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Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon, 98-year-old Andy Browne sits at the corner of Alpine and Portola Road holding a sign that reads “Black Folks Matter.” Ever since George Floyd’s death in 2020, he’s committed himself to spreading the message to the local community an hour a week.
Browne has lived in Portola Valley for 71 years and graduated from Sequoia High School. He said that when he was growing up in Palo Alto, his peers were predominantly white. But Browne was raised by a family that “disapproved of being prejudiced” and it inspired him to join the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at an early age.
“I’ve got strong feelings that anyone should be able to get along and get along well,” he said.
As drivers pass by Browne, they honk their horns in support of the message. Pedestrians can be heard saying “toot toot” as they walk by and cyclists throw him a thumbs up. With each positive interaction, Browne always responds: “Thank you.”
Andy Browne, 98, talks with bicyclists on the corner of Alpine and Portola roads in Portola Valley on May 17, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan. 
Andy Browne, 98, gives a thumbs-up when people wave or honk on the corner of Alpine and Portola roads in Portola Valley on May 17, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan.
On the other side of the sign is a simple message: “Do Good.” It’s part of the secret to living a long life, he said.
Nearing his 100th birthday, Browne said that the key to longevity is a positive attitude and happiness — the biologist and former high school teacher calls it “a scientific fact.”
His weekly one-man demonstration in Portola Valley is his way of spreading optimism in the community, serving as a reminder of the importance of kindness and social justice, he said.
“I don’t have proof that what I’m doing helps, but I think that it does help the world,” Browne said. “I just feel that for them to see it, and to see it on a regular basis, is a pretty good way of getting my message over.”
A lifetime outdoors
Local residents and outdoor enthusiasts might also recognize Browne as REI’s oldest employee, working every Saturday afternoon at the San Carlos outdoor supply store. With decades of experience backpacking and hiking, he’s the go-to person for advice and recommendations, he said.
Browne knows a lot about camping in Death Valley, a place he has visited about 50 times, he said.
“I’ve hiked in those mountains more than anyone else I know,” he added.
Browne used to lead multi-day trips with high school students to backpacking destinations such as Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, and the Trinity Alps near Redding. He said it wasn’t until the last four years that he stopped going.
Advanced age hasn’t stopped Browne from seeking adventure, though. When he was 79, he said he spent 28 days paddling a canoe 100 miles down a river in the Arctic on a solo trip.
Browne said he’s been an adventurer his whole life. Growing up with grandparents who built cabins near Fallen Leaf Lake in South Lake Tahoe and paved trails on Mount Tallac, he’s familiar with the outdoor life. The cabins have remained in Browne’s family since 1911 and he still makes the 3-hour drive to maintain the properties.
His grandfather, Charles Benjamin Wing, was a Stanford University professor who was involved in starting the state division of parks and helped develop California’s state park plan. The city of Palo Alto recognized him in 2023 as a notable individual who contributed to the founding of the city, having served 25 years on the council and eight years as mayor.
While Browne comes from a line of prominent community figures, he’s been able to lead a life that highlights his own set of unique adventures. Whether he is posted with his sign on a Sunday morning, hiking the trails or working a Saturday shift at REI, Browne is a person who is hard to miss.
