis Interiors for a year, then struck out on his own founding Doug Brown Inc. He rented a large upstairs apartment space at the corner of Washington and Philadelphia, a large portion of which was devoted to a new etching studio. Doug’s new business attracted well-to-do residential and commercial clients from all over southern California. In 1987 the Whittier earthquake damaged much of uptown Whittier and forced Doug to move the business to a smaller apartment building a few blocks away.
One of Doug’s major life events was quitting smoking, which he accomplished by 1985 after a few hard years of trying. He said it was the hardest thing he ever did. The associated emotional struggles changed him in a very positive way, for which his family is very grateful.
In addition to painting and etching and interior design, Doug was very interested in calligraphy. He watched Lloyd Reynold’s TV show in the late ‘60s, and would wake up at 5:00 a.m. to practice until going to work. He joined the Society for Calligraphy in Whittier. He carried a sketchbook around with him everywhere and spent almost every spare minute practicing a new font or just doodling in it. (But for a lot of people those doodles looked like finished work!) By the mid 1980’s his talents in interior design, calligraphy, and etchings had blended almost seamlessly and his clients were demanding all his skills. He was selected to design rooms in the Design House of Whittier in 1985 and in 1987. These showcase rooms were highly acclaimed. A dining room in the 1987 house featured a novel hand-painted calligraphic border encompassing the perimeter of the room just below the ceiling. Doug also mounted a few shows of his etchings (1972, 1973) and his calligraphy (1987, 2008).
Doug attended the convention of the International Society for Calligraphy in 1991, held at the University of Portland (Oregon) where he met Lloyd Reynolds and attended workshops by “Lefty” Fontenrose and Peter Thornton. He found it to be a very enlightening experience and a supportive, generous group. It was an event that he cherished greatly for the remainder of his life.
Doug never really retired, as people were always calling on him, but by 2003 he had truly hung up his hat as work had become too difficult. In 2001, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Gradually, calligraphy became too difficult, so he returned to oil and acrylic painting with which he had dabbled through his career. His sense of humor helped him through this tough period. One of his favorite responses to the question, “How are you?” was, “Slightly less than magnificent.” It got so old that we all would just roll our eyes. But in his last months as he was rapidly weakening he answered the question with, “Slightly less than the day before.”
His humor only got him so far. What carried him through his life, especially near the end, was his relationship with God. He was a devout Catholic. He infused religion into all facets of his life, especially his calligraphy, and his closest friends were in his prayer group.
In 2007 Doug and Rosemarie sold their home which they had owned since 1964 and moved to Loveland, Colorado. By this time, Parkinson’s disease had made it very difficult for Doug to move about and had also affected his ability to converse. Thanks to the Ft. Collns Parkinson’s Support Group and the Pathway Hospice Team he enjoyed his last two years and relished in his life’s accomplishments. He considered his greatest accomplishment, however, the raising of four successful children.
Doug is survived by his wife of 47 years, four children: Rob and wife Julie, Portland, Oregon ; Paul and wife Christine,Chino Hills, California ; Jean and husband Joe Hedrick, South River, New Jersey and Chris and wife Jamie, Loveland, Colorado and five grandchildren.
Founding member, East Whittier Education Foundation
Design consultant and fund raiser for the President’s Home at Whittier College
Adult education teacher, interior design and calligraphy
Appointed Cultural Arts Commissioner, City of Whittier, 1987
Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Club
Member, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Orange County Chapter
Member, Rio Hondo Kiwanis, Society of Calligraphy
Doug also served on the PTA board in his children’s school.
This biography section also contains COMPLETED pieces, photographed and contributed by the owners. Not to give the wrong impression, but Doug Brown did actually complete many projects!
Read MoreAugust 12, 1931 – July 18, 2009
Douglas Peter Brown was born in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the son of Helen Wiser and Louis Brown. He was the first of four children. When he was a baby a pot of hot coffee was accidentally spilled at the dinner table and the liquid seared his chest. Thereafter, his protective mother discouraged him from sports and physical risks, and he became interested in drawing as a child in elementary school. He excelled through his self-determination with little formal instruction and much zeal.
Doug’s family moved to Tucson, Arizona when he was in his last year of high school. After graduation, he entered the Navy and served as a sonarman aboard the destroyer Charles S. Sperry (DD697) during the Korean War. One of his Navy buddies remarked at a Sperry reunion decades later, “Doug is the only one I know who grew up to be what he wanted to be.”
