Brian Lee Redd

Brian Lee Redd - a health care worker who grew up in Akron, Ohio and later moved to Baltimore, Md., died August 5, 2011 of pneumonia while hospitalized for a stroke he suffered during a heat wave. He was 50 years old.

Although Mr. Redd was born in Buffalo, N.Y. his family settled on the east side of Akron where he was graduated from Central-Hower High School in 1979. He then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Infantry and was stationed three years at Camp Pendleton, Calif. After a military discharge, Mr. Redd traveled the country before settling in Houston, Texas. There he worked as a rehabilitation technician under the tutelage of physicians at Parkway Hospital. Mr. Redd's interest in rehabilitative health care evolved from a teen-age friendship with a disabled youth and a brief stint volunteering at a nursing home in Akron.

Mr. Redd moved to Washington, D.C. in 1983 and through the years worked as a personal care attendant and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in the District, Maryland and Virginia. He was also employed as a healthcare worker in Akron while living there in the late 1980s.

Mr. Redd returned to the East Coast in 1999 and settled in Baltimore where he began a family and studied at local community colleges to become proficient as a health care worker. He was intermittently employed as a Certified Emergency Medical Technician for private ambulance services; a physical therapy technician for nursing centers and rehabilitation clinics; and a CNA for various local hospitals in the Baltimore area. At the time of his death Mr. Redd worked as a physical rehabilitation technician at Levindale Lifebridge Health Center in Baltimore.

Mr. Redd was known for his wry sense of humor, calm demeanor and easy-going attitude. Rarely flustered by challenges, he simply moved forward with his life - setting new goals, exploring opportunities and making many friends along the way. In addition to spending time with family and friends, Mr. Redd enjoyed old movies, gospel music, attending church and backyard barbecuing.

Mr. Redd was twice divorced. At the time if his death, he lived with his fiancee, Deborah Greene and their young son, Bryce Redd, in Baltimore. In addition to these family members, Mr. Redd is survived by an adult son, Brandon Redd; his mother, Barbara Virden; sisters, Bonita Powell, Carla Burkes, Stacey Virden, Sheila Austin, Cynthia Virden; brothers, Rocky Virden and Claudsell Virden Jr.; and, a host of other relatives and friends.