The Memorial Wall

Donald Arthur Brown, known by all as Don, died following a long battle with Parkinson's Disease on December 13, 2023.

The youngest of three, Mr. Brown's father Samuel was one of the ten 'California Brothers' who were renowned for their exploits in the booming herring trade and for taking part in the Dunkirk evacuation.

After finishing school, Mr. Brown briefly followed his father by spending time at sea.

As a teenager, Mr. Brown was taught the skill of butchery at Hunns in Caister. After carrying out National Service, Mr. Brown returned to butchery, working for David Greggs and eventually becoming a manager at a shop on Bells Road, Gorleston.

While he was in his 40s, Mr. Brown became his own boss, establishing Don's Family Butchers on Church Lane, Gorleston, which he ran until his retirement.

A Norwich City Football Club season ticket holder, Mr. Brown loved the beautiful game.

Closer to home, he was known as a great supporter of Gorleston Football Club, sponsoring the team during the 1980s and providing players with a free pound of sausages and a steak for every goal they scored and making it on the pitch.

Mr. Brown also loved the great outdoors and was a keen gardener, with his sizeable rose collection being among his greatest prized possessions.

He served in most officer positions, including chairman for many years, and assisted the annual November poppy collection in Caister, often seen rattling a collection box in local supermarkets, and helped raise thousands of pounds for the charity.

Mr. Brown was also the legion standard bearer, attending the funerals of many ex-servicemen in the area, and flying the standard on behalf of the legion at many grand occasions.

He also took the Caister standard to Ypres and participated in a remembrance service at the Menin gate.

His final deed for the legion, before he could no longer actively participate, was closing the local branch and working with the parish council to return the standard from the legion and rest in its rightful place in Caister church.

Mr. Brown's first love was his wife of 67 years, Iris, whom he met when aged 17 at a dance held at the Britannia Pier. Mr and Mrs Brown had two boys, Michael and Ian, four grandsons and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Brown is remembered as a true gentleman and a well-loved member of the local community, whose motto was “It is easier to please than to tease”.

Don Dietrich, a former Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman and longtime supporter of the game in his hometown of Deloraine, has died.

He was 59.

Dietrich, who played 28 games in the National Hockey League, battled Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

On his Facebook tribute page, which was active in the weeks before his death, his son Tristan posted the news on Tuesday morning.

"We are sad to announce that Don, Dad, Dins, Beaker passed away this morning peacefully," Tristan wrote. "He fought hard till the end. The ‘I can’ in him stayed true right till the end."

Don’s immediate family also includes his wife Nadine and sons Jacob and Nick.

Dietrich, who was profiled in the Brandon Sun’s Wheat Kings alumni series in 2016, said at the time that hockey played an instrumental role in his ability to fight the health issues that plagued him in his later years.

"The game is the main reason I’m here today for sure," Dietrich said. "If I could give back a tenth of what the game’s given me … I don’t think I’ve done that. There’s a saying that you’re only as good as your last shift and a lot of those things I take with me in life. And a lot of them I learned right here in Brandon."

He skated with the Wheat Kings for three seasons from 1978 to 1981 before embarking on a 10-year pro career that included stints with the Chicago Black Hawks and New Jersey Devils.

He retired after the 1990-91 season, and the family moved back to Deloraine in 1994. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year later.

His health took another turn for the worse in 1999 when doctors found an aggressive type of cancer called leiomyosarcoma. He was given six months to live, but took an experimental drug for six months and then returned to work with Canada Customs.

Two years later the cancer was back, this time in his liver, but again an experimental treatment worked.

Despite his health issues, he never stopped giving back to the game of hockey.

He worked with the Deloraine Royals senior team and the Southwest Midget AAA Cougars. And as a member of Canada’s national coach mentorship program, he developed a breakfast club that allowed young players to come out twice a week to work on skill development.

He was elected to the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame with the 1978-79 Wheat Kings in 2007, and Dietrich was inducted in the builders’ category in 2011.

His story was told in a 2007 book called No Guarantees, a collection of Dietrich’s memories assembled by Nadine and freelance writer Brad Bird.

Dietrich said he made $365,000 in 10 pro seasons, but the experiences his time in the game provided are priceless.

"I made a living at it, I didn’t make a fortune," Dietrich said. "But I wouldn’t change that for anything. That’s part of looking at that man in the mirror. Are you satisfied with him? Can you honestly look at him and say you did your best?

"I’d say I did."

Dr. Ross Sugar, a loving husband, dedicated father, fantastic friend and accomplished physician, passed away in Baltimore on September 18, 2023, at home, surrounded by his family. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and a life enthusiastically lived.

Born on February 8, 1960, at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, Ross was the beloved son of Jack and Judy Sugar. He grew up in Garrett Park, Maryland, surrounded by sisters who adored him and a broader family who cherished him dearly. During his youth, he displayed a natural aptitude for math and science, and a love for athletics, excelling in tennis, golf, and running.

Ross had a lifelong bond with tight-knit groups of friends from high school and college. His friends appreciated his humor, kindness, sense of adventure, and enthusiasm for life. He was there to support and help any friend, anytime, anywhere, for whatever they needed. His friendships endured throughout the years, until the very end.

Ross attended Charles W. Woodward High School in Rockville and Duke University, where he earned a degree in mathematics. His passion for learning led him to a career in programming, where he met his future wife, Julie, who worked on his software development team. Their love story began at JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) in California, where they shared a passion for travel, humor, and calculus, and embarked on a journey that would define their lives.

They married in 1990 in Baltimore, surrounded by family and friends. Throughout their marriage, Ross and Julie supported each other professionally, challenged each other intellectually, and never stopped making each other laugh. They enjoyed traveling the world together and shared a passion for restoring old houses, renovating 8 of the 9 homes they owned together. Julie’s pragmatic nature complemented Ross’s visionary outlook, and she excelled at turning Ross’s ideas into reality. Everyone who knew them was aware of their deep respect, reverence, and love for each other.

During his first career, Ross had the privilege of working on many exciting projects, including some at NASA, where he contributed to cutting-edge scientific endeavors. However, he felt a calling for a new adventure and craved to follow closer in his physicist father's footsteps. At the age of 34, he embarked on a second career by enrolling in medical school.

His dedication and brilliance were evident as he achieved the highest grade in the country on his subspecialty boards, winning him the Elkin’s award. As a pain management doctor and exceptional diagnostician, Ross was known for his analytical mind. His scientific approach to medicine enabled him to unravel complex medical mysteries. In his residency, after lamenting the lack of quick-reference books for PM&R (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) residents, he co-authored one using his own personal notes and drawings. Called the “PM&R Pocketpedia,” it is used by medical residents across the country.

His patients admired and adored him, recognizing his caring and compassionate nature. He had a “no shortcuts” approach to patient care and pain management that resulted in him being voted Baltimore’s Top Doctor many times. His professional journey took him all over the country, including to Los Angeles, Atlanta, Richmond, and Baltimore.

Ross first became a father while in medical school, and was incredibly proud of his children, Kirsten and Nevin, whom he cherished above all else. Parenthood was a central part of his life and he believed it was the most important thing he would do. He coached his son’s sports teams and participated in his daughter’s nightly piano practices, never missing a night. He was their emotional mentor, confidante, and biggest supporter, never missing a single game, show, or event and always answering every phone call.

Dr. Ross Sugar had a lifelong thirst for mastery and knowledge. He played the guitar and violin, enjoyed golfing, tennis, running, skiing, and hiking, and had a diverse set of ever rotating hobbies and pursuits. His retirement allowed him to explore these interests fully and start up new ones. He took up drumming, drawing, and songwriting. He and his sister Erica took boxing lessons together. He edited scientific papers and even wrote a horror screenplay in his later years.

Even after his Parkinson’s diagnosis at 54, he was obsessed with pushing his body and his endurance to their limits. He cycled (he preferred the hills), continued to ski (the steepest black diamonds), climbed mountains (at the age of 53, he and three friends climbed part of Mt. Ranier), and undertook long distance hiking (he walked 500 miles on foot from New York City to Toronto over the course of months in early retirement to raise money for Parkinson’s research). He was fascinated with achieving peak physical fitness and was constantly reading books and researching in pursuit of this goal.

Music was an equally integral part of his life. He was a true aficionado of classic rock and classical music. His ability to identify songs and artists was unmatched and he wasn’t afraid to shed a tear over a powerful chord or a moving lyric.

He had a satirical, self-deprecating sense of humor, and a glimmer in his eye that always made you feel in on the joke (he was a master joke teller, often in character). He had a talent for giving moving toasts and telling engaging stories.

Ross was a dreamer, always brimming with new ideas that he eagerly shared with those around him. He also had a knack for explaining complex things in understandable terms. He was a charming and gentle soul, who had a talent for making others feel like they were the most interesting person in the room. He was open-minded and had an insatiable curiosity, always eager to learn new things.

Dr. Ross Sugar's legacy will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and the countless lives he touched through his medical practice. His unconditional love, boundless humor, and infectious excitement for life will be remembered with reverence and gratitude.

He leaves behind his wife Julie, his children Kirsten and Nevin (and wife Hilal), his sisters Eve Clancy (and husband Tom) and Erica Sugar (and husband Bobby), his nephew Sam, his uncle Don Blumberg, his aunt Judy Brodsky, his cousins Karen Sledge and Rich Belzer, his sisters-in-law Georgia VanBeck, Linda Kacur (and husband John), and brother-in-law Bob Rappold (and wife Barbara). Ross is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews and countless dear friends.

