Robert Sage Brazelton

Robert (Bob) Sage Brazelton was born in Los Angeles to Sereno and Lydia Brazelton, who had met at the University of Arizona. Despite being born on the cusp of the Great Depression, Bob enjoyed many happy memories during his childhood as revealed by the numerous stories that he told to his children and grandchildren: living with grandparents and cousins in a two-bedroom home in the Highland Park/Lincoln Heights area, playing with his dogs, riding his bike around L.A., and participating in a variety of sports at the local parks.
It was one sport in particular, baseball, that would impact much of his life. After failing to make the freshman baseball team at Cathedral High School in East Los Angeles, and missing try-outs his sophomore year after breaking his arm flipping off the high bar after doing a giant swing, Bob begged the junior varsity coach to allow him to pitch against the varsity team; he proceeded to strike out the entire varsity roster. He excelled his last two years in high school and earned a baseball scholarship to Loyola University and graduated in 1952 with a B.A. in Social Studies; however, he often said that he majored in baseball and minored in socializing.
With the Korean War raging, Bob joined the Marines and landed in Korea as the Armistice negotiations were being conducted. After the Armistice, he became the player-manager of the Marine Corps baseball team, which won the Far East service championship in 1954. Returning home, Bob pursued a Master's Degree in Education and taught history and coached baseball at Garfield High School. However, he decided to apply to Loyola Law School and embarked on a three-year program to become a lawyer.
Despite many hours of classes and studying, he would attend Catholic Alumni Club dances on Saturday nights, and one evening in the spring of 1956 he met "a beautiful lass in a McIntyre plaid skirt," the woman who would become his wife in the summer of 1957 after a year of courtship and eloquent love letters, many of which were mailed to Europe since Jean Sausen was traveling with a friend during the summer of 1956. Jean worked as an English and PE teacher at California High School in Whittier. After a few dates in the fall of 1956, Bob proposed marriage and their joyful life together began, lasting 60 years until Jean's death in 2016.
Bob and Jean raised six children who were born between the years of 1960 and 1969: Bob Jr., Mike, Anne, Kevin, Steven, and Katie. After Bob passed the bar exam in late 1958, he landed a job with Humble Oil, a subsidiary of Standard Oil (later called Exxon) in its L.A. office. He also had a part-time job at UCLA teaching business law and other subjects to supplement their income. Despite coming from small families (Bob was an only child and Jean had an older brother), they talked about having six children.
After buying their house in Downey in 1960, they proceeded to raise a growing family together, which necessitated a few additions in the next few years to the one-story home. In addition, Bob purchased a cabin in Wrightwood with a law school buddy (Dan Holden) in 1968, and the family enjoyed many happy summers hiking in the mountains (San Gabriel and Sierra Nevada) and exhilarating winters skiing at Holiday Hill and Mammoth Mountain. Piling in the red 1966 VW Bus, the six Brazelton children were driven to their many activities and sports by their dedicated and loving mother, the beloved wife of Bob. They worked as a team and modeled respect and love for each other.
Bob later worked for 10 years as Vice President/General Counsel for McCulloch Oil Corporation and then joined the Tredway Law Firm in Downey as a partner from 1975 to 1990. In 1990 he became a member of the Downey City Council, serving for 8 years (two terms) for the city and practicing law from home until retirement in 2016. Throughout these years of working and serving the city and supporting Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (and other causes), Bob donned many hats as he coached all of his children's sports teams through the Downey YMCA or Little League. Dad impressed his children with his commitment to their endeavors, as he would leave the office early so that he could coach and attend sporting practices and games.
We will remember Bob/Dad/Papa for his optimistic attitude, his epic storytelling, his concern for others, his religious faith and devotion, his interest in reading (many biographies), and his incredible athletic feats–many of which are recounted by family and friends in awe: the tennis tournament won, the mountain run up and down, or the baseball games pitched. Throughout his life, and in particular during his "semi-retirement," he and Jean enjoyed many trips together throughout the country and the world.
Bob is survived by his 6 children and their spouses, his 12 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind a large group of friends who he met with regularly for Saturday night dinners, Friday morning coffee, or Monday golf.
Bob was reunited at the gates of Heaven with his loving wife, Jean S. Brazelton, where she welcomed him to their new heavenly home.
The funeral Mass and celebration of his life will be held at 10 AM on Monday, February 19, 2024, at St. Dominic Savio Church, 13400 Bellflower Bl., Bellflower. Bob will be given military honors when his burial takes place at Riverside National Cemetery at a later date. Please check back for this date.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested for friends and family to please consider a donation to nonprofits that Bob supported: Uncommon Good CLICK HERE and Homeboy Industries CLICK HERE
Condolences for the family may be sent through our website, www.rishermortuary.com.