Obituary: Robert Brown, Portola Valley founder, longtime councilman Obituary: Robert Brown, Portola Valley founder, longtime councilman (August 31, 2005)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Robert V. "Bob" Brown, a leader in the incorporation of Portola Valley in 1964 and a council member for 16 years, died August 26 at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs hospice from a rare form of leukemia. He was 79.

Mr. Brown is remembered as a hands-on guy with a wonderful smile who got things done. He helped shape Portola Valley as a rural community largely run by volunteers and with a stingy budget.

"Bob Brown deserves recognition more than anybody for what he did," says Bob Anderson, a friend and fellow council member for many years. "He was just a huge plus for this town."

Bob Brown grew up in Palo Alto as the oldest of four brothers. After attending Palo Alto schools, he spent two years in the Navy and studied radar at MIT. Later he majored in electrical engineering at Stanford and received an MBA in 1950.

While at Stanford, Mr. Brown also met Pat Hegg. They were married in 1952, and built the house on Westridge Drive that is still their home. "This spring we celebrated the 50th anniversary of moving into this house," says Pat Brown.

For many years, Mr. Brown ran the construction company started by his father in 1932. Vance M. Brown and Sons has built many schools, sports facilities and other buildings on the Peninsula. Mr. Brown's son Loren is the third generation to run the company, now called Vance M. Brown Inc.
Birth of Portola Valley

"Bob was definitely the leader for Portola Valley becoming a town independent of the county," says Bill Lane, former publisher of Sunset, another leader in the struggle for incorporation, and member of the original Town Council.

Mr. Brown wanted to preserve the open space and especially the trails that threaded Portola Valley from the development that was spreading into the hills. He -- and many others -- testified at county hearings, passed petitions, rang door bells.

When 73 percent of Portola Valley voters approved incorporation on June 24, 1964, Mr. Brown took his seat on the first Town Council. He stayed for the next 18 years, except for two years off between 1970 and 1972. He was mayor three times.

On the council, Mr. Brown was a volunteer's volunteer, with little tolerance for red tape and bureaucracy. He was in charge of the public works department, and did most of its work. Stories abound of storms when Mr. Brown was out cutting up trees blocking the road or clearing debris from culverts.

"Bob didn't delegate; there was no one to delegate to," says Mr. Anderson. "He knew where every septic tank was. He knew where the master water main was."

One of the town's favorite stories was about the Saturday when Mr. Brown, in a gesture toward bicyclists, paved the horse trail along Alpine Road. By Monday, Admiral Joe Quilter, one of Portola Valley's colorful characters and an avid horseman, descended on Town Hall in a fury. "I thought Joe was going to string him up," Mrs. Brown recalls.

As chief budget hawk, Mr. Brown pinched pennies to keep tax rates down and save taxpayers money. Former Town Clerk and Chief Administrative Officer Linda Craig remembers him as down-to-the-last penny frugal with a really strong business sense.

He also had high standards, particularly about conflict of interest. "He was absolutely meticulous about never taking a contract in town," she says.
Roast

When Mr. Brown stepped down from the council in 1982, Portola Valley gave him a full-blown roast. A chorus sang "Bad, Bad Robert Brown, Meanest Man in the Whole Damn Town."

Ms. Craig presented "Robert's Rules of Order." These included: "Water runs downhill," his response to citizens grumbling about drainage; and, "Don't write anything down; it will only cause you trouble."

Mayor John Wilson presented a long poem arguing that Portola Valley should really be named "Brown Valley." It concluded, "Then old Portola -- looking down -- won't find a frown in downtown Brown."

During this period, the Browns also raised four children. A high point, Mrs. Brown recalls, was 1970-71, when the family traveled in Europe. They stayed in England during the winter and toured the continent from Norway to Turkey in a bright red van during the summers. "It was the nicest thing we ever did," she says.

Mr. Brown retired from his business in 1972 to give more time to Portola Valley. After leaving the council, the Browns relaxed and did a lot of traveling. Recently, Mr. Brown returned to public action to oppose tearing down Town Hall for a new Town Center. "He couldn't bear to see them tear down Town Center," says Mrs. Brown.

Mr. Brown was also active in the Palo Alto Rotary Club, and helped raise funds for a permanent home for the Peninsula Conservation Center, now Acterra. Mr. Brown is survived by four brothers, Allan Brown of Portola Valley, Lawrence Brown of Moraga, John Brown of Oroville, and Donal Brown of Corte Madera; four children, Kristin Brown of San Diego, Loren Brown of Palo Alto, Susan Brown of Potsdam, Germany, and Brian Brown of Portola Valley; and five grandchildren.

No services are planned.

The family suggests donations to the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) or an organization that supports the environment.

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