Michael Edwin Browne was a multitalented man who lived life to the fullest. He graduated from Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif., in 1947, and then pursued an undergraduate physics degree and a doctorate in physics at University of California, Berkeley. While studying physics, he also found time to play volleyball and start a young family. With his first wife, Josephine, the first two of his seven sons were born before leaving Berkeley for a job with Lockheed in Palo Alto, Calif.

He raised seven boys. Mike Browne was an outdoorsman and athlete. He loved physical activity and played basketball every day for many years. Mike was active in the Boy Scouts and was known by many as scoutmaster of Troop 343. He steered many boys in the right direction. Mike inspired all seven of his sons to become Eagle Scouts.

Dr. Browne was a supreme physics teacher. He was head of the University of Idaho physics department for many years. His classes were interesting, clear and filled with passion. He started every lecture with a joke. He had an ability to make difficult concepts understandable to anyone, no matter his level or aptitude. For many of his classes, he provided copies of his lecture notes, which were really just well-written textbooks. His office in "the cave" in the UI physics building basement was always open, and he was continually surrounded with students taking advantage of his expertise. After he retired from UI, he continued teaching the Idaho correspondence physics courses. So many benefited from his brilliance. Even two of his own sons (Dan and Chris) took his classes.

He loved playing golf, and played many rounds with his son Chris. Chris relates Mike's wry wit, "Both Mike and Chris played golf left-handed; a rarity. Everywhere they went, people would say, 'Hey. A couple of lefties.' Mike would reply, 'Well, anyone can play right handed!' "
Michael Browne was a compassionate and generous man who gave tirelessly of himself. He loved his family and helped them enjoy the good times, and survive the tough times.

In the words of his second son, Dan, "That was one hell of a man!"
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Josephine, and his sons Paul and David.

He is survived by his wife, Marguerite Thorenson-Browne, 83, of Moscow; his five sons, Daniel, 60, of California, Jim, 58, of Olympia, Wash., Mike, 56, of Issaquah, Wash., Dennis, 55, of Whidbey Island, Wash., and Chris, 48, of Moscow; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family suggests donations be made on his behalf to any organization which enriches the lives of young people.