After completing his tour of duty he briefly returned to Tucson to attend college and to work in a design firm, then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in interior design. His first job in California was with a firm in Beverly Hills, but in 1956 he took a job with H. J. Perry furniture store in Whittier, California where he was responsible for advertising, made a commission on furniture sales and designed interiors for the store’s customers. He remained there for 20 years.
Doug met his wife, Rosemarie Sands in 1958 through a mutual friend, Patricia Roberts who was a fan of his artwork at Perry’s. When Rosemarie was offered the opportunity to spend a year (1960-1961) teaching at the US Air Force School in Germany, Doug wrote to her every day. She returned, and they married in 1962. Meanwhile, Patricia married Rosemarie’s brother Charles.
Doug and Rosemarie soon had three children, Rob (1963), Paul (1965), and Jean (1967). Their fourth, Chris, was born in 1975.
In 1972, Doug and another artist, Ernest Lacy, obtained a small press and opened up an etching studio in Whittier. For about four years they developed their skills in etching and embossing techniques. In 1976 Doug left H.J. Perry and worked as a designer for Betty Willis Interiors for a year, then struck out on his own founding Doug Brown Inc. He rented a large upstairs apartment space at the corner of Washington and Philadelphia, a large portion of which was devoted to a new etching studio. Doug’s new business attracted well-to-do residential and commercial clients from all over southern California. In 1987 the Whittier earthquake damaged much of uptown Whittier and forced Doug to move the business to a smaller apartment building a few blocks away.
One of Doug’s major life events was quitting smoking, which he accomplished by 1985 after a few hard years of trying. He said it was the hardest thing he ever did. The associated emotional struggles changed him in a very positive way, for which his family is very grateful.
In addition to painting and etching and interior design, Doug was very interested in calligraphy. He watched Lloyd Reynold’s TV show in the late ‘60s, and would wake up at 5:00 a.m. to practice until going to work. He joined the Society for Calligraphy in Whittier. He carried a sketchbook around with him everywhere and spent almost every spare minute practicing a new font or just doodling in it. (But for a lot of people those doodles looked like finished work!) By the mid 1980’s his talents in interior design, calligraphy, and etchings had blended almost seamlessly and his clients were demanding all his skills. He was selected to design rooms in the Design House of Whittier in 1985 and in 1987. These showcase rooms were highly acclaimed. A dining room in the 1987 house featured a novel hand-painted calligraphic border encompassing the perimeter of the room just below the ceiling. Doug also mounted a few shows of his etchings (1972, 1973) and his calligraphy (1987, 2008).
Doug attended the convention of the International Society for Calligraphy in 1991, held at the University of Portland (Oregon) where he met Lloyd Reynolds and attended workshops by “Lefty” Fontenrose and Peter Thornton. He found it to be a very enlightening experience and a supportive, generous group. It was an event that he cherished greatly for the remainder of his life.
Doug never really retired, as people were always calling on him, but by 2003 he had truly hung up his hat as work had become too difficult. In 2001, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Gradually, calligraphy became too difficult, so he returned to oil and acrylic painting with which he had dabbled through his career. His sense of humor helped him through this tough period. One of his favorite responses to the question, “How are you?” was, “Slightly less than magnificent.” It got so old that we all would just roll our eyes. But in his last months as he was rapidly weakening he answered the question with, “Slightly less than the day before.”
His humor only got him so far. What carried him through his life, especially near the end, was his relationship with God. He was a devout Catholic. He infused religion into all facets of his life, especially his calligraphy, and his closest friends were in his prayer group.
In 2007 Doug and Rosemarie sold their home which they had owned since 1964 and moved to Loveland, Colorado. By this time, Parkinson’s disease had made it very difficult for Doug to move about and had also affected his ability to converse. Thanks to the Ft. Collns Parkinson’s Support Group and the Pathway Hospice Team he enjoyed his last two years and relished in his life’s accomplishments. He considered his greatest accomplishment, however, the raising of four successful children.
Doug is survived by his wife of 47 years, four children: Rob and wife Julie, Portland, Oregon ; Paul and wife Christine,Chino Hills, California ; Jean and husband Joe Hedrick, South River, New Jersey and Chris and wife Jamie, Loveland, Colorado and five grandchildren.
Founding member, East Whittier Education Foundation
Design consultant and fund raiser for the President’s Home at Whittier College
Adult education teacher, interior design and calligraphy
Appointed Cultural Arts Commissioner, City of Whittier, 1987
Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Club
Member, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Orange County Chapter
Member, Rio Hondo Kiwanis, Society of Calligraphy
Doug also served on the PTA board in his children’s school.
This biography section also contains COMPLETED pieces, photographed and contributed by the owners. Not to give the wrong impression, but Doug Brown did actually complete many projects!
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