Bratt, Gerrit Teunis

Bratt, Gerrit Teunis

Male 1933 - 1982  (49 years)

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  • Name Bratt, Gerrit Teunis 
    Nickname Gary 
    Birth 15 Feb 1933  Los Angeles General Hospital, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location 
    GTB Birth Certificate 1933
    GTB Birth Certificate 1933
    Caption Note: Scan of Gerrit T Bratt Birth Certificate and correction
    Media Date: 15 FEB 1933
    Gender Male 
    Census 13 Apr 1940  Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Age: 7y 
    Address:
    240 E 67th Street 
    Education Between 1951 and 1955  Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location 
    UCLA, Attended classes 
    Education 1956  Eugene, Lane County, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location 
    University of Oregon, Eugene, where he earned a BS 
    Graduation 10 Jun 1956  University of Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location 
    UOCAT_Jun_1956_Comm.pdf
    UOCAT_Jun_1956_Comm.pdf
    Caption Note: Commencement Program, Univ. of Oregon,
    Media Date: 10 JUN 1956
    Occupation Abt 1957 
    Aerospace Engineer 
    Residence 1957  San Dimas, CA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    409 W. 5th Ave 
    Residence 1958  Pomona, CA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    1829 W. Dennison St. 
    Residence 1966  Claremont, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    3411 N. Grand Ave. 
    Death 4 Sep 1982  Claremont, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Cause: Lukemia 
    Address:
    Family Home, 3411 N. Grand Ave. 
    • Ashes spread Tolumene Meadows, Tolumene Co. California 37.8864136,-119.3641185)
    Bratt, Gerrit -- Obit 1982, Sep 8 (Claremont Courier)-c
    Bratt, Gerrit -- Obit 1982, Sep 8 (Claremont Courier)-c
    Caption Note: Obituary from Claremont Courier. Picture is from Renata's wedding.
    Media Date: 11 SEP 1982
    Keywords: Picture
    Notes 
    • Descendants of Albert Andriessan person (12748.66342)
      Gerrit Bratt -- Born at Los Angeles General Hospital (now called LA County, USC Medical Center), in 1933 to Marjorie (Hawkins-Bratt-McClaugherity) and Edward Bratt. Gary grew up with an older sister, Shirley, in various neighborhoods of Los Angeles California. Both his father and mother worked for the phone company. According to Shirley, when Gary was an infant, a care-giver had come to their home with a fever and given it to Gary. After this, Gary developed asthma and was never without an inhaler (there is no certainty that this fever had anything to do with his asthma). Given many of his mountaineering exploits, later in his life, it is a testament to his fortitude, that he was able to pursue these passions, despite this challenge.

      In his youth, Gary developed a love of technology of the day -- he built radio sets and worked on cars. Of the two, he could work on one of them in his small bedroom at home. His sister, Shirley, was attending college at Brigham Young University, Provo (Utah) when Gary's father died suddenly at the age of 43. Even though Gary was in High School, Shirley returned home to help their mother, Marjorie keep house. His love of electronics became more focused when he was attending classes at UCLA. (It is said he suffered a crisis of purpose during his senior year and failed a class in his major, certainly due to lack of attention and focus, rather than ability). The next year, he completed his BS degree at University of Oregon, in Eugene. He later earned a masters degree in control systems engineering from California State University, Fullerton.

      Following the completion of what would have been his senior year at UCLA, he married Morneen K Cutter in 1955. The two then spent a year in Eugene, Oregon. while Gary finished his degree. The couple then returned to Southern California and Gary took a job with General Dynamics / Convair, at their aerospace plant in Pomona (straddling the Corona Expressway and Mission Bl (Today, this is Hwy 71 and Mission)). He worked at this location for the remainder of his life. While most of his work was classified, he was primarily focused on flight control systems for GD's Standard Missile (I believe this was a non nuclear tactical weapon system). The GD Pomona division was also the developer of the PHALANX gun. A 20mm, radar controlled Gatling gun capable of firing 75 rounds per second. He would frequently talk about this system. I do not know if he worked on this system. While this was an intense time during the cold-war with Russia, Gary was always internally conflicted with his contributions to the military industrial complex.

      In Southern California, Gary and Miki first took up residence in an apartment, in San Dimas. This is where they lived when their first child, a daughter Renata, was born in 1957. Shortly thereafter, they rented a house on Denison St. in Pomona, just blocks from the GD Pomona plant. This is where their two sons, Edward and David were both born. After plans for building a custom home in Claremont, near Claremont High School fell through, the found a mid-century modern home in the middle of a lemon and grapefruit grove just outside of, the then northern limits of, Claremont (this area was later annexed by the city). Late in the fall of 1965, they moved to this home, where they remained the rest of their lives.

      Gary and Miki loved the outdoors. They had met while both were participating in outdoor activities with the Bruin Mountaineering Club. In 1953, Gary and friends from the club climbed Mt. Robson (12,972 ft) in the Rainbow Range of the Canadian Rockies (The highest peak in the Canadian Rockies). Wikipedia has the following quote about this peak, "Although the mountain is under 4,000 m (13,123 ft), there is no easy way to the summit and bad weather commonly rebuffs most summit attempts." This was a summer expedition that he spoke of to many climbing groups. This is described in "Trial by weather -- 1953 ascents of Mount Robson" by Don Claunch, The Mountaineer, p 20-23, Washington, Dec. 1953 [1]. He was accompanied by Jon Gardey, Jack Lasner, Norman Sanders, and the author, Don Claunch. Gery submitted a letter describing the climb, to the American Alpine Journal, which was published in 1954 [2].

      As a family, we journeyed to many mountain and desert camping locations, throughout the western united states. For many years between the mid 1960's through the early 80's, we would return to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. Both Gary and Miki loved the local mountainscape and car-camping at the now closed Sierra Club campground, surrounding the natural soda springs. We weathered many afternoon thunderstorms in Parsons' Memorial Lodge. Gary climbed many of the peaks in that area, leading his sons David and Ed to the summit of Cathedral Peak (10,912 ft) in the mid 1970's. He attempted Mt. Lyell (13'120 ft) a few times, but was never able to summit. David did eventually summit this peak during a summer research expedition. Gary and David climbed Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft), via the exposed Mountaineer's route with a Sierra Club group in the early 1970's.

      Another of Gary's passions was classical music. In the 1960's and early 1970's he and Miki held season tickets to the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra, Thursday night, "Premiere," series. They would pile us all into the car and drop us with our Grandma Lenore (Speidel-Smith-Dawson) who lived on Shatto St. in Los Angeles, just blocks from the Dorthy Chandler Auditorium. They would attend the concert, return to Grandmas, pile us all back into the car and drive home. This love of music was conveyed to his daughter Renata who has become a very well respected musician in her own right. Learning Cello with classical training, she is now a very accomplished Jazz and Fiddle Cellist, ensemble player, and clinician. Gary played several instruments, including the Piano, Oboe and Recorder. Very few gatherings would occur without some type of singing or playing.

      Throughout his life, he and Miki maintained close ties with many of their friends from the UCLA, in particular, former members of the Bruin Mountaineers from 1953-55. They continued to organize and join group camping trips, though our members dwindled to a more common few. They also hosted an annual holiday party. I'm told that originally it was a Halloween party, but it became a winter solstice party after they moved to Claremont. (Rumor is, they tried to cancel it after they relocated, but the club members, unbeknownst to the hosts, decided to converge anyway. They called it a surprise housewarming party.) This gathering continued as an annual event until Miki's passing in 1996. This evening f?te would frequently last well into the evening with many attendees bringing sleeping bags, pitching tents on the lawn (the house was located in a citrus orchard with no nearby neighbors), curling up on any flat surface of the house, or in their cars -- spilling into breakfast and maybe a mid-morning hike the following day.

      In 1982, Gary was diagnosed with Leukemia. He had just begun chemotherapy treatment when he died, suddenly in Sept. of that year. He was 49 years old. His wife, Miki continued working in local politics and city organizations until she died in 1996. His mother, Marjorie died in 2006. His two sons share his passion for the outdoors. David continues to explore outdoor locations frequently and is an accomplished hang-glider (he earns a living as a carpenter). Ed sailed actively around Southern California and in the San Francisco Bay. Ed followed Gary's passion for electronics and has worked in technology since earning a BS. His sister Shirley still lives in Torrance California.
      (Fathers day, 2016)

      [1] https://www.mountaineers.org/about/history/the-mountaineer-annuals/indexes-annuals-maos/the-mountaineer-1953
      [2] http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12195419400/North-America-Canada-British-ColumbiaAscent-of-Mt-Robson
    Person ID I5  Bratt Family Tree
    Last Modified 15 Oct 2022 

    Father Bratt, Edward Judge Paul,   b. 14 Sep 1905, Albany, Albany, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Oct 1948, Inglewood, California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 43 years) 
    Mother Hawkins, Marjorie,   b. 23 Feb 1910, Bountiful, Davis, Utah Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 May 2006, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 96 years) 
    Marriage 29 Jul 1929 
    Family ID F4  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Cutter, Morneen Kamiki,   b. 26 Apr 1933, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Oct 1998, Claremont, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years) 
    Marriage 10 Sep 1955  Community Methodist Church Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    540 Main St, El Segundo, Los Angeles, California, USA 90254 
    Bratt, Gerrit and Morneen Cutter Marriage Registry
    Bratt, Gerrit and Morneen Cutter Marriage Registry
    Keywords: Picture
    Children 
    +1. Bratt, R.L.
    +2. Bratt, E.J.
     3. Bratt, D.M.
    Photos
    Bratt, Mr and Mrs Gerrit T. (Cutter, Morneen)
    Bratt, Mr and Mrs Gerrit T. (Cutter, Morneen)
    Vital Documents
    Bratt, G and M. Cutter Marriage Cert
    Bratt, G and M. Cutter Marriage Cert
    Keywords: Picture
    Bratt, G and Miki Cutter Wedding Announce2_Page_1
    Bratt, G and Miki Cutter Wedding Announce2_Page_1
    Keywords: Picture
    Bratt, G and Miki Cutter Wedding Announce2_Page_2
    Bratt, G and Miki Cutter Wedding Announce2_Page_2
    Keywords: Picture
    Family ID F2  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 31 May 2020 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 15 Feb 1933 - Los Angeles General Hospital, Los Angeles, California Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - Age: 7y,Address:
    240 E 67th Street - 13 Apr 1940 - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
    Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEducation - UCLA, Attended classes - Between 1951 and 1955 - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEducation - University of Oregon, Eugene, where he earned a BS - 1956 - Eugene, Lane County, Oregon Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Address:
    3411 N. Grand Ave. - 1966 - Claremont, Los Angeles, California
    Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Cause: Lukemia,Address:
    Family Home, 3411 N. Grand Ave. - 4 Sep 1982 - Claremont, Los Angeles, California
    Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
    Bratt, Gerrit 1950
    Bratt, Gerrit 1950
    Media Date: 1950
    Keywords: Picture
    Bratt, Gerrit
    Bratt, Gerrit
    Caption Note: At Lee & Renata's Wedding
    Media Date: AUG 1981
    Keywords: Picture
    Bratt, Edward, Gerrit Bratt and Gerrit Bratt
    Bratt, Edward, Gerrit Bratt and Gerrit Bratt
    Media Date: ABT 1937
    Keywords: Picture
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
    Bratt, Gerrit (inset)
    Bratt, Gerrit (inset)
    Bratt, Gerrit
    Bratt, Gerrit
    Bratt, Gerrit and Morneen Cutter
    Bratt, Gerrit and Morneen Cutter
    Bratt, Gerrit Teunis
    Bratt, Gerrit Teunis
    Bratt, Gerrit
    Bratt, Gerrit
    Passport Photo
    Bratt, Gerrit and pals; Mt Robsion
    Bratt, Gerrit and pals; Mt Robsion
    Gary is tallest, on the right. Next to him is Jon Gardey. The other three are: Norman Sanders, Don Claunch, and Jack Lasner (Norman, Jack, Jon, and Gary are all UCLA from Mountaineering Club)
    Bratt, Gerrit - Summit Photo, Mt. Robson
    Bratt, Gerrit - Summit Photo, Mt. Robson
    Gary Bratt and fellow climbers at the summit of Mt. Robson. Gary is on the left. Jon Gardey is on the right. He was also with Jack Lasner, Norman Sanders and Don Claunch on this climb.
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

    Vital Documents
    Bratt, Gerrit -- Univ. of Oregon, Eugene commencement program
    Bratt, Gerrit -- Univ. of Oregon, Eugene commencement program

  • Sources 
    1. [S121] Census 1940 Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California Bratt, Edward and Marjorie, (Bratt, Edward and Marjorie).