Eric Lee Brandenburg's Obituary
A bright and shining light has left our lives, though his light will shine amongst us forever in our hearts. Eric Lee Brandenburg of Menlo Park, CA passed from this earth to a heavenly world of life and love on March 28, 2017.Deeply loved by his family and friends, Eric had a smile and kind work for everyone he encountered, regardless of circumstance. He was an exceptionally caring person who went out of his way to help anyone – a hallmark of his parents. Noted for his exuberance for life, broad smile, twinkly blue eyes, infectious laugh and good humor, magnanimous personality, warmth, creativeness and exceptional generosity, Eric’s most treasured role in live was that of Dad to his twin children, Taylor and Jackson. Eric was also an exemplary son and brother, uncle, cousin and dear friend to so, so many. There are no words that can express our deep sorrow at his sudden passing and the grief we feel.Eric was born on December 18, 1955 at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley, CA. delivered by his maternal grandfather, Dr. Homer Struble. Eric grew up in San Jose, notably the Almaden Valley, and later moved with his family to Woodside, where he attended Woodside High School. He was a member of the Woodside Football team and earned “Most Improved Player” in his senior year and also on the golf team. He attended San Diego State University and in 1978, joined his father, Lee, in the real estate investment business by forming “Brandenburg Properties”.Over the course of the next near 40 years, this father and son dynamic duo went on to acquire and develop over 4,000 acres of property in 6 states and in British Columbia, Canada. Notable achievements over the course of this partnership include the nationally-acclaimed Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, a high-end public 27 hole golf club located in the heart of Silicon Valley, as well as obtaining approvals for an over 1,500 residential/golf community known as Silver Creek Valley Country Club, also located in San Jose. Eric and his father also assembled 5.5 acres located in downtown San Jose at the key Highway 87 interchange now planned for over 1,500 residential units, as well as reclaiming the former 104-acre Hillsdale Quarry into the “Waterford” development, home to Home Depot, Lucky Food Store-anchored neighborhood shopping center and nearly 1,400 homes. Lastly, Eric helped recently secure the approval for Heritage Oaks Memorial Park – the first cemetery in 134 years to be established in the City of San Jose. Countless other projects and investments located in northern and southern California, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida kept Eric busy.He loved thinking creatively and “beyond” most anyone else. He loved collaborating and engaging on a personal level directly with others. In business transactions, sometime agreement can’t be achieved, yet in Eric’s case, it didn’t always matter. What was most important was the relationship created. At the end of the day, you’d become his friend and he’d become yours. He was just one of those guys you liked, no matter what. The added bonus for those he encountered was that his genuineness and curiosity was contagious.Like his mother and father, Eric caught the “give back to your community” bug early in life and was inextricably and happily tied to supporting Santa Clara County’s arts programs, numerous non-profit organizations doing great work with our community, and served to protect open spaces by serving on the Land Trust of Santa Clara County. In the more recent past, Eric particularly loved spending time and resources in support of Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation supporting its good work in advancing children’s literacy.He had profound respect for the life-saving public education and awareness efforts of the Stroke Awareness Foundation throughout Santa Clara County as well as sharing high regard for the work of Downtown Streets Team, a program helping to end homelessness through the dignity of work. Many years ago, Eric was also incredibly instrumental in supporting the Ronald McDonald House through its annual golf and tennis tournaments – raising fund for “the House” benefiting families whose children were undergoing life altering experiences. Eric co-created “Monopoly Night” which raised millions benefiting the American Heart Association and lastly, he was touched by Random Acts of Flowers-Silicon Valley, which improves the emotional health and well-being of individuals in health care facilities by delivering recycled flowers, encouragement and personal moments of kindness. Eric was also a big fan and supporter of Waldorf School of the Peninsula, where his kids have experienced the very best in education and personal growth. There were so many more wonderful causes he cared about and touched in positive ways during his life.Eric was always known to exit a room full of friends that he had earlier entered full of strangers – because he was curious and always interested in learning about others. He had expansive, inquisitive mind that allowed him to easily converse and was also regularly prepared to share stories of his own experiences. He enjoyed traveling and in the process, would learn all there was to learn about his destinations and those he encountered along the way – most of whom became friends.In addition to travelling, Eric loved games, including dominoes and playing Rummikub with his mother and close pals. His passion was golf and he was an active member of Sharon Heights Country Club and The Santa Lucia Preserve. He was also a member of the Spyglass Hill Golf Club and thereafter, the Friends of Spyglass Hill.Although Eric’s life on earth was cut short, he lived every moment to the absolute fullest in all he pursued. He loved practical jokes, laughing and having fun with all those he encountered. His hoard of incredible friends – from early in life to those fostered in his adult years – is testament to the care and compassion – the warmth, generosity and joy – he genuinely shared with all. Just say his name to anyone who knew him, and a smile and story will soon follow. While Eric was an active liver of life, he also enjoyed quiet moments, each of which filled with meaning, particularly when spending time with his family.Eric is survived by his beloved 14 – year old twins, Taylor and Jackson, and their mother, Kristy. He is also survived by his incredible parents, Lee and Diane Brandenburg, loving sister Karen and loving brothers Gary and Bill. He is also survived by his niece Diana Lane, husband Jason and great niece Bella Grace Lane and great nephew Aiden Lane; by his nephew Brenten Brandenburg; and survived by many cousins and second cousins located around the United States. He joins hands and hearts in heaven with his beloved Jessie Brandenburg, his paternal grandmother, with whom he had a very special relationship and paternal grandfather Melford Brandenburg, in addition to maternal grandparents Dr. Homer and Adelaide Struble.A Celebration of Eric’s life will be held in the coming weeks – and in a manner fitting this fine soul. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that you take a moment to reach out and express a random act of kindness to family, friends and strangers. Only if your spirit is inclined to do so, you are welcome to contribute to one of the mentioned non-profits or to a non-profit organization you care about in honor of Eric Brandenburg’s life of giving.
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