Brant, beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away on July 11, 2026 at his home in Sequim, Washington in the warm embrace of his family. Brant was born in St. Louis on April 6, 1950, and he was at peace with his life when he left us. We miss him terribly, but we find some comfort in knowing that the ripple effect of his remarkable life continues.

Brant had a troubled youth in St. Louis. The oldest of five siblings and living in physical and emotional poverty, he shop-lifted food to eat, slept on the steps of his elementary school, and jumped trains to escape home. In middle school Brant was taken in by a teacher who showed him care and compassion and helped Brant to begin building a foundation for his life.

Brant graduated from Webster Groves High School with honors in 1968. He then received a BA in English from Haverford College (Pennsylvania) and an MA in English from the University of Washington. Along the way, Brant worked a variety of jobs: landscaper, radio repairman, department store clothing salesman, tennis coach, radio ad announcer, library tech, department store custodian, factory worker, cafeteria worker, farm worker, road construction crew member, and mental hospital acute-ward attendant.

While attending UW and coaching youth sports, Brant discovered that he enjoyed working with high school kids. Brant went on to teach high school English for 33 years in both Washington State and in Nevada, but he was more than a teacher to his students; he was a mentor, a counselor, a father-figure, and a friend. Brant modeled empathy and compassion; if a student was in need, he was generous with his time and money (even taking in students with no place to live). With Brant's amazing ability to give, even in times when he barely had enough for himself, his life touched and intertwined with so many others. Brant was committed to helping students through their challenges to become the best versions of themselves, academically and otherwise.

Brant had a love of sports. Though small in stature and asthmatic, he was tough and tenacious. In high school he lettered in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and track. Brant was, of course, a life-long fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. In elementary school he would collect discarded soda bottles and redeem them for enough money to attend Cardinals baseball games by himself. He'd sit in the cheap bleacher seats (in the sun where the metal seat fasteners would burn his legs and the locals would offer him beer) and cheer on his favorite player, Lou Brock. Later, while youth president at the YMCA in high school, Brant convinced the Cardinals organization to ask Lou Brock to speak at an event he was planning. It was one of the highlights of his life when his hero, Lou Brock, showed up early; the two of them spent half an hour talking baseball together.

Brant grew up during the Vietnam War and the civil rights era. This tumultuous time had a profound effect on him; his life was sent on a trajectory of activism.  Brant participated in civil disobedience in Washington D.C. and was beaten. Undeterred, Brant became an organizer and activist for peace, justice, civil rights, and the environment.

Brant found sanctuary in nature; it nurtured his soul and gave him strength. Some of his best memories were of days spent exploring wilderness beaches, hiking along rivers, or simply witnessing a sunrise, sunset, mountain view, or starry night.

Brant lived well and with deliberation. He cherished time with his family- traveling, making food, bantering, playing boardgames, singing, reading, watching movies, playing Jeopardy, and having adventures.

Brant was known to his friends and family as a writer, poet, artist, singer, story-teller, traveler, and comedian; he was witty, warm, playful, and a bit mischievous. When opining on his epitaph, Brant concluded the message must be, "I should have eaten more Oreos."

Brant is survived by his wife, Christine; their son, Thomas; and his daughter, Jesse Richardson-Jones. At his previous request, no services will be held. Those who knew Brant or his family are invited to leave a message or anecdote in the "Guestbook" tab online at drennanford.com/obituary/brant-richardson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County (volunteerhospice.org)

Drennan & Ford Funeral Home in Port Angeles was entrusted with his arrangements. Please sign the online guestbook for his family at www.drennanford.com .