Kurt Brimberry’s Death: Local Reaction

The cause of death for Kurt Brimberry, a 55-year-old San Marino man found dead near the lake area at Alisal Guest Ranch near Solvang Wednesday, is still under investigation, according to the Lompoc Record.

But one thing was clear when Patch spoke with a San Marino resident who knew Kurt: he was remembered as a man of integrity.

“He was a hard-working, honest, reliable person who was family-oriented and was a good member of our community,” said San Marino resident Aaron Weiss, who was a Boy Scouts volunteer with Brimberry when their sons were younger. “It’s a loss.”

Weiss said he hadn’t seen Brimberry much in the past few years since their sons got older, but remembered him as a person who was “always there.”

“He did what he said and said what he was going to do, which is a rare trait these days,” said Weiss, who noted that Brimberry served as treasurer and committee chairman of the Boy Scout troop.

Brimberry had been missing since Aug. 18, when his SUV was found crashed into a tree near Alisal Ranch, according to a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office statement. Brimberry’s vehicle was totaled and a passerby reported seeing someone who fit Brimberry’s description walking toward Alisal Guest Ranch shortly after the accident.

Despite a search by Sheriff’s helicopter, dogs and Search and Rescue personnel, Brimberry was not found in the area after the crash.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff said Brimberry’s body was found Wednesday morning by an Alisal Guest Ranch employee during a walk around the lake. Sheriff’s Office detectives, coroner investigators and members of the dive team responded to recover the body and try to identify it.

“I was shocked to see they couldn’t find him in a short amount of time but now I know why,” said Weiss. “It was a sad result of something that unfortunately occurred.”

Former coworkers at Fudiciary Trust Company International declined to comment on how they will remember Brimberry, but spokesman Bill Weeks told Patch, “We send our deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time."

Did you know Kurt Brimberry? How will you remember him? Share your thoughts and memories in the comments below.