Tribute to Romer Brown

A few weeks ago I attended the funeral of a man I barely knew, and had not seen in two years.

And yet Romer had deeply touched me. How can this be?

I met Romer Brown at a Gentle Yoga class at the Kroc in the fall of 2018. I had recently moved to CDA from California, and was definitely not feeling “at home.” I felt like a stranger. No familiar faces to be seen anywhere.

During the yoga class of about 25-30 people, I noticed Romer. He was an older man with a full head of gray hair, and pretty darn good looking. But mostly, I noticed him because there are so few men in yoga classes. And even fewer older men. Romer usually wore sweat pants, nothing fancy.

After a few months, I got up the courage to go to Romer after class and introduce myself. I told him how much I admired him for practicing yoga when so few men dared to come. He thanked me and we chatted a minute.

Not long after that, we began chatting after every class. I told him I was new to the area, that my husband and I had retired and just moved to CDA. I asked him if he would have a cup of coffee with me, at the Kroc’s cafe. He said “sure.” I was so grateful. I had made a new friend at last.

Romer and I met for coffee at the Kroc cafe maybe 7-8 times, after class. Romer insisted on buying my coffee. We shared our cellphone snaps of our grandchildren, we talked about Gonzaga basketball and our families. I really looked forward to our visits.

Romer often went to visit his children and grandchildren, and I went out of town doing the same, so there were months that would go by before we had coffee again.

And then the “lockdown” arrived. I never saw Romer again.

I learned a few more things about Romer from his obituary and from speaking with people at his funeral at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Many, many people knew him from his civic, business and social activities. Romer was a lawyer and proudly practiced in a 1910-era home at 627 Government Way. Known as the Hamilton/Romer House, it recently became the Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene. Romer practiced with fellow attorney Carolyn Justh from 1978 until 2015.

I learned that Romer had a big heart, and cared about the poor in our community. He was one of the founding board members of Family Promise of North Idaho in 2008. Family Promise provides homeless families a safe place to stay overnight while looking for housing. In Coeur d'Alene, a number of churches open their doors to these families for a week at a time. Family Promise provides a great deal of additional support, helping families find permanent housing.

Long after Romer became a founding member of Family Promise and served on its board, he volunteered driving vans to help get families around town.

Walmart sells what they call “mainstays,” or products that everyone needs. I am still new to Coeur d’Alene, but I’m sure that Romer was a Coeur d’Alene "mainstay." He contributed so much to this community that people will never know about.

I know for sure that he made a difference in my life. After several coffees!

I am so very grateful that I came to know Romer. He was a gem.