Guest post by Jane Lurie.

DelBrown
Del Brown

The Loreto Bay community of homeowners has proven over and over again what a uniquely tight knit group we are….from banding together to assure the completion of the AV homes to organizing relief efforts for hurricane victims in our beloved Baja. We are a family, but a family that formed after we’ve all lived a significant portion of our lives. We have so much to learn about each other.

Recently, we lost a dear friend and fellow homeowner, Del Brown. Most of us knew him as a kind, gentle, funny, strong man, husband of Nancy, his beloved wife of almost 50 years, father of three wonderful daughters and granddaddy to 5 bright spirits. We knew that Del and Nancy shared our passion for Loreto Bay. But those of us who were blessed enough to be able to attend his memorial service, and there was a large contingent of Loreto Bay friends there, learned that Del was so much more.

We learned that he was a beloved and respected scholar and teacher of theology. That he believed that religious values are central to the promotion of tolerance and social justice. Once, when one of his daughters was reading a history textbook she found a photo of Martin Luther King in Selma, Alabama and there was her father right there with him. He gave voice, definition and encouragement to the progressive Christian community.

Those who knew him had great appreciation for his sense of humor, sense of joy in life and incredible optimism and hope about the world. He was a kind, just, compassionate man.

Del was a great friend to Sharon and me. It was a joy and an honor to spend his last years with him. One of his last wishes was to return to Loreto one more time. Del, there will be many, many wonderful times ahead in our treasured Loreto and always you will be there in our hearts.

Del and Nancy on one of their many treks
Del and Nancy on a trek on the Haute Trail
Del, Nancy and Family
Del, Nancy and Family
Del, Nancy and me at our favorite ice cream shop in Loreto
Del, Nancy and Jane in Loreto at Michoacana
Del and Sharon take a break while kayaking in Loreto
Del and Sharon take a break while kayaking in Loreto
Del and Nancy Kayak in Loreto at Sunrise
Del and Nancy Kayak in Loreto at Sunrise