Richard Brenneman, 85, Scientist, Producer and Poet

Former Palisadian Richard Brenneman, a scientist by profession and poet at heart, passed away at a nursing home in Long Beach on November 16. He was 85. Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on March 28, 1921, Richard was the youngest of four boys (Phil, Bud, Jack and Richard) born to Robert and Florence Brenneman. The four brothers lived with their mother, Uncle Lou, and the grandmother matriarch of the family, Emma Brenneman. His Uncle Lou was like a father to Richard. His father, a patent attorney, had a law office in New York City and spent much of his time there. Richard was a champion wrestler in high school, in the 165-lb weight class. He won the high school state championship using what would become a trademark ‘keylock hold.’ Richard’s heroics were featured at the Brenneman’s Hollywood Theater in Pottsville, where the short films of ‘Dick Brenneman and his Mat Men’ were shown. He earned a wrestling scholarship to Lehigh University, and was the team captain in 1942. He was an Olympic alternate in 1940, but the Games were cancelled because of World War II. He was later inducted into the Pottsville Sports Hall of Fame. Richard served in the Army in Intelligence, in charge of displaying the position of battles and troop movements. He was honorably discharged on June 26, 1946. After graduating with a B.S. in engineering from Lehigh University, he later earned a M.S. in sociology and a Ph.D. in industrial sociology from the University of Pittsburgh. Richard had a rich and varied career, which included working as a coal mine engineer, a steel production foreman, and a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, USC, UCLA, and Cal State L.A. He worked for NASA during the height of the space race and was director of the Indoctrination Center where system training and research was conducted by The Rand Corporation. He hosted two early public television science shows called ‘Innovations’ on Channel 28, and ‘Science Safari’ on cable television. He served as executive secretary to the City of Los Angeles Committee on Utilization of Space Technology. Brenneman moved with his family to Pacific Palisades in 1955 and lived here for more than 30 years, and lived in Los Angeles for 51 years. He said his true calling was music and poetry. He wrote numerous musicals, songs and hundreds of poems, and produced two musicals, including ‘The Schizophrenics’ at Theatre Palisades. His legacy lives on in his poetry that he wrote until he could longer hold a pen. His Web site is www.501poems.com Richard is survived by his brother Jack of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; his first wife Mary Lou Brenneman, M.D. of Manhattan Beach; and his children (all of whom graduated from Palisades High School): Gayne Brenneman, M.D. (husband Robert Slay, M.D.) of Palos Verdes Estates, Donna Brenneman-Barry (husband Christopher) of Pasadena, Jim (wife Dawn) of Torrance, and Heidi Brenneman-Dowd (husband John) of Hawaii. He was most proud of his grandchildren–Tyner and Cara Rayne Brenneman-Slay; Raymond James and Victoria Emma Brenneman-Barry; Suzanne Brenneman; Allison, Kate and John Richard Dowd. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 13 at 1 p.m. at Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 Western Ave. in Rancho Palos Verdes. Phone: (310)) 831-0311. For further information please contact: Donna Brenneman-Barry at donnabarry@alumni.usc.edu or (310) 251-8288.