Adrian Down was born at home in ‘Red Gables’ in the leafy English village of Englefield Green, just outside of Windsor, to Lorna (a teacher) and Bernard Down (a Doctor of Philosophy). Adrian was a vibrant, life embracing soul who had the power to light up any room. He had an idyllic childhood and grew up playing with his siblings in the lush green fields around his home and it was here, where he first found his love of being outdoors and made lifelong friends with Rupert.
Adrian had a creative practical flair from an early age. When he was at college he tirelessly fashioned some elaborate wrought iron shutters to protect his parents from intruders after they were broken into. These still hang on their windows to this day. This probably sums up Adrian well as he would have done anything to protect the people he loved most.
Adrian went on to study at Thames Valley University, gaining a degree in Electronic Engineering followed on shortly by an Advanced Certificate from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. It was these technical and marketing skills that eventually led him into product management at Meto UK where he worked for a number of years. Later he was asked to join their international headquarters in Germany at Meto International GmbH. This gave him the opportunity to travel all around the world training other professionals. Adrian loved to travel and meet new people. It was here that he met his wife, Charlene whom he married in 2003. This was a particularly happy time in Aidy’s life.
In 2000 Adrian left Germany for the US, where he was asked to help start an inkjet solutions company called VIPColor Technologies in Silicon Valley. He eventually became the General Manager and VP of Sales & Marketing for 14 years, speaking on behalf of the company at many conferences. During that time, Adrian completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Management from Devry University and graduated Summa Cum Laude while Charlene gave birth to their lovely daughter, Annabel to whom he was utterly devoted. He went on to gain his M.B.A. degree in Marketing at the Keller Graduate School of Management. Throughout Adrian’s career, he was known for his strong work ethic and expertise in the printing industry. He was a natural problem solver and was a magnet to many with his instinctive compassion to people and fun-loving personality.
In his final years Adrian was the Director of Product Development and Marketing at Redline Solutions in Santa Clara where he worked for six years making some wonderful friends, like his boss Todd who supported him to the very end. Adrian collaborated on the largest deal in the history of the company working together with both the software and hardware development teams. This was a source of great pride to him.
Coming from a musical family where his mother was a music teacher, Adrian learned piano as a child and later taught himself to play guitar going on to play in a rock band called The Blessed State while in the UK. Music was Adrian’s passion. He loved going to rock concerts both in England and the Bay Area. Over the years he saw Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, U2, Maroon 5, Elton John, Green Day, Adam Lambert, Sarah McLachlan and many more.
Adrian was a jack of all trades. He enjoyed DIY projects around the house and installed several kitchens, floors and did a lot of electrical work. If he wasn’t up on the roof, or gardening, he would be down in the crawlspace or up in the trees cutting branches, even up until the last few months of his life. He once got offered a job plastering walls, since his work was so impeccable. He believed in living his life to the fullest.
Adrian was a loving husband and father, brother and son. Family was everything to him. Adrian loved being outside and his weekends were devoted to cycling, hiking and rollerblading. He enjoyed eating ