Albert C. Brousse

1933 - 2021

Albert Charles Brousse Artistic Director, Playwright, Theatre Reviewer, and Environmental Activist, Albert Charles Brousse, passed away on February 4, 2021. Charles was born on December 9, 1933 to Albert Charles Brouse and Julia DePascal Brouse in NYC. He grew up in California and attended Stanford on a four-year scholarship and graduated with honors with a B.A. (1955), M.A. (1958), and PhD (1962) in Political Science. He also earned a Certificato Speciale from the University of Rome. Charles enjoyed a career as a teacher at the university level for 12 years, first at San Jose State (1958-1960) and then as Associate Professor at Drew University in Madison, NJ (1960-1970), which allowed him to work at the U.N., in Washington, DC and London. Here in the Bay Area, he served as Arts Reporter for KPFA (1974-76), KQED TV (1976-78), Theatre Critic for the Pacific Sun (1977-87 and 2010-2018), and for the Marin Independent Journal (1999-2009). Founding Artistic Director and Playwright in Residence of Theater Artists of Marin (1980-1999), he won many awards, including two Bay Area Drama-Logue Awards for Outstanding Original Play (Afternoon at B.J.'s, 1994 and America: The Movie, 1996) and two Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Original Script (Pelikan's Roost, 1985 and Vista Point, 1993). He also was the recipient of two major playwriting grants from the Marin Community Foundation. As Director/Dramaturg of Theater Artists of Marin, he oversaw the development and production of 32 original scripts and many American classics, starting with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and ending with "On Golden Pond." Charles was always active in environmental issues as well as artistic endeavors. He was co-founder of Vision San Rafael and Larkspur Town Meeting, served six years on the Boards of the Marin Arts Council and the Marin Conservation League and also served on task forces for downtown re-development and St. Vincent/Silveira properties, was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Marin General Plan, Population Committee for Sierra Club S.F. Bay Chapter, Yosemite Association of Californians for Population Stabilization, and, finally, the S.F. Bay Area Critics Circle and Playlab. Besides a multitude of pursuits, both intellectual and artistic, he was an avid hiker and backpacker; a family tradition with amazing backpacks in the Sierras and hikes at Lake Tahoe every summer on family campouts. Another family tradition was the eagerly anticipated TOPIC to be discussed by everyone at holiday dinners. Always the teacher, he loved the spirited, but respectful, exchange where everyone was encouraged to join in, the young and the old. He played many roles (husband, "Papa," uncle, cousin, Nonno, mentor, playwright, theater critic, and supporter of many causes), but he was truly happiest as the paterfamilias of a grateful family. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Phoebe Moyer (Greenbrae); his daughters, Katherine Porebski (Arturo) of Nevada City and Maria Kindel of Morro Bay; his sister Judy Ardzrooni of Corte Madera; two grandchildren, Sierra and Landon Kindel; his former wife, Elizabeth Brousse of Templeton; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews and their children. A celebration of Albert Charles Brousse's life will be held once it is safe to do so. In the meantime, donations may be made in his memory to the Yosemite Conservancy, Marin Conservation League, or Middle East Children's Alliance.