Dr. Richard Henry Brenneman

BRENNEMAN , Dr. Richard Henry

In loving memory of Dr. Richard Henry Brenneman

March 28, 1921 - November 16, 2006

Richard was born at home at 105 North George Street in Pottsville, PA. His address, family and town were fictionalized in the John O'Hara novel "Ten North Frederick". He was the youngest of four boys (Phil, Bud, Jack and Richard) born to Robert and Florence Brenneman. They lived with their mother, father, Uncle Lou, and Grandmother Emma Brenneman.

Richard was a champion wrestler at Pottsville High school (Class of 1938). He won the high school state championship that took place at Penn State, utilizing what would become a trademark "keylock hold". Richard's heroics were featured at the Brenneman's Hollywood Theater in Pottsville, where the short films of "Dick Brenneman and his Mat Men" were shown.

He earned a wrestling scholarship to Lehigh University, and was the Team Captain in 1942. He made the 1940 Olympic Wrestling team; however the Olympics were cancelled due to WWII. He was later inducted into the Pottsville Sports Hall of Fame.

Richard served in the horse mounted cavalry before WWII. During WWII he served in the Army as a Private First Class. He was in Intelligence, and in charge of displaying the position of battles and troop movements. He was the Army base boxing champion.

Richard received a B.S. in Engineering from Lehigh University. Later he earned a M.S. in Sociology, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh. That is where he met his wife, Mary Lou Black, M.D. She was doing her Pediatric residency at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, working with Jonas Salk to develop the Polio Vaccine.

Richard had a rich and varied career. He was a coal mine engineer, a steel production foreman, he taught at Shadyside Academy, Pitt, USC, UCLA, and Cal State LA. He worked for NASA during the height of the Space Race. Before NASA he worked for RAND Corp. as the Indoctrination Center Director conducting system training and research. Richard served as Executive Secretary to the City of Los Angeles Committee on Utilization of Space Technology.

He and Mary Lou collaborated their expertise to adapt the "Moonwalker," (NASA used for moon transport), to be used as a space age wheelchair that could climb stairs, curbs, handle sand, etc. Another key benefit, people who couldn't move their arms and legs, could direct it with their chin.

Richard hosted two early public television science shows called "Innovations" on Channel 28, and "Science Safari" on Cable Television.

He moved with his family to Pacific Palisades, CA in 1955, remained in the Palisades for over 30 years, and lived in the" City of Angels" for 51 years.

His favorite recreation was sailing. Richard said his true calling was music and poetry. He has written numerous musicals, songs and hundreds of wonderful poems. His legacy lives on with us in his poetry, he wrote until he could longer hold a pen. His website is www.501poems.com.


He is survived by his brother Jack Brenneman of Chambersburg, PA, his first wife Mary Lou Brenneman M.D. of Manhattan Beach, CA and his children; daughter Gayne Brenneman, M.D. (Robert Slay M.D.) of Palos Verdes Estates, daughter Donna Brenneman-Barry (Christopher Barry) of Pasadena, CA, son James Richard (Dawn) Brenneman of Torrance, CA, and daughter Heidi (John) Dowd of Hawaii. His grandchildren he helped raise were his pride and joy - Tyner and Cara Rayne Brenneman-Slay; Raymond James and Victoria Emma Brenneman-Barry; Allison, Kate, and John Richard Dowd.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, January 13, 2007 at 1:00 p.m.- Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 South Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90274, (310) 831-0311. Family contact: Donna Barry at email:
donnabarry@alumni.usc.edu