Larry Kripke, founder of aluminum brokerage firm Kripke Enterprises Inc. (KEI), Toledo, Ohio, died this morning at the age of 80 after battling Parkinson's disease.

In an email shared by the company about his death, KEI describes Kripke as “not only a visionary in our industry but also a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend,” noting his “remarkable kindness, unwavering values and generous spirit” and the “indelible mark” he has left on his family, community, workplace and the industry.

Kripke began working in the recycled metals industry in the mid-1960s at Sherwin Metals in Toledo, where he joined his father, Sherwin, and brothers, Harley and Bobby, in the family’s recycled metals brokerage business. After graduating from the University of Michigan Business School in 1965, Kripke returned to Toledo and the family business. Under his leadership, Sherwin Metals merged with Tuschman Steel in 1976, forming Kripke-Tuschman Industries, with Kripke spearheading nonferrous operations.

Kripke-Tuschman merged with OmniSource Corp. in 1983, and Kripke eventually led the Ohio nonferrous trading group. He managed a secondary smelter, a copper granulating line, a hedging operation and numerous aluminum and copper operations before founding KEI in 1993, where his legacy of innovation and integrity continues, the company says.

His son, Matt Kripke, CEO of KEI, previously told Recycling Today one of the best lessons he learned from his father is that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. He credited his father's success as an entrepreneur and leader to this philosophy, adding that he loved his employees like family and treated them all with respect.

KEI says Kripke’s positive impact on those around him and his contributions to the industry will be remembered and cherished. “As we mourn the loss of a true pioneer, we also celebrate the incredible life and achievements of Larry Kripke. His spirit will forever be the foundation of our company, guiding us as we continue to honor his legacy in all that we do,” the company adds.

Larry Reynolds put his stamp on the UC Riverside men’s basketball program before building the Cal State San Bernardino men’s basketball team into a NCAA Division II national contender.

“His impact was so subtly good that people didn’t realize it,” said Reynolds’ former UCR teammate Tony Masi. “He was just a regular guy who loved basketball and people and his impact was like a heartbeat – you don’t realize it’s working, but you absolutely need it and couldn’t work without it.”

Reynolds, the former UC Riverside player and assistant coach and a four-time California Collegiate Athletic Association coach of the year at Cal State San Bernardino, died Saturday, Jan. 27, after a long battle with Multiple System Atrophy, an aggressive form of Parkinson’s disease. He was 71.

“What a winner and a champion in all ways – as a coach and as the most respected, professional, genuine, kind and loyal man I have ever known,” former CSUSB athletic director Nancy Simpson said. “Larry was truly larger than life and will be missed tremendously.”

Reynolds guided the Coyotes to a national No. 1 ranking and the Elite Eight in 1999 and provided “the opportunity of a lifetime” for long-time assistant coach and eventual successor Jeff Oliver.

“Me and my family owe everything to him,” said Oliver, who was hired as Reynolds’ replacement before coaching the Yotes for 16 years. “I was there in ’99 when we kind of broke everything open and put San Bernardino on the map, and they haven’t looked back since.”

“During his time at CSUSB, he consistently inspired me to be a better coach,” CSUSB women’s volleyball coach Kim Cherniss said. “His presence was simply undeniable.”

A native of Los Angeles, Reynolds was the CCAA’s player of the year in 1975 at UC Riverside and was an assistant coach alongside John Masi for 16 seasons.

“He did it all really, extremely well,” said Masi, who played alongside Reynolds at UC Riverside. “He was an amazing athlete. Smooth and quick and could shoot the ball and it was an absolute pleasure to play with him.”

As a player, Reynolds was the catalyst as the Highlanders won two West Regional championships. As an assistant coach starting in 1976, Reynolds was a trusted lieutenant as UCR won seven CCAA titles, received 10 NCAA Division II tournament bids, advanced to the Elite 8 three times and played for the NCAA Division II championship in 1995.

“His connection with my brother, John, was tremendous and he was that guy,” Tony Masi said. “He got along with everybody and was a personable, friendly and enjoyable guy to be around. “

After San Bernardino, Reynolds spent five seasons at Long Beach State and coached Stanislaus State to its first and only NCAA Division II tournament berth in 2013. He was inducted into the CSUSB Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

“He set the standard for Coyote basketball winning championships, making NCAA tournament runs and elevating the program on a national level,” current CSUSB basketball coach Gus Argenal said. “Coach Reynolds had a lasting impact on his players and has mentored so many in the coaching profession, including myself.”

Reynolds’ all-time winning percentage (.759) at CSUSB remains the best of any coach in the school’s history.