Richard K. Brandt

1945 - 2021

Richard K. "Rich" Brandt was born Jan. 2, 1945, in Pittsburgh, to Richard Simon Brandt and Vera Elsie Kost Brandt, the third of five children. He was raised in the North Hills and attended elementary and high school in the North Allegheny School District, graduating in 1962. He matriculated to Allegheny College in Meadville, where he earned a degree in 1966 and served as class president, joined Delta Tau Delta social fraternity and was a distinguished military graduate. In the fall of 1966, he entered the Air Force and was first stationed in San Angelo, Texas. From there, he served as flight commander in Karamursel Air Station, Turkey, with TUSLOG det. 94 and then as chief, Air Force Special Security Office at the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center, St. Louis, Mo. For his work, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal in March, 1970, and retired as a captain. In June of 1970, he married Kathryn Gibson (Kathy), whom he met at Saint Louis University School of Law, where they each were students. He earned his J.D. degree in the fall of 1972. After graduation, the Brandt's moved to Pittsburgh, where Rich launched his legal career in 1973. His admissions included Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the United States Supreme Court. In his 48 year career, Rich had a wide range of legal experiences from working for Neighborhood Legal Services, for law firms and then a solo practice In Sewickley, beginning in 1991. His sense of humor and social consciousness served him well in each of these endeavors. Rich packed more activity in a day than many people would consider and as a result his regrets were few. His community activities include serving three terms on Sewickley Borough Council; president of the War Memorial Park Association; the Staunton Clinic Citizens Advisory Committee: Counsel to Sewickley NET. He was also involved with the Young Lawyer's section of the Allegheny County Bar Association, the economics of the Bar Committee and was chairman of the Computer and the Law Subcommittee. Rich taught as an adjunct professor at Robert Morris University in the School of Management, where he regaled students with actual case histories as part of his methodology. His interest were many: music of all kinds from classical to rock; cars, including helping his older brothers build and race a roadster; watches, pens, racquet sports, cannon balls off the diving board, riding a motorcycle and sitting on the back porch to survey how the trees he bought "live" for Christmas had acclimated. Rich was a voracious reader across all genres. He also loved animals, especially "Taffy" and "Nugget". None of these accomplishments or affiliations capture what it was like to know Rich Brandt. He was truly interested in everyone he met. He had an effervescent way of engaging with and enjoying sincere individual connections with a diverse range of people. Professionally, socially, in family and in community he brought heart and intellect to every situation. His laugh, his kindness, his honesty and his genuine interest in everyday events made him easy to know and a fun person with whom to spend time. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 51 years, Kathy Brandt, their daughter, Meredith (Muffy) Brandt; his brother, Rand Brandt (Col, USAF, Ret.) Pam; sisters, Staff Sgt. USAF (Ret.) Bonnie Brandt; Cherie LeJeune (Peter); sisters-in-law, Martha Gilliland (Hugh); Marilyn Rainwater (Ben), Cindy Brown (Malcolm); six nephews and four nieces and countless friends. He was predeceased by a brother, Herman P. Brandt (Major USAF, Ret.) Friends will be received from noon until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at the RICHARD D. COLE FUNERAL HOME INC., 328 Beaver St., Sewickley, PA 15143. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, in St. James Catholic Church, Sewickley. Everyone meet at the church. Private burial will follow in The National Cemetery of The Alleghenies. If you wish to make a donation in honor of Rich Brandt's life, please consider the Sewickley Public Library or Neighborhood Legal Services of Pittsburgh.