The founder of Danville’s esteemed preparatory school Athenian passed away Dec. 16 but his educational philosophy lives on, friends and school staff members say.
Dyke Brown, who opened the Athenian School in 1965, founded it based on the Greek principle that one should be strong in body and belief and be committed to truth, beauty and the well being of a democratic society.
After traveling the world and being exposed to European educational ideals and regimes, he embraced the importance of community service, international understanding, diversity, and both social and intellectual challenges at Athenian. These philosophies are now taught to students in grades 6-12 at the school, which located at the base of Mount Diablo.
“He was a visionary thinker and a wonderful human being – warm, empathetic and articulate,” said Dick Bradford, dean of the upper school, who taught Brown’s children and had many conversations with him over the years.
He remembered that when Brown visited the school, students were visibly exited to talk to him and be around him.
“Kids would flock to him, even the ones that didn’t know him well,” Bradford said.
Since students were on holiday break at the time of his passing, Bradford couldn’t comment on his on students’ reactions. But he said that when classes resume in January there will be an initial morning meeting to announce his death and to talk about it.
“He’s definitely an icon for the school and we hope his message keeps burning bright,” said Mandi Semple, Athenian alumni and public relations coordinator.
Born April 16, 1915, in San Francisco, Brown recognized the importance of education throughout his entire life. He attended public schools before getting accepted to UC Berkeley, where he studied philosophy, politics and economics. After graduating from college in the Bay Area, he went on to receive his B.A. and M.A. from Oxford University in England and then to earn a law degree from Yale.
While at Oxford, Brown took a trip to Florence, Italy, where he met Catherine Whiteley who eventually became his wife. On the brink of World War II, Brown chose to serve in the military and was on active duty in the Navy from 1942-45.
After the war, he practiced law until the early 1950s and then began to work for the Ford Foundation, going on to become vice president in New York. Brown took this opportunity to travel the world in connection with the foundation’s work. Then in 1962, he left the Ford Foundation and began working to open Athenian School.
The school was originally opened as a boarding school, admitting only students in grades 9-12. When a middle school was added in 1979 and the demand for Athenian education expanded, it became a day school. Today, the school has grown to 457 students and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which validates the integrity of school programs.
Brown was predeceased by his wife Kate in 1996 after 56 years of marriage and is survived by his daughters Tish Campbell and Susan Nebesar and his son Chris Brown.
An evening of remembrance in his name will be held Friday, Jan. 12, at Athenian in the Kate and Dyke Brown Hall.
