Dean E. Brundage

Jon, I’m so sorry.

With deepest sympathy for your loss.

My condolences to you on your loss.

I wanted to share a touching moment Carlin had with Dad just before his passing. Yesterday evening I stopped by Great Falls on my way home from work, knowing Carlin may want some company. The hospice care person was there also. Dad was unresponsive during my visit there but of course I still talked to him and touched his arm as I sat next to his bed. I left about 6:45. About 1/2 hour later Carlin and Ruth (the care person) cleaned up Dad a bit and Carlin washed his forehead, and said “Dad, the clearing is just up ahead, but I can’t ride any further with you, so you need to canter on ahead.” He died about 15 minutes later. Carlin spent much of the last couple of years helping Dad with the riding business and maintained trails, led rides, and helped around the house and barn. Those last words could no have been more perfect, and took Dad across his finish line.

Jon, I’m thinking about you pal and I am sorry for your loss. My hugs to you, Les, and all the kids. I am glad that Colin and I got to meet him at Wolf Trap this past Memeorial day. Godspeed Brother, Sean Smith

We are Adrienne Brundage’s parents. Mr. Brundage had been a part of our family since Adrienne and Dean have been married. We never could call him Dean, he has always been Mr. Brundage to us, a sign of respect that he appreciated and told us so. The world has indeed lost a good man. May we all strive to hold his ideals as our own.

Dear Jon, Les, and family, Skip and I are very sorry for your loss. You’re in our hearts and prayers.

Mr Brundage meant a great deal to me. I had the priviledge and pleasure of knowing him for nearly 20 years. Truly an inspiration in many ways. I am very sorry and extend my condolences to Dean’s family.

To the Brundage family, I am so sorry for your loss. I read Jon’s message, what truth. Carlin you couldn’t of said anything more beautiful. What a legacy your Father has left behind. How proud and wonderful to be a Brundage. He always talked so proudly of his family to me and how blessed he felt that everyone is close. Mr. Brundage as I always called him, brought such joy and happiness to my life. Having horses back in my life has been a godsend, either riding, working at the barn, visiting the horses and meeting wonderful fellow riders and family members. Am so very grateful for knowing Dean these past 4 years, and given the chance to visit with him the Friday before Thanksgiving. Thank you Carlin again. I look forward to continuing riding at Equestrian Enterprises and bringing more people on board. I will never forget my first trail ride, had tears of joy flowing down my cheeks while riding Seneca and seeing a baby newborn fawn curled up against a log we went over and still there when we rode back to the barn. I felt like I was home, just smelling the barn upon arriving. He is in a peaceful place now and rejoined with your Mother, whom i regret I never had the pleasure to meet, but have heard many wonderful words about. I also will never forget my last ride with Mr. Brundage. Was just Floyd, Mr. Brundageg, and I. He took us on a fabulous trail that I haven’t been able to find again and of course told us some history. God bless all of you. See you Friday. Luv and hugs, Cindy

Carlin and the rest of the Brundage Family, My sincere condolences for the loss of your father. I think I only met Mr. Brundage a couple of times, but I know from the way Carlin spoke of him he was a good husband, and a good father. My mother has always told me you can tell a great deal about a persons character by looking at the children they have raised. I know in Carlin, and his siblings I have met, this was a good man. I hope in all your grief and loss you can take time to celebrate his life and strengthen the family bonds that grow apart as we get older. God Bless.

To the Brundage Family, My thoughts are with you during this sad time. I admired Dean’s courage and inner strength, loved his kindness and joie de vivre, and I must add, was grateful for his wisdom in knowing “General Ike” and I were a “match made in heaven”. I will miss that twinkle in his eyes… he will always have a special place in my heart.

Kenny and Dotty, Your Dad will be greatly missed but he left a wonderful legacy in you and your siblings. While I only saw him a few times, I do remember his regal bearing which commanded a certain sense of awe. Memories of a luau party at your house, that wonderful log-cabin room, and ice skating on the pond always bring a smile. Your parents were warm and gracious. I hope your memories of growing up in that family will bring you comfort and smiles. I hope to see you this evening.

Riding with Dean over the past 10 years or so has been one of the great delights of my life. I have always admired and respected him for his strength of character, wisdom, humor, and courtly manner. He will be greatly missed by his many friends, but I hope that we will be comforted by memories of the good times we had together. My condolences to the Brundage family.

I had the best job EVER working for Mr. Brundage. Paid to work with horses and ride with great friends, wonderful horses and awesome scenery. Every horse lovers dream. If the nearest thing to heaven on earth is riding a horse, they surely must’ve been waiting for him in heaven. So I imagine him now, galloping through the green fields of heaven with long lost friends, family -and probably some of his historical heroes too. I certainly hope so.

Dean was a legend in Great Falls. He certainly has left a legacy. We ride trails because of his love of horsemanship. Rest in peace. Sali

Dean Brundage was my favorite teacher at W&L as he was a down to earth roll model for the young men he taught and I’m sorry I lost track of him when I left school, etc. I do remember helping him build his cabin somewhere in the woods… I just can not remember where but most of his students were involved and I think the time frame was 1952 to 1954? I glad to hear that he lived a long, productive and happy life as that’s all most of us can hope for! I will always remember him as a good man who loved his country, his students and teaching. May he rest in peace. My sincere condolences to his family.

To the Family and Friends of Dean Brundage: My family and I were saddened to learn of the passing of your father and friend and wanted to pass along our deepest condolences. After arriving in Washington, D.C. in 2001, I met Dean and soon learned that although we were separated by our politics, we shared a bond of our love for history and horses. Our recent visit to the Brundage Barn to celebrate my son’s 18th Birthday will be a cherished memory for the rest of our lives. To me, Dean Brundage was the quintessential Virginian-a gentleman, a horseman, a man of letters and a man of history. May God extend his grace to this good man and His comfort to all who loved and cherished him. Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) Chairman House Republican Conference

I love you all and I’m sharing your sorrow. My thoughts are with you. Love, Aunt Betty

To the Brundage Family, with love: It is hard to describe in a limited space how much we loved, admired, and will miss the ever-charming gentleman equestrian and neighbor, Dean Brundage. The twinkle in his eye, his easy manner, soft chuckle and bolo ties. . . We will miss him like we miss your mother — two remarkable people whose family was the center of their lives, and who took such pride in the various personalities, characteristics and talents you each possessed. We are grateful to have known them, and are sad to have lost them.

Dear Brundage Family….Our families have been connected in many ways for a long time…your parents were very special to us and I enjoyed our friendship with them when I moved back to Great Falls “as a grown up”! Please accept our heartfelt sympathy in the passing to a new life of your dear Dad…It is not possible for us to be with you on Saturday.. we will be thinking of you. Cindy (Garber)and Charlie PLante

Dear Brundages, Your father/grandfather helped send me around the world on horseback. I found him and the barn around 1996 when I hadn’t ridden in 25 years. I loved our rides and grew confident enough again to go and ride in Mongolia, and Botswana, to travel in a way that gave me such amazing contact with the people I met. Rod, your account of Carlin’s conversation with your father is so vivid and so lovely. I have many images of him cantering ahead. He was fearless, as we all know — brave, principled, generous, and endlessly cheered by opportunities to share his lifelong knowledge and love of Virginia’s and his country’s history. To his grandchildren: A grandfather is so special! His love and your memories of him will be with you and guide you all of your lives. My deepest condolences.

I am so sorry for your loss, we will miss him. My brother and sister and I grew up as neighbors across the lake from Mr Brundage, swam and skated with Carlin and Jon, went riding with them. I moved out 30 years ago, but reconnected with Mr Brundage and the family recently this year. It was as if the 30 years of being out of touch had never happened, and I am grateful to have had that brief time. I have a great memory of a ride he invited me on with some friends of his, letting me ride Stardust, over to the park. It was a great ride, a great memory. He was so gracious, so generous. Carlin, Jon, Dottie, Kenny and Rodney, I am sorry I won’t make it tonight. God bless you all. Ginger Summers

Dear Brundage family: My condolences on the passing of such a Virginia gentleman. He started me on my path to fulfilling my dream of having my own horses. Learning to ride, going off to Antitum to experience history and “charge the hill” while on horseback, riding with him and others from the barn in Ireland, and just experiencing fall in Great Falls with Dean wandering the trails and listening to his tales of old. Memories I will cherish forever. May you also have wonderful memories to cherish.

Dear Brundage family, My condolences on the passing of Dean. He was a truly wonderful man who showed me a completely different side of the DC area and helped me to continue to have horses in my life during a time when I truly thought I would be without them. He was a great story teller, and I know he will live on forever through the stories he shared. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Dear Kenny, Dotty and all those who have been blest by knowing a truly fine man, One of my most thrilling memories is that of the excitement of the Brundage campaigns and involvement in politics in the late 1950’s. Both your Mom and Dad willingly gave their time and attention to the child asking what were surely “silly questions” about such adult issues. As a result, they have been and will continue to be in my thoughts every time I vote, work the polls or participate in any of the other myriad tasks involved in a campaign. They provided my personal view of “Camelot”, living examples of duty, honor and kindness. Please accept my condolences and remember how blest we have all been by your parents’ time with us. Pat

My condolences to Kenny, Dottie, Rodney, Jon and Carlin and their families. I knew Dean for 51 years. He was my government teacher at WL. But he was so much more. He honored me with his friendship. I was so proud to introduce him to my husband, children and grandchildren and have them meet this wonderful man. His friendship enriched my life. He was the best example of all a human being can be and a model to look up to. He often shared with me his delight that his children were such close friends as well as siblings. He glowed when he talked about them and his grandchildren. And one had only to look at him when he spoke of Mary Alice to know how beloved she was. He took me on several nature walks and pointed out flowers he loved, talked about Civil War history and current political activity. His eyes twinkled when he talked about building a bridge, without a permit, over a creek for his riders. There was no end to his interest in so many things. I will miss him.

I have such fond memories of Dean Brundage talking with me about using a cane to get around to help me feel comfortable about the idea, making use of his boat on the pond, brushing his horses, and most of all my first ever ride on his beautiful Tennessee Walker. He was a gentle and kind neighbor.

Everyone here enjoyed Dad’s company, was rapt by his soliloquies, admired his stoicism, or loved him, depending only on the depth of their association. In the 60 years he lived on Millwood Road he never locked our doors. (We do now.) Dad, a Veteran, did, however, always keep a personal side arm. This is a logical contradiction. He knew there is evil in the world, but he refused to be coward by it. He refused not to trust the “better angels of our nature”. There is a poem that circulates in the Brundage Family. “I want to build a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man”. That is what my uncles, veterans all, did. That is what Mr. Basile and Mr. Brittin did. Thank you, Dad. Thank you all.

I did not know of our loss of Dean until yesterday when I went to visit our neighbor Trudy Brittian. She gave me the sad news. He has been a good friend and neighbor. He will be missed. My thoughts are with Dean’s family. Susan Goldman

Dear Brundage Family, I am so sorry for your loss. Dean-Happy Trails Helen

Dear Brundage children and grandchildren: I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Over the years I was able to ride with your Dad in all seasons in Great Falls Park – a rare treat. Though I never met your Mom, I heard alot about her and occasionally talked with her on the phone. Your folks were fine, generous people and they will be missed. Mary Kelly

To the Brundage Family, I only recently heard of Dean’s passing and am so very sorry. I rode every week for three years (1991 to 1994) until moving to the Shenandoah Valley. Dean was a true Virginia gentleman and through his enthusiasm and joy of horses, trailriding, and experiencing the beauty of nature while riding, so many of us benefited. He introduced those joys to countless riders over the years and enabled us to experience them and appreciate them. My weekly riding at Dean’s stable was the highlight and joy of my then busy professional life. Dean WAS the business—–without him it would not have been the same. What an impact Dean had on the riding community! He will be missed by all of us. I close my eyes and I see Dean in Heaven riding his beautiful and regal horse, Distant Drummer, through forest and field. Dean, rest in peace and thank you for all you have given to all of us. Carol Thomas

Dear Carlin and Family: Larry and I are truly sorry for the loss of your father. We never had the pleasure of meeting him but last summer we enjoyed your sharing with us his web site and could hear in your voice the love and respect you had for him, your home and family. I have periodically visited the web site and dreamed of the rides you described. I had hoped to visit last fall and ride but could not. Today the web site was not available and thus I became aware of your loss. I just needed to let you know that through you, your father’s love of horses, nature and history has passed forward to somone he never meet. Isn’t that wonderful. God does work in mysterious ways. Thank you for sharing. Linda Hesson

I found him to be of old-world elegance. So sorry to learn of your loss. Most sincerely, Melanie Davis

Dean Brundage’s wonderful teaching style, limitless knowledge of American History and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and strong and loyal personality have stayed with me over these decades, and I have thought of him often. I was fortunate to know him and Mary Alice, to have visited the cabin and pond, and to have helped with his run for Congress. His memory will live on with all his students forever, as they pass his knowledge to others. Typically, he was an Army Ranger, a sholar of the top rank, and a leader we all were lucky to have. The Navy took me around the world and led me to Hawaii, but I still cherish the memory of Dean and Brundages. Scott Allen, Kailua, Hawaii

Mr. Brundage was such a gentleman to me and to everyone I saw him with. I am so happy to have known him.

I feel devestated to here of Dean’s passing. I was introduced to Dean about 15 years ago and went on many of his planned horseback trips including to Civil War battlefields. I was and am a reenactor, and purchased the horse Cedar from Dean. This was the first of three horses I would own. I would wear a repro uniform, saber, etc. on many of our rides particularly to places like Gettysburg. My last horse had to be put down three years ago when I was still in Montgomery County, Maryland. We retired and moved to North Carolina two years ago and had planned to bring the horse with us. I met Dean on numerous occasions at his Great Falls home for horseback rides on the area. I have so many wonderful photos of our rides and of Dean. What a wonderful gentleman. I miss him very much. What a loss for all of us.