Remembering Our Friend By Kathy Crane In 1986, Brent was engaged by Gerda Isenberg at Yerba Buena Nursery to apply his chainsaw skills, (learned in employment with the Forest Service), to the Baccharis removal in the lower corner of the Demonstration Garden. He did this work in exchange for 6 plants of his choice. Following a period of volunteer work, he was hired for a full time position, primarily working in the Demonstration Garden, and he was offered an apartment on the property to live in. Over the course of three years, 1986-1989, Brent worked on major infrastructure projects at Yerba Buena Nursery including the demolition of the Chicken House and reconstruction of a new lath house in its' place, the construction of the bathroom, installation of a new water system and the construction of the parking lot. He worked with Eleanor Williams, Barbara Coe, Ruth Mandell, Judith Lowrey, Michaela Ivory, Marilyn Daggett, Karen DeLapp, Cathy Simms, Craig Swanson, Lori Hubbart as well as Carl (Matthew) Isenberg and Lou Bordi and Jerry Logan while at the Nursery. When I purchased Yerba Buena Nursery in 1995, Brent was the first former employee of Gerda's to offer information, encouragement and support. His strong sense of place brought him back to Yerba Buena where he explained the water system, offering hand-drawn diagrams of underground mysteries we would never have figured out or known. He redesigned and rebuilt plant benches in several crumbling greenhouses, with true skill and perfection. Each year as Yerba Buena offered Christmas lunches in Gerda's Farmhouse, Brent offered himself as dishwasher for several days. He donned the apron and did whatever was needed from piping hot potatoes, brushing egg wash over puff pastry or scrubbing pots and washing loads of dishes. He did all this with good humor and a sense of style that can only be attributed to Brent. His dishwashing skills improved over the years as evidenced by fewer dishes that were cracked and had to be retired. Many of Brent's visits to Yerba Buena Nursery included his mother, Mary Lou Wilcox, at whose Pleasanton home Brent had an apartment. Mary Lou and Brent shared a love of native plants that extended to their Pleasanton garden. Brent hosted annual birthday parties for himself in July in this magical setting where the hottest day of the year in Pleasanton felt like a tropical, cool paradise. Friends gathered to enjoy his company, fabulous music, visiting artists and delicious barbeque. We were all instructed to "park in the mortuary parking lot and follow the balloons," per Brent's map and invitation. Following his years at Yerba Buena Nursery, Brent went on to work as a Property Manager at a huge Hillsborough estate under construction for almost a decade, commuting from Pleasanton in the early morning hours to beat the traffic, arriving early and sleeping in his car as he waited for work hours to begin. Brent spent many years helping his friends, Jay and Kathy Dohner of Portola Valley construct and landscape their beautiful home. He also worked the Night Shift for UPS for many years, "throwing boxes." His most recent outstanding achievement was the completion of a college degree in Anthropology as one of the more senior (and outstanding) graduates of his class. Brent was employed doing field work in his new profession and seemed to enjoy the work. From Gayle Wilcox: Brent received his Master's degree in anthroplogy after achieving his Bachelor's. He was extremely proud, as are we, that he achieved that goal. He asked me before he began "Do you think I'm crazy for doing this at my age?" I told him that most people do not find such a passion ever, and that he had, and was in a position to pursue it, so he should. He beamed at this response and did, in fact, pursue his new found passion. He not only enjoyed it, but LOVED his new life. As recently as the week he passed away, Brent was connected with Yerba Buena Nursery again, helping us gather historical photos and memories towards the Nursery's 50th anniversary in 2010. He had just finished putting captions to some photos he took during his time of employment here and we will post those photos on our website for all to enjoy. Brent had designed and was anxious to install a "Boardwalk" over the wildflower meadow of the Demonstration Garden. This project was close to happening and reflected Brent's interest in the Garden, where he first went to work at the Nursery. It is here in the Demonstration Garden that I will most often think of Brent and I hope others will visit to feel his spirit here as well. As Brent stated in his memoirs of Yerba Buena, "It was a privilege to be there every day." If others would like to share a photo or other memory of Brent, please contact us through anyacrane@gmail.com or telephone the nursery at (650) 851-1668. We will include these photos on this website for all to see. Also, if you would like to send a note to Brent's mother and family, the address is Mary Lou Wilcox, PO Box 822, Port Orford, OR 97465.
 Brent's Historical Pictures and Captions Brent generously lent us many of his photos taken during his time at Yerba Buena. Please click the image above to be treated to a journey through time, complete with candid comments on each slide. |
Photo by Kathy Crane
Photos and memories of Brent have been included below. Click on any photo to view it larger. Please send your own stories or photos to anyacrane@gmail.com or call the nursery at (650) 851-1668 and they will be added to this section.
