Gunhild H. Brown

Gunhild H. Brown, a resident of Clearlake Riviera, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Sunday morning, October 24, 2010. Gunhild, the second daughter of Jens Heyerdahl Hansen and Ragnhild Braenne Hansen, was born in San Francisco on July 24, 1912, and raised in Oakland, CA.
She was blessed with an exceptionally devoted family who encouraged a pursuit of knowledge and contribution to humanity. After completing high school at age 17, she and her sister Eline traveled to Norway to live with relatives while attending the Oslo Orthopedic Institute for Physical Therapy where they both received degrees, following their mother's profession of physical therapy.
Upon her return to California at age 20, she was made head of the physical therapy department at Peralta Hospital in Oakland. After five years at Peralta she moved to Palm Springs working at an exclusive guest ranch that catered to the Hollywood stars of the 30's. It was there she met her future husband, Richard Brown, to whom she was married for 25 years. Gunhild and Dick moved back to Oakland with their three daughters and then to Lake County. After living in Lake County for six years, the family moved to Corte Madera where they made their home for over 20 years.
It was there that Gunhild returned to her profession and began working at Marin General Hospital. Shortly thereafter, she opened her own business, becoming the first female physical therapist in private practice in the Bay Area. In the late 50's Gunhild and two other physical therapists received teaching credentials from the State of CA to teach 'natural childbirth' classes, and then pioneered and founded the Education for Childbirth Association. During a time when fathers weren't allowed in delivery rooms and women generally bottle fed their babies, Gunhild was committed to improving the experience of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breast feeding through educating prospective parents. Throughout her professional career, she was a catalyst for social change that motivated and encouraged countless people.
Dick and Gunhild were members of Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Corte Madera and were active in the Service Guild. After their divorce, Gunhild built a vacation home in Lake County, an area she had vacationed in annually since childhood, and where her parents had built their retirement home in Jago Bay. She took great pleasure in weekend trips to her lake home, working in the garden and planning her retirement.
Through mutual friends she met and fell in love with William Bortfeld, her companion for 17 years. With Bill she participated in Sierra Club trips, hiking, backpacking, cross country skiing, symphonies, and the opera. They were members of the Native Plant Society and had numerous friends with whom they took pleasure in frequent trips and dinner parties. Gunhild was a skilled cook and loved planning and hosting elegant dinner parties. Flowers on the table and candle light at dinner were to be expected even when she dined alone. She was also an accomplished pianist and guests loved to hear her play Chopin during visits.
After Bill's death, Gunhild retired to her home in Lake County. Retirement allowed her to spend her days volunteering and eventually she returned to her love of learning by attending classes at Mendocino Community College. At the age of 84 she received an A.A. degree in General Studies, an achievement that impressed her family and fellow students alike. In 1998, she realized her dream of traveling to Machu Picchu in Peru. Gunhild's spirit of pioneering new social changes continued in later life. When diagnosed with macular degeneration she founded the Low Vision Support Group in Lake County. After reading an article on aging she began a group titled Dare to be 100. She was a WIC mentor, a Senior Peer Counselor, a docent at Clear Lake State Park, a member of Sons of Norway, and the Galilee Lutheran Church. She enjoyed tennis well into her 80's, and at 98 practiced yoga and meditation, and took pleasure in swimming and daily walks.
Gunhild is preceded in death by her beloved parents and sisters Eline, Berit, and Ragnhild, and brother Jens. She is survived by her devoted partner Glenn Smith, with whom she traveled to many interesting Elder Hostel educational series. She will be dearly missed by her daughters, Sondra McIntyre (Larry Lahaderne) of San Jose, Randi Brown of Lake County, and Lynn Berman (Fred Berman) of Washington State, as well as nine grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Her feline friend Leo, who gave her such joy, has been grieving since her illness.
Gunhild loved life and was grateful for each day she shared with those around her. She lived a life in service to others. Her vibrant, enthusiastic interest in all that surrounded her was an inspiration to those whose lives she touched. She motivated and inspired us all. Hers was truly a life lived with purpose and intent.
A memorial to celebrate the life of Gunhild will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 13, at Galilee Lutheran Church, 8860 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, CA. Gifts in Gunhild's memory may be made to your favorite charity.
Please share your memories by signing the guest book.