Carl Brown Memorial

Carl Brown at work in his office.

On November 21, 2008, Carl Brown passed away after a series of unexpected health issues grew more serious and ultimately critical. Carl was 62 years old and, by all accounts, had led an amazing life that touched many people both directly and indirectly. While his loss is devastating, it is important to recognize the powerful contributions Carl gave to the world of assistive technology and education. It is impossible to talk about Carl’s contributions without mentioning his character, as his subtle wit and compassionate generosity served to underscore his vision, deep insight, and powerful intellect. It is this combination of personal qualities that allowed Carl to accomplish so much and create a lasting legacy that will continue to touch and improve the lives of students with disabilities. A true visionary, Carl understood technology like few others, but his belief in education and the human spirit allowed him to find a unique context in which to embody his vision. In memory of all Carl contributed, we present this space so that others may share their stories of an exceptional man and his life.

Carl Brown and his favorite rock at the Tech Museum in San Jose

Dear colleagues,

Carl Brown’s wife, Martha Kanter, has arranged for a memorial service here on the De Anza College campus in the Flint Center at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 4.

Martha has asked that, rather than flowers, individuals who wish to do so make a donation to a scholarship that will be set up in Carl’s name. We will be meeting with the foundation soon to organize the scholarship, and more information on how to contribute should be available by the memorial service.

A number of you may wish to come to De Anza from out of town for that day, so feel free to post your travel plans to the list so that you can connect in order to make arrangements to come in on the same flights or car pool.

The HTCTU will have coffee and snacks available the day of the service, so if anyone gets in early or has a late flight, please feel free to stop by and say hello. We intend to put together a slide show of pictures of Carl and the HTCTU and have it running in the lab, so you can just come and sit for a while, if you wish.

If anyone has digital photos of Carl or the HTCTU, please send them to me, and I will include them in the slideshow.

Many thanks to all of you who have sent us your love and support. Jayme and I are both feeling a bit numb today, and we so appreciate your kind thoughts.

Gaeir (rhymes with “fire”) Dietrich Read the rest of this entry »