February 22, 1944 – May 20, 2015
Russell Victor Faure-Brac ascended his final summit on May 20, 2015. He passed at home, in peace, surrounded by loving family.
He is survived by the light of his life, beloved wife Anne Sands; the pride of his childhood, dear brother Michel Faure-Brac; and the joys of his heart, sons Joshua & Gabriel Faure-Brac.
A rare combination of positivity and practicality, Russ approached life as a High-Sierra climb, whose peak was the journey itself. His confident, hopeful, and easy-going nature, combined with his passion for environmental stewardship & working for a world without war, remain an inspiration to his many friends and cohorts in West Marin.
Born to Victor & Mollie Faure-Brac, he grew up with brothers Leslie and Michel, playing in fields that later became the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo, CA. Valedictorian of Hillsdale High Class of ‘61, Russ was also named MVP of the JV Basketball Team. He fondly remembered his teen years: playing mud football with Les, backpacking the Shasta-Trinity forest with friends, and strumming ukulele for the musical group The Uncalled4+1.
After receiving a Masters in Engineering Economics from Stanford University, he worked for SRI as a weapons systems analyst, applying statistical models to death tolls from the Vietnam War. In 1968, when he saw the disparate valuing of U.S. lives ($50k) vs Vietnamese lives ($0), he underwent a crisis of conscience and resigned in protest.
The film But, What Do We Do? documented Russ’ decision to leave the defense industry, to pursue the teachings of Gandhi & MLK at Joan Baez’ Institute for the Study of Nonviolence, and to participate in the Peace Games, an immersive event that explored nonviolent approaches to a hypothetical Soviet invasion of Northern California.
After spending two years as a VISTA volunteer in rural Missouri, Russ joined friend Hugh Cregg (later known as Huey Lewis) at Neil Smith’s Whole Systems in Mill Valley, CA. With a truckload of color-coded burlap sacks, they began one of the nation’s first curbside recycling programs.
During this time, Russ & first wife Patt Dombroski, brought two sons into the world, Josh & Gabe. Throughout his life, Russ enjoyed many excursions with the boys: climbing, kayaking, hiking & fishing in the Sierra-Nevada mountains and the Gulf of California.
Outdoor adventure – mountaineering in particular – was key to Russ’ peace of mind. Having topped most of California’s 14,000’ peaks, his favorite by far (and spiritual outdoor home) was Mt Shasta, summiting 12 times in 21 attempts. His international expeditions included Jade Dragon Peak (China, 1986), Chanadorje (China, 1989), Aconcagua (Argentina, 1998), and Mt Piscu (Peru, 2005).
Russ also scaled his way up the ladder at EIP, an environmental planning firm in San Francisco, CA. As President & CEO, he shepherded the company through enormous growth until he retired, conflicted about his role in corporate life, at the age of 52.
In 1979, Russ met the love of his life, Anne Sands. Siting alone in an empty conference room, he was surprised and delighted to be asked by a beautiful woman if the seat next to him was taken. From that moment on, it was.
Married in 1982, Anne and Russ shared a deep love for one another and a mutual awe for the beauty and tranquility of West Marin. First living in Mill Valley and soon settling at Woodville Ranch in Dogtown, CA, the two maintained a vibrant and doting relationship for 36 years. Though each ardently pursued their own interests – Russ with his mountaineering, Anne with her equestrian endurance rides – the two were happiest at home, sitting with one another at the breakfast table, watching their garden and horses and through the window.
Anne and Russ lived boldly together; finding courage to pursue their dreams in one another’s loving arms and understanding smiles. Even when separated by thousands of miles, it was always their calls at the end of the day that brought meaning to their adventures.
Russ’ greatest loss was the death of his brother and best friend, Les, in 1992. The two shared a zeal for motorcycles and a zest for laughing at life. Russ was deeply hurt by his passing and found solace in fishing trips with his youngest brother, Mike.
He also found comfort in the serene, bucolic life of West Marin: clearing trails, weeding the garden, walking the sands of Limantour Beach, eating fresh Drakes’ Bay oysters and catching the sunset from the cliffs of Bolinas.
A passionate advocate for nonviolence, Russ dedicated his last decade to the cause of world peace. He vigorously researched his ideas and in 2012 published the book Transition to Peace, A Defense Engineer’s Alternative to War.
Valued for his calm and pragmatic nature, Russ was a favorite among many peace groups, including MettaCenter for Nonviolence, Praxis Peace Institute, Transition West Marin & World Beyond War. A board member of KWMR, he loved hosting the Transition to Peace radio show. He also spent 10 years combing Limantour Beach as a PRNS Beachwatch Volunteer.
In 2012, Russ completed his “Peace Tour,” a solo motorcycle ride across the country and back, during which he stopped for speaking engagements and to share meals with far-flung friends.
But just as his peace work was taking off, he was forced to begin the work of making peace with life. In May of 2014, Russ was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis – a very rare bone marrow cancer – complications from which led to his passing. Anne was his constant and nurturing caregiver, tending to his needs, tempering his wants and holding him firmly grounded in the love they created together.
Altruism aside, the lasting power of Russ’ life is in the love he shared with Anne, the land he tended to in Dogtown, and the glint in the eyes of his boys, who today – along with the entire Bolinas community – mourn the loss of a beautiful, compassionate man.
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Stories from My Life, a collection of memories in Russ’ own words, will be posted soon to his Facebook page: facebook.com/russ.faurebrac
Donations in memory of Russell V. Faure-Brac may be made to BCC (bocenter.org) ~ BVFD (bolinasfire.org) ~ Caring Bridge (caringbridge.org) ~ Hospice by the Bay (hospicebythebay.org) ~ KWMR (kwmr.org) ~ Main Street Moms (themmob.org) ~ MALT (www.malt.org) ~ WBW (worldbeyondwar.org)
A celebration of Russ’ life will be held at 1pm on July 11, 2015, at the Bolinas Community Center in Bolinas, CA.