Robert H. Braun

October 25, 1924 - April 9, 2017

Robert H. Braun age 92, of San Mateo, died April 9th in New York City surrounded by family after enjoying a day of opera at the Met, a Manhattan at his favorite mid-town spot, the Algonquin, and a lovely dinner with his family.

Bob, born October 25, 1924 in San Francisco, served in World War II as an officer of the 145th SeaBee Battalion on Okinawa 19451946.

He was a man who loved life, and even though he said “people are no damn good” he loved being with people. He made friends wherever he went in the world from checkers at Molly Stones, colleagues, and the homeless man near his office. His laugh and smile were infectious, as he would always say, “Smile, later today you may not feel like it!”

He loved to travel (his last trip was to “the golden road to Samarkand”), he loved photography, astronomy, music, cooking, history, M&Ms and oysters. He was an avid reader and philosopher and owned and operated three drones and two telescopes.

In 1958 he was a founding partner with Richard A. Charles in Charles & Braun, consulting engineers, a life member of ASHRAE, and a founder of APEC, early adopters of computers in HVAC engineering.

Bob served his city serving two terms on the school board of the San Mateo Elementary School District.

He is predeceased by his wife of 52 years Gene, and leaves his sister, Dorothy J. Porter and her husband, Jerome; his three children, Richard of Portland Oregon and his wife Becky, Elaine Keller of Littleton Massachusetts and her husband Clayton, Carolyn, of Portland Maine; two grandchildren, Daniel and Rebecca Keller, and many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grandnephews.

Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, April 16 at 11:00 AM at Peninsula Sinai Congregation, 499 Boothbay Avenue, Foster City with the burial following at Skylawn Memorial Park, San Mateo.

Donations in his name may be made to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley and/or the ACLU, of which he was a card carrying member.