John Brian Courcier died Nov. 10, 2019, in Santa Barbara. He was 93. He was surrounded by family and in the care of Serenity House the last days of his life.
Brian was born June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles to John Lawrence “Bud” Courcier and Irene “Nene” Courcier, living his early years in their family home in the Hollywood Hills. He attended John Marshall High School and, after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he was stationed in the Philippines running supplies, usually on a 45-foot picket boat. He served as Seaman First Class from 1944-46. Upon his discharge, he attended Los Angeles City College (LACC) and then began a career in the TV production industry as a post-production sound effects editor. He received several awards for outstanding sound editing including a Primetime Emmy Award for “The Day After” and a Golden Reel Award for “The Blues Brothers.”
As a boy and young man he enjoyed sports, camping, hiking and fishing; he especially loved fishing trips with his dad. As a young man, he played basketball at LACC and later in the film industry league. He played beach volleyball, sailed and surfed.
His family recalls his love for the beach—water skiing and snow skiing were also a passion, as was duck, pheasant and dove hunting with his beloved lab, Duke. Later in life he took up long distance bicycling and racquetball, and he resumed a passion for tennis.
In his retirement in Malibu, he was an active volunteer member of Arson Watch and served many years with Meals on Wheels.
After a stroke in 2011, he moved from his beloved Malibu Canyon to Goleta.
Brian is survived by his children Barton, Diana, Michelle Walter (Stephen) and Lisa Kus (Steven); grandchildren Mason, Olivia, Megan (Joe), Michael (Kristin), Erin (Matthew) and David (Jasmine); and six great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Addison, Elias, and soon to be born London. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Patricia “Petie” Anderson (Guy, deceased).
He will be interned at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in honor of his WWII service and patriotism. A ceremony will be held at the cemetery on Jan. 3 at 1:30 p.m., 950 South Sepulveda Boulevard.