Courtney Price Brewer

With heaviest of hearts, we are sad to announce that our beloved Courtney Brewer passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept 26th, after a brave and graceful fight against cancer over the past two years.

Courtney was born on December 7, 1965, in San Francisco, California, as the third child of Peter and Barbara Brewer. She grew up in San Francisco alongside her older siblings, Matt and Cris, where she grew her San Francisco roots. Courtney was a loyal San Francisco 49ers fan, shared her dad’s passion for the Cal Bears, and fell in love with the music scene and the Grateful Dead. She attended the city’s historic Lowell High School where she made lifelong friends who still cherish her today. Courtney became a standout on the swim team as a long distance swimmer–a passion she continued up until weeks before she left us.

After graduating from Lowell in 1984, Courtney pursued a degree in Spanish and earned a bilingual teaching credential from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Following a brief return to the Bay Area, she eventually settled in Santa Barbara, where she devoted herself to raising her two wonderful sons, Ben and Kelly, with her former husband, Jim.

Over the course of her 30-year career, Courtney became a cherished teacher at Monroe Elementary School, guiding and nurturing over 900 Kindergarten graduates. Monroe’s principal describes her as a pillar of the Monroe spirit who gave 110% to her students and fellow teachers, helping to create innovative learning opportunities for all students. He writes, “She always exemplified kindness, compassion and love to every student and their family that walked through the doors of her classroom. Whether it was through singing, playing her guitar, or reading stories in English and Spanish, she was welcoming to all.”

Courtney truly loved life and having fun and showed us how to live life to its fullest. She cherished her time and adventures with her life partner, Steve. She was always excited to cheer on her boys at their swim meets and lifeguard competitions. Courtney was an avid ocean swimmer, a member of the Swim Wild group, and a regular at the weekly summer time Reef and Runs. She swam masters at Los Baños del Mar Pool for years, and also loved the training and the camaraderie at Bond Fitness.

This year, Courtney was the honoree of the iconic Santa Barbara Friendship Paddle and was also the recipient of the Running of the Guard’s annual fundraiser, a true testament to her spirit and the profound recognition from her community of the remarkable person she was. As a mom, sister, partner, and dear friend, Courtney touched so many people with her warmth, kindness, and fun-loving spirit. She lived a life worth living, spreading goodness wherever she went. She will be truly missed and forever in so many of our hearts.

Tax-deductible memorial donations can be made to The Friendship Paddle (www.friendshippaddle.org).