Patrick Michael Browning
December 30, 1943 - December 5, 2017
It is with great sadness that I share the passing of my beloved Patrick.
He was born in San Francisco to Leroy and Beatrice Browning. Pat graduated from Mission High School 1961, attended City College of SF, University of Hawaii and USF. He enjoyed being a perpetual college student to avoid the Viet Nam War draft, but was caught up anyway. Pat served in the US Army in Alaska (Fairbanks) 1968-1969. Upon his Honorable Discharge, he returned to work for the San Francisco Newspaper Agency (SF Chronicle and SF Examiner) in the Circulation Department as a Guild employee, then as a Teamster. He considered that his newspaper career really began when he was a carrier at 11 years old. In 1978, we moved to Santa Cruz to be the Chronicle and Examiner distributors for the Eastside and Live Oak areas, until we retired in 2008. We also owned Lou’s Liquors/ Mission Liquors 1986-1994.
Patrick was a man of simple pleasures (long walks with me and the doggies, hosting holiday gettogethers, family and friends, just living in Santa Cruz).
He endured too many surgeries, medical procedures and other health issues these last 15 years.
Patrick leaves behind his wife, best friend, business partner and devoted protector of 45 years, Zena. His only sibling, older brother Peter, preceded him in death this last March. Pat had great love and respect for his sister-in-law Barbara, his nieces Laura Kemper and Lynn Hamlin, nephew John Browning, their spouses and children. He was also profoundly touched that he was loved by his wife’s family over all our years together: Luba Osada (Tomokazu Osada; Anna & Ben Elder), Peter & Vicki Susoev (Peter & Mohini, son Nick; Natalie & Tim Zylicz), Mike & Diane Susoev; all the Bakholdin relatives.
Thank you to all our generous neighbors and friends for your love and support during this difficult time.
My gratitude to all the wonderful physicians at PAMF who cared for Patrick for many years, especially Drs Jamieson, Petrocelli and Dulbecco. I cannot thank enough the remarkable people of Hospice of Santa Cruz who came to us to care for Patrick and me these last months.
Patrick’s wish was no formal religious service and cremation.
If you would like to donate in memory of Patrick, he would have preferred Hospice of SC, PAMF, SC SPCA, Santa Cruz Animal Shelter or American Red Cross. Or volunteer to take dog for a walk, visit a homebound person, be kind to others.