Alvin Edmund Brown, resident of Santa Cruz, California, born March 4, 1926 in Tacoma, WA to Fred L Brown and Eunice Hough Brown, died peacefully at home in Santa Cruz on the morning of February 8, 2012 of heart failure. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Joan Lanthier Brown and children Robert Brown and Beverly Rohde (by his first wife Elinore Roberts Brown, dec.), grandchildren Travis Brown and Jolene Brown, great-grandchildren Sasha and Mason Keller and step-children Karina Kansky Hogan and Susan Kansky Lumb. He was predeceased by his youngest son, Kenneth. Al enlisted in the US Navy upon graduation from high school in 1944 and was accepted into the V-12 Officer Training program. He continued his education at the U of Washington, graduating in 1948 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He became one of the world's experts on ultrasonic flow measurement. He was granted over 35 patents in the field of ultrasonics and medical electronics. His most recent publications are in the Instrument Society of America's Flow Measurement books (1991 2001). From 1960 to 2001, he more than 30 papers published in journals including the Journal of Applied Physics, Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of Cardiology, Review of Scientific Instruments and the Acoustical Society of America. In 1966 he was awarded the Industrial Research Award (IR100) for his early ultrasonic flowmeter developed while working for Lockheed Research in Palo Alto. He served on the IRIG (Inter-Range Instrumentation Group),1954-57, and the ASME (Am. Soc. of Mech. Engineers) Committee on Ultrasonic Flow Measurement, 1975-82. Highlights of his career include: Supervision of a team intstalling electronics on SAC (Strategic Air Command) bombers; developing physiological instrumentation for 'Ham", the Chimp, first primate in orbital flight at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. In the 1950s, he developed instrumentation for Col. Stapp, who bravely volunteered to to test the effects of acceleration and deceleration (G forces) on the human body. At Lockheed Research in Palo Alto, he developed oceanographic research instrumentation for the Bathyscaphe Trieste's record-setting Mariana Trench deep dive manned by Jacques Piccard (1960); he designed the first Cardiac Patient Monitoring system (mid 1960s) in collaboration with the Harold Brunn Institute at Mt. Zion Hospital, San Francisco. He continued work (instrumentation and photography) for Meyer (Mike) Friedman of the Harold Brunn Institute (known for "Type A Behavior and Your Heart", 1974), leading to a long friendship until Dr. Friedman's death. While still a staff scientist with Lockheed Research, Al collaborated with Agnews State Hospital, San Jose, as Chief of Research studying auditory processing in human peripheral nervous system. In 1970, after purchasing his patents in ultrasonics from Lockheed, he co-founded Saratoga Systems Inc., Cupertino, CA. While at Saratoga Systems, he was sought out by Danfoss A/S of Denmark to develop a transit time meter to be marketed in Europe and S. America. He considered his time in Denmark, at Danfoss, the best work experience of his career because of the excellence of his team and working conditions. In 1975, Saratoga Systems was acquired by Du Pont. With the closure of Du Pont's west coast instrumentation division, he continued work in ultrasonics for the Sparling Division of Envirotech becoming Director of Research for their facility in Burgess Hill, England. When Manning Technologies of Santa Cruz purchased some of his patents in 1980, Al was pleased to join them and move to Santa Cruz, where he and Joan had hoped to retire. While there, as VP Research, he invented a new form of doppler meter and continued work in ultrasonics. Manning was acquired by a Baker Hughes company in 1988, and Al was moved to Austin, TX "along with the furniture", to quote him. Upon retiring 3 years later, he and Joan returned to the home they loved in Santa Cruz, and his life as a "technical migrant worker" was over. He continued his technical work at home, completing the ultrasonic meter that was "in his head" for which he was granted his last 9 patents. It was purchased by Dieterich Standard of Boulder Colorado, now part of Fisher/Rosemount. Al was an active outdoorsman enjoying mountaineering in the Olympics and in the high country of the Sierra. He found relaxation by becoming an accomplished rock climber and spelunker, the love of which he enjoyed with his family. He and Joan spent as much time as possible in the National Parks sharing their mutual love of nature. In later years, as his health required a more sedentary lifestyle, he took up genealogical research and was amazed to find connections to many well known figures throughout American and English history. A pleasant surprise was learning he was related to Pres. Obama. Reading, from mysteries to the classics, was another of his loves, as was listening to his collection of early jazz. Those who knew Al loved him for his kindness, modesty, and subtle sense of humor. The family is most grateful for the advances in medical science that permitted his long, productive life. A celebration of his life is planned for a later date. Donations to State or National Parks would be an appropriate way to commemorate his life.

Published in San Jose Mercury News on February 19, 2012.

Note: US Navy, WWII.