CHARLES F. BRUSH III, 1923 - 2006
Charlie Brush
Charles F. Brush, Ph.D., a 30-year member of the New York Section, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2006, at the age of 83. During his lifetime Charlie acquired distinction as an anthropologist, mountain climber, explorer, and longtime board member of his family business, Brush Engineered Materials.
A Yale graduate, Dr. Brush earned his doctorate at Columbia and, with his wife, Ellen, made significant contributions in the field of early Mesoamerican archeology. At the age of 49, Charlie took up mountain climbing, and from 1982 to 1989 he led five Andean high-altitude archaeological expeditions. In 1983 he set an altitude record for scuba diving, at 19,450 feet atop Lincancabur in Chile. At the time, no one had any idea of the physiological effects of diving at such high altitudes. Unscathed by the experience, Charlie discovered a new species of microfauna, which he contributed to Yale’s laboratories. He was a competitive race walker and completed several marathons well into his 70s.
Charlie was president of the Explorers Club from 1978 to 1983 and helped forge strong ties with the New York Section which continue to this day. During his tenure, he fought successfully for the admission of women to the Explorers Club, thus bringing it into line with the AAC, which admitted women from its earliest days.
A gentleman of the old school, with a sparkling wit, broad intellect, and a ready smile, Charlie will be greatly missed
Philip Erard