William P. Brotherton

BROTHERTON, WILLIAM P. July 7, 1911 to Sept. 12, 2008 William Brotherton, a longtime resident of San Diego, passed away peacefully on September 12th, surrounded by his family, at St. Paul's John McColl Family Health Center. He was born in San Francisco in 1911 and came to San Diego, at a young age, with his mother and sister Mary. In 1929, he graduated from San Diego High School and attended San Diego State College, where he majored in engineering. He worked for several years at SDG&E. In 1944, he joined Ryan Aeronautical Company where he started as Technical Editor-Speaker, then Advertising Manager, Foreign Sales Mgr. and was Public Relations Mgr. until 1964. He then became the Exec. Mgr. of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he expanded the membership to the largest in the country. His success in San Diego led him to Los Angeles to become Exec. Dir. of the Southern California Visitors Council until 1977 when he retired in San Diego. Throughout his life he was very active in many community organizations, including, a Director of American Cancer Society, Pres. San Diego Jr. Chamber of Commerce, Chr. Calif. State Fund-Raising Committee of the Amer. Cancer Society, Chr. San Diego County Welfare Board, Downtown Lions Club and was awarded the Phil Harris Fellow by Rotary International, to name a few. He was often asked to speak and be MC at many events in San Diego. He enjoyed travel and, in his later years, playing tennis. He was a legend for his insightful and careful analysis of political and community issues and was frequently published in Letters to the Editor in the newspaper and also in San Diego Magazine. Bill married Marian (Cupie) Kerch in 1939, they had two children, Gayle and Gary. In 1988, he married Rita Painchaud, with whom, he happily spent the last 20 years. He was predeceased by his son Gary in 1974 and his sister Mary. He is also survived by his daughter Gayle (Stephen) Stephenson, two grandchildren, Jill Stephenson and William (Cara-Lee) Stephenson and two step-grand-daughters, Debbie (Mark) Rodriguez and Katie (Tom) Ahern and five great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be Monday, September 22nd, at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Memorial Park, Salli Lynn Chapel. In lieu of flowers please send donations to American Cancer Society, San Diego Hospice or St. Paul's Sr. Homes and Services Foundation.