Famed surfboard designer hanged himself, coroner says – Los Angeles Times

Sad…

VIA – LA TIMES

Famed surfboard designer hanged himself, coroner says

August 23, 2011 | 4:18 pm

Robert Russell Brown, who had been shaping custom surfboards in Newport Beach since the 1960s, has died. He was 63.

Brown hanged himself, the Orange County coroner’s office said. He was pronounced dead at 3:08 p.m. Saturday at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.

The official cause of death was listed as a ligature hanging, according to the coroner’s office.

Brown was known for his handmade surfboards and had been part of the surf community since opening his shop, Russell Surfboards, on the Balboa Peninsula in 1967, according to Times Community News.

To friends and family, Brown was known as “The King” and jokingly called “Gremmy” by some, said his stepson-in-law Kenny Milton.

For the original story go here:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/surfboard-designer-suicide.html