Dr. Blair C. Browand Obituary (1938 - 2023)

We are saddened to announce that Dr. Blair C. Browand, 84, passed away on May 3,rd 2023 after a long and fulfilling life. Dr. Browand was surrounded by his family, friends, and loving wife of 48 years, Linda, as he as he passed from this life to eternity, ever present with our Lord in Heaven. Dr. Browand’s upbringing was from a family of humble means: Blair was born to Cecil and Grace (Lee) Browand in Steubenville, Ohio. Blair grew up as an Air Force brat and his family moved several times in his early life. He graduated high school in Anchorage in 1956. After high school, he attended The Ohio State University before joining the US army in 1957. Enlisting at the height of the Cold War, the Army saw his sharp intellect and assigned him to a strategic job: spying on the enemy. However, Blair claimed that the only reason he got that job was because of the one semester of high school Latin he took on a whim. Blair went to the US Army Language School in Monterey, CA and learned to be fluent in Russian. Following his training, Blair was assigned to the Army Security Agency where he was stationed in Bad Ibling, Germany, serving as a Russian translator and traffic analyst. He listened to Russian morse code and radio traffic, and gathered intelligence which was passed on to the National Security Agency. It was while in Germany, at age 20, Specialist 4 Browand discovered his love for cars and bought his very first, a 1960 Volkswagen which he named Elfreda, and still owns today. After his military career, Blair worked at the Nevada test site and continued his education, eventually graduating from the University of Oregon Dental school in 1970. After this, he returned to Las Vegas and started his dental practice. It was at this time he met his wife, Linda, and they were later married in 1974. In 1971, Dr. Browand departed Las Vegas to pursue further education at Emory University Dental School in Atlanta, earning a certificate in oral pathology. He then pursued a degree in periodontology from Loma Linda University in California. Graduating in 1977, he returned once again to Las Vegas where he began his career in periodontology. Later, he became the very first board certified periodontist in Las Vegas, earning his certificate as a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology in 1992. As a dedicated professional and member of the board, he met the highest professional standards in his field. Blair genuinely appreciated his coworkers and patients. He was loyal, caring, humble, and respectful to everyone he met. He always sought to see the good in others. In his career, Dr. Browand set a tone in the office that made employees want to work with him. Every day in Dr. Browand’s office was a chance for a good joke or a little prank. But no matter what, you were going to get a smile. He did his best to make work fun and fulfilling while still upholding his standards of excellence. He treated both his staff and patients like family. When he met new patients Dr. Browand would always say, “Call me Blair.” Many patients often compared their visits to having “old home week” when they came in for their appointments. After 27 years and helping countless patients, Blair and Linda sold their practice in 2004 and Blair retired. Although Blair thoroughly enjoyed his career, he had many passions outside of the office. The greatest of which were his family and friends, but he also loved old movies, fast cars, faster jets, and of course, Ohio State Football. He would often be found reading from his many stacks of books and magazines on his various interests. He would memorize how much horsepower, torque, or thrust something had; 0-60 and quarter miles—Blair knew it all. He could name the best players from any Buckeye season and share a story about them. He saw all eight Ohio State national championships in his lifetime and was an avid collector of Buckeye memorabilia. His favorite was a jersey signed by his favorite player, Howard “Hopalong” Cassady. And in his love of the cinema, to say he was a fan of classic movies would be an enormous understatement. He knew the films’ detailed histories and all about the movie stars he loved. Around 2018, Blair began having difficulties breathing. He was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and eventually placed on home hospice where his wife Linda took excellent care of him for many years. His longevity was a testament not only to his determination to live, but Linda’s remarkable skills as a nurse as well. Blair especially adored his wife, Linda, his entire married life and always told everyone how lucky he was to be her husband. They were an ideal team who thrived as they worked together in business and raising their two sons together. Every day he told Linda that loved her, cherished her, and was so incredibly blessed to have her in his life. His memory will be treasured by many: His sons, Joseph and Douglas, cherished daughter-in-law, Emily; and delightful granddaughter, Sophie Marie and her mother Jillian. He is also survived and missed by his younger brother, Gordon; close family members Larry and Kitty Bryan; Bonnie and Frank Martin; as well as many nieces and nephews. His closest friends, Robert and Nancy Friedrichs; Susan and David Farrar; and Roger and Debbie Millett, shared and enriched his journey. They supported Blair and Linda throughout his life, especially his last years. Dr. Blair Browand was a most remarkable man. He started from humble beginnings to eventually become successful in everything he did in life. He helped many people and did so much good for those around him. We are all better people from knowing Blair. We will all treasure fond memories of him, and the lessons that he taught us we will carry on with us forever. Per Blair’s request, no formal funeral is planned. Blair’s family and friends will hold a private celebration of his life.