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Brian Lloyd Obituary
Recently, Brian Ford Lloyd passed away at home after a brief but valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. A native of Washington, D.C. Brian completed his undergraduate education at Earlham College, his Masters at Amherst College, and attended University of Vermont for his Ph.D studies in physics.
Brian raised three children with his first wife, Catherine, in Vermont. He was an active member of the Burlington Friends Meeting, UVM Orchestra, Lake Champlain Yacht Club, Vermont Arts Council and local men's basketball leagues. Brian served as Assistant Dean of the nascent Life Long Learning Center at UVM and worked at IBM for a quarter century. Brian remained deeply connected to the Vermont community and enjoyed his visits back to the state until the time of his death. Brian was as captivated by Vermont's town meeting system and participatory democracy as he was by the beauty of the state.
In 2004, Brian married Anne Fitzgerald and relocated to California where he began a new life chapter. Until his retirement, he worked for PDF Solutions, a semi-conductor technology firm. Brian played cello in the Sonoma County Philharmonic, was a tireless fundraiser, and served as Board Chair for several years. He was an active member of the Redwood Forest Friends Meeting, chairing their Social Justice study group. In addition, Brian participated in Torah Studies at Congregation Shomrei Torah for a decade. Over the years he attended numerous classes at Sonoma State University's Osher Life Long Learning Institute, joining their board in 2018. Brian was a member of The Bohemian Club, and played in the Orchestra.
Brian approached life with a passion for learning, beauty, creativity, competition, family, and community. He possessed an insatiable intellect. Aside from "pop" culture, there were few topics that escaped his curiosity and inquiry. The desire to understand the world around him and to help those he loved understand the world touched all parts of his life. To know Brian was at times to be frustrated by him. He loved to ask hard questions that he hoped would raise the level of thought and understanding. Brian's passion for learning guided him as scientist, musician, sailor, builder, educator, chef, raconteur, husband, father, and friend.
Brian is survived by his wife, Anne, his children and their spouses Morgan Lloyd and Nathan Suter, Galen and Stephen Perkins, Alex and Rachel Lloyd; his five grandchildren Josh, Celia, Amani, Asa, and Nalia; sisters Carole Sloane, Laila Mujahid and Cheryl Davis; and many dear family members, cousins, and friends on both coasts.
Contributions can be made to Sonoma County Philharmonic (www.socophil.org) or Equal Justice Initiative (eji.org). In Brian's memory, "be kind to the stranger."
A celebration of Brian's life will take place later this year.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Brian Lloyd
Davis
January 28, 2025
Miss you so much, rest in peace.
Cheryl and Bill
KAREN FITZGERALD
March 25, 2022
Brian´s transition from this life to the next has left an immeasurable vacuum in this world. I can only hope to fill one milligram of that emptiness by endeavoring to carry on in the traditions of his genuinely thoughtful, generous, and compassionate ways. Brian´s is one of few spirits that will linger in my heart and inspire my imagination to the end of my own days. To Anne and family, blessings be with you.
John McCarthy
February 2, 2022
What a wonderful gentleman. Kindness and brilliance, humor and depth...rare qualities to find in one person. Brian elevated everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. I grieve at his loss and send my sincere condolences to his loved ones.
Chuck Schroeder
February 1, 2022
While working with Brian and a string quartet, I asked the violist about her very decorative "peg monsters" adorning her instrument. I wanted them for my horn. Brian immediately said "no, you need a snake". So later I bought a dozen rubber snakes, gave them to my students, and secured one to my horn where it remains today. Brian's sense of humor was infectious and spot on. He will be missed by many musicians.
Cheryl and Bill Davis
February 1, 2022
"Good night sweet Prince, and flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest"
Steven Wakefield
February 1, 2022
Brian was the nicest neighbor. I really enjoyed talking and visiting Anne and Brian at their beautiful home. I will miss Brian and his wit and wisdom. My deepest sympathies go out to Anne and family. Peace and well-wishes.
Lee Spitzer
February 1, 2022
Such a shock to hear this. Brian was a friend from Torah Study. He was always kind, and caring, I will miss him much.
Kathy Vast
February 1, 2022
Brian was a dear cello friend and I always enjoyed it when we got to share a stand in orchestra. He and Anne opened their house to me when I had early morning runs to the San Francisco Flower Market after night time orchestra rehearsals. It saved me 2 hours of driving but I didn´t always get extra sleep as Brian and I would often stay up late into the night, martinis in hand, discussing music, science, politics and more. He is greatly missed.
Luisa & John Heymann
February 1, 2022
Brian was an amazing person and we will miss his wit, kindness, insatiable curiosity, and friendship. He was a great match for our incandescent pal Anne and we send deepest condolences to all. This is a picture from a wonderful vacation we took together to Vieques, Puerto Rico, where Brian immediately got to know more people in a week than most would meet in a month.
Ann Sebastian
February 1, 2022
The world has lost a true Renaissance man. Brian was talented, brilliant, clever, funny and, above all, compassionate. As the quotation goes, we will not see his like again . Rest in peace, my friend.
Denise Whittier
January 31, 2022
Dear Anne and Lloyd family, My descriptions for Brian were deep, complex, brilliant,interested and interesting, and also lovely and elegant. He was all of that and all that is described in his obituary. One of my favorite people. I feel blessed to have known him.
Condolences to his dear Anne and to all in his lovely family. You will miss him terribly. How could you not?
His many friends will miss him too. How could we not?
RIP B. Love from here...Denise Whittier
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