Brett Mullins Obituary
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The family of Brett Mullins announces his peaceful death on Friday, April 1, 2022. He was born on June 6, 1958 and lived his whole life in Arlington and Falls Church.
You can't think about Brett without thinking about electronics. He had a gift for repairing almost anything. Brett has been repairing and restoring since the tender age of 9 when to his mother's chagrin, he trash-picked his first television set. It wasn't long before that poor television was disassembled into countless pieces over the rec room carpet. But to his parent's amazement, it was just a few days before Brett had fully reassembled all those pieces back into place and had himself a working TV.
At age 12, Brett got his first job as an after-school helper at the local TV repair shop. At 17, he was co-teaching the high school electronics class. When he turned 19, he became service manager for a successful chain of stereo shops in the DC area, and by 25, he had opened a large repair shop which he owned and operated for over 25 years.
Several years ago, Brett began a quieter business where he could do what he loved the most: just repair high quality equipment. That left more time for his membership in the Elks Club. There, he enjoyed the fellowship of the members and was voted Elk of the Month for March 2022!
After electronics, Brett's second love (besides Laurie), was music. He was part of a lot of different bands and loved singing karaoke. An audiophile, he was one of those exceptional breeds of people who are fascinated by pure audio, motivated by sound quality and addicted to audio gadgets.
Brett leaves behind his wife and best friend of 42 years, Laurie Mullins, his son Nicholas Mullins, his daughter Maggie Thomas, son-in-law James Thomas, and his mother Barbara Mullins. He was predeceased by his beloved father, Forrest (Tom) Mullins. He also leaves behind many relatives and a community of friends who will miss him.
Flowers or a contribution for Tunnel To Towers Foundation (T2T.org) are welcome.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Brett Mullins, please visit Tribute Store
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Andre Ritter
June 22, 2025
Oh, my gosh! I just now found out, and my heart is so heavy- my name is Andre Ritter, and I worked for Brett for seven years in the 90´s, when the then current iteration of his company was High Tech Audio & Video. He gave me my job as a delivery driver and I feel like he was more my friend than my boss- he was that good- hearted! When I left the company in the late 90´s, to move to New York City, he arranged a bon voyage party in my honor, and he gave me a parting gift of a then brand new, top of the line Philips DVD/CD player, which I am happy to say- works to this day, with NO repairs! I remember his McIntosh museum he had at his house. I see them still at the antique shows I attend, and I´ll make sure to say a silent toast in his memory every time I see one in the future. To Laurie and the kids- I don´t know if you remember me, but I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank to your family for treating me like one of the family- the Mullins & High Tech family! Thank you, Brett, for taking a chance on me- R. I. P. , my friend.
Artistic Audiophile
September 21, 2024
Just learned Brett passed now
I'm the autistic guy who now knows more about audio than nearly everyone in falls church since Brett passed. He taught me everything I know. I probably have a hundred hours at least under my belt of Brett monologues about how various parts of audio components work. whether it's him explaining how electrons actually flow from magnetic fields or him going over the doping process of silicon, I learned actual textbooks of information from this guy and it's probably the basis for all my electronic knowledge in general.
My life fell apart and I went into a spiral of rage and I'm pretty sure just one bad interaction from when I was in a raged panic actually part of his sons life at the time not even his, but I lost my temper and kind of felt too bad to ever talk to his family again
Nick or Brett never got to see my finished system but I got it to a point where almost nothing in his store can beat it.
Anyway I'm sorry my autism got the best of me and I hope nick is doing better.
I still dont have a single friend yet from 5 years ago and may never have another friend again, but brett was the smartest person I ever met, and I would be a lot less resourceful if I haven't met him
remo perini
April 1, 2023
Brett (Hi-Fi Heaven)
I learned today, one year late, the news of your departure,
A tinkerer, a music man, in your niche there´s no smarter.
You, my friend, are unforgettable, a man of wit and cunning,
Your vast array of audio gear, breathtaking and quite stunning.
In your shop you always were the smartest in the room,
By just a model number you could guess the unit´s doom.
From McIntosh to Halfler, you knew Achilles heals,
With solder, scope, and DVM, repairs were rapid deals.
I won´t forget your workbench, it seemed to me like chaos,
You strictly used technology, no assumptions, guess, or séance.
One hundred dollars to open up, even if just a fuse,
The $99 additional caused a couple bad reviews,
A true Falls Church legend, an icon we now miss,
But maybe not the fire marshal when inspecting your premise.
To know you was to "get you", a strong personality,
I relished in your sarcasm, your geniality.
Audio equipment stacked on shelves and on the floor
And in the two adjacent room, there were some hundreds more.
More than just a customer, but not quite a good friend,
I get you Brett, and sorry mate, I was not with you near the end.
I reached out to your family, don´t know if they´ll respond,
Not wanting to re-new their grief,
But let them know you´re honored.
I have a bunch of amps you fixed, and speakers that you sold me,
They´re all now cherished items, since you were a one and only.
The memories come flooding back, with pictures of your shop,
I enjoyed each visit with you, did not think that they would stop.
Your obituary made me cry, I really dropped the ball,
Your number´s on my favorite list, I wish that I had called.
I wish that I had know you better, invited you to my home,
But all I have to offer now, is this quickly written poem.
James Oppenheimer
January 23, 2023
Gosh ... I just learned about Brett's passing. I knew him through his shop, HiFi Heaven, where I was a customer. Upon meeting him a few years ago, I realized immediately he was a man of distinction and great intelligence. I liked him a lot and in my mind's eye I see him there, behind the counter strewn with electronic parts, a happy man who knew his own heart and mind. RIP dear Brett up there in HiFi Heaven.
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steve schwat
December 31, 2022
So sad to learn of Brett's passing. I worked with Brett at Audio Associates on N Fairfax Drive in 1983. Brett introduced me to Klondike Bars. Every day at about 3 pm, Brett would walk across the street to Peoples Drug Store and buy a few KBs and share them with the team. Brett could, in fact, fix almost anything electronic. He will be missed.
MIchael A. Cohn
November 27, 2022
I met Brett several times at his shop. One of the nicest men I have met. Always took good care of my stereo. He often spoke about his Mother.
Craig
July 28, 2022
I´m so sorry to hear of Brett´s passing. I didn´t know him personally however I did visit his store quite often to have my turntable cartridges set. We would talk about music as we were both audiophiles, and he always had interesting stories to tell along with a fascinating sense of humor. He was a nice fellow and he will be missed!
Kellen Bucher
July 12, 2022
Hello, I just got to learn about Brett, and would like to offer my condolences. I was a returning customer at his store and I really enjoyed chatting with him when I went there. I really appreciated his expertise, asking him many questions about vintage audio equipment. The last time I was there I told him I was a federal worker and also and engineer...and he shared a bunch of interesting stories of his past jobs. I was about to leave, and he stopped me and gave me the plans to a record player plinth I had bought from him a few years before, because I had said I was interested in remaking it. I only met him a few times, but he left such an impression on me.
Bill Nay
May 6, 2022
I am so sad to hear Brett passed away. He was a friend of mine and a fellow audiophile.
Brett was a gentleman and a very knowlegable man and solid business man. I knew him from my work at Conrad Johnson and respected him.
I will always fondly remember Brett. RIP my friend.
David Sostman
April 21, 2022
I met Brett forty years through our mutual love of good music and high end audio. He was one of the finest men I have ever known. My thoughts are with his family and friends who will miss this outstanding human being. Rest in Peace my friend.
Mari Ely Christie
April 8, 2022
I remember Brett as the handsome, funny, sweet boy from across the street who spent many, many hours in our basement as my brother Billy´s (William/Guillermo) buddy and bass player in his band-and of course sound man. I remember his brilliance with electronics and how he worked as a kid at the shop in the (appropriately named) "High´s shopping center" on Sycamore and Williamsburg Blvd (now 7-11). Then for decades after that, I would enjoy running into him at Billy and Yolande´s house or random music events, and he would still crack me up and make me happy to know him. My sympathies to Laurie, his mom, and his kids.
Doug Schirmer
April 7, 2022
I have know Brett since sometime in the 1980s when I bought my stereo equipment at Audio Associates. I have followed him to each of his businesses, bought countless CDs and equipment from Brett. He was a brilliant repair technician, audio guru and an all around great person. Brett I will truly miss you.
Robert Hayler
April 5, 2022
Britton I had several classes together at Yorktown high school (class of 76). We weren´t close friends, but he was a great guy and fun to be with
Kelli Scarrow Patterson
April 5, 2022
Brett was a great guy and sad to hear of his passing. My sympathies to Laurie and all his family. Rest In Peace, Brett.
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7211 U.S. 29 7211 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22046
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