IN MEMORIAM: Charles Brand ‘56

The Rev. Dr. Charles Damron Brand, Class of 1956, died on April 11, 2022 in Yucca Valley, California.

Born January 12, 1932, he is survived by Renate Brand, wife of 60 years of Yucca Valley, California, Daughter Maya Brand & Daughter In-Law Crystal Sunday of Yucca Valley, California, Granddaughter Samantha Sunday and Great Grandson, Jasper Miteen, Sister Dorothy Lehr, Nephews, John Lehr, Tex Lehr, Sister In-Law Mellie Brand, Nephews Mike Brand, Christopher Brand, and Niece, Lauren Jordan. He is proceeded in death by parents Harold Brand and Katheryne Damron and Brother, John Brand. 

Brand was a linguist and spoke five different languages, a musician who loved to play his 1911 Steinway, writer, translator, lover of the fine arts and self-taught chef who had a zest for life. He also loved to travel and collect antiques. 

During college he worked in his father’s Funeral Home and found a calling for helping people. After graduating college, he joined General to become an Episcopalian Priest. During his priesthood, he went on a retreat to St. Helena’s Convent where he met his soon to be wife, Renate Weismann. After retiring from the Ministry, he did various jobs such as Psychotherapy, paralegal work, and teacher of Death & Dying at McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. 

In his 40s he decided to teach himself Italian, French and some Japanese, also the art form Ikebana. He already spoke German and English. 

In his 60s he became a passionate AIDS activist for ACT-UP NYC protesting for LGBTQ rights. 

During his 70s and 80s he translated books from English to German, German to French, and French to Italian. 

At 83, he and his wife moved into their own home in Yucca Valley California to be closer to their daughter. The Mojave desert intrigued him with all the different Cactus an amazing arid landscape. 

On Monday, April 11, 2022 at the age of 90, he took his final breath after a short bout of pneumonia.

With thanks to an obituary prepared by Maya Brand.