Memories of Charles "Chuck" Brown

In memory of

Charles "Chuck" Brown

Prosser, WA, USA

December 5, 1949 - January 20, 2021

Dec 5, 1949 - Jan 20, 2021

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Gefu Wang-Pruski

What a huge lose to our potato community! Thank you Chuck for many stimulating and inspiring conversations we had. Your questions always surprised me, but the answers were somehow within. We will miss you very much. Gefu Wang-Pruski

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Jeanne Debons

Helen Tai

To Kay and family, Chuck was an inspiring and innovative potato breeder and I thoroughly enjoyed all my encounters with him through the PAA. He had an open mind and an open spirit. My father, George, is also a potato breeder and has many fond memories of Chuck. We send our heartfelt condolences to you.

Sincerely,
Helen Tai

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Jeanne Debons

Robert Gareau

I will always remember the day I spent with Chuck and Kay when they asked to visit an Acadian village during the PAA meetings in Fredericton 2009. We drove to Bouctouche and Shediac and they really appreciated learning the local culture. My condolences to you.

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Jeanne Debons

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Moehninsi Mhs

Shared a heart

Roy Navarre

Comments:

Moehninsi Mhs

I am truly sorry for hearing Chuck’s passing . My deepest and most sincere condolences to Kay and family,... Read more I am truly sorry for hearing Chuck’s passing . My deepest and most sincere condolences to Kay and family, and may his soul rest... Read more I am truly sorry for hearing Chuck’s passing . My deepest... Read more

Loretta Mikitzel

Kay and family, my condolences to you. I have such great respect for Chuck as a scientist and how he made complicated research understandable to non-geneticists (like me) was a real gift. I worked closely with Chuck as PAA secretary when he was PAA President in New Brunswick. His light-hearted nature made the job a breeze. I will fondly remember his wonderful sense of humour and that great laugh.

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Anna Wagner

Jeanne Debons

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Mark Pavek

2003, Photo from Powell Butte, OR, USA

Chuck mentoring a WSU PhD student (Mark Pavek) in 2003 on the finer points of potato variety development or just life! I will miss Chuck but am glad I was able to walk the potato fields with him on an annual basis. Hugs and well-wishes to Kay, Anna, and Claire.

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Anna Wagner

Jeanne Debons

Roy Navarre

Prosser, WA, USA

Kay, Anna and Claire. My thoughts and prayers are with you. One of the things I'll miss most with Chuck is our long 3-12 hour drives together to potato fields or events scattered around the Northwest. Chuck knew the best coffee shop, bookstore or landmark in every small town along the way. We spent hours talking philosophy, politics, the latest books we'd read, and about our families and the miles would fly by. Chuck would talk about Claire and Anna, and in later years his grandkids, whom it was obvious he took delight in. Like all of us, I 'd hoped we'd have more years together but am deeply grateful for the time we had.

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Anna Wagner

Jeanne Debons

Rick Boydston

Our sincere condolences to the Brown family. Chuck was a renowned potato geneticist and highly respected throughout the potato industry. He was a friendly and helpful USDA-ARS colleague and it was a pleasure to work with Chuck throughout my career. He had an inquisitive mind and was always excited about research and was an inspiration to other researchers. We wish his family and friends comfort during this time of great loss.

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Anna Wagner

Jeanne Debons

Chon Rivera

Jeanne Debons

2015, Hermiston, Experiment Station Specialty Trials

A great day with the Kiwis and lots of specialty potatoes.

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Anna Wagner

Jeanne Debons

2015, Othello Field Day

I will miss you Chuck, thank you for all you were, and did, for the potato industry and the world and me.

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Anna Wagner

Michael Jackson

Steph and I are sad to hear of Chuck's passing, and we send our sincere condolences to Kay and all the family.

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Anna Wagner

Jeanne Debons

Michael Jackson

1979, Costa Rica

I was already working in Costa Rica as CIP's Regional Representative for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean when Chuck joined CIP. But, during the annual meetings in Lima, I got to know and soon became a good friend of Chuck's. Around 1979 (maybe 1980), we agreed to test some of his virus-resistant breeding lines in Costa Rica, a hot spot for potato leafroll virus in particular. Chuck flew in from Lima to help with setting up the field experiment, and stayed with my wife Steph and I in Turrialba.
Come the day of the planting, my assistant Jorge, Chuck and I drove the couple of hours to Llano Grande on the lower slopes of the Irazu Volcano, and met up with a colleague from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ing. Agr. Jorge Esquivel.
We liked to have fun while doing field work, and that day was no exception. I don't remember how it all began, but I started a narrative with Chuck that Llano Grande was also a hot spot for rabies. And we kept returning to this theme over 30-50 minutes, which got Chuck quite on edge. At a signal from me, one of the Jorges attracted Chuck's attention, and I crept up behind him, pinched him on the back of his calf muscle, while emitting a very loud 'WOOF!'
Chuck took off like a rocket. I swear there was daylight underneath his feet. Needless to say we all had a great laugh over lunch and a beer. Happy memories!
Steph and I (and Hannah) returned to Lima in November 1980, and spent a few months there before leaving CIP for the UK in March 1981. Chuck and Kay kindly held a despedida party for us at their home just before we said goodbye to CIP.

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Anna Wagner

Jeanne Debons

Anna Wagner

Shared a heart

Jeanne Debons

Anna Wagner

“The enduring love of families and friends is a bag of precious gems. The perception that your children and grandchildren are fulfilled is like a calming breeze developing at twilight for a deep sleep.”
CRB

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