Brownlee, R. Wiley PhD

R. Wiley Brownlee, educator and civil rights activist, died on January 1, 2004 at home. Wiley was born in Ann Arbor, Mich. on August 5, 1928. From 1942 through 1944 he was a resident at the Starr Commonwealth in Albion, Mich., then graduated from Eastern High School in Lansing. He earned his bachelors degree from U of M in 1951, and entered public eudcation. After completing his Master's Degree at MSU he accepted a job with Pepperrill Air Force Base in Newfoundland. He later transferred to administration in Spain, then France where he married Luan Goodman. Wiley returned to the U.S. to work at East Lansing High School, while completing his PhD at MSU. In 1970 he took a high school principalship in Willow Run Community Schools. As a result of his fair treatment of students he was tarred and feathered by the KKK in 1971, and received a Distinguished Community Service Award from the Episcopal Church of St. Cyprian in Detroit. In 1974 he became Dean of Community High School and later moved into the Deputy Superintendent role for Ann Arbor Public Schools. In 1977 he married Phyllis Wilkinson. He retired as deputy superintendent in 1987 and then took a part time position with Cleary College until 1996. He was an avid aviator from the age of 16 and took up skydiving on his 60th birthday. Wiley is survived by his wife Phyllis and two sons, Daniel Truth (Mystic, Conn.) and Kenneth Brownlee (Oakwood Village, Ohio). Funeral services will be Saturday, January 17, 2004 at 2:30 p.m. held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor, MI. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Starr Commonwealth, 13725 Starr Commonwealth Road, Albion, MI 49224 or to Community High School, 401 N. Division, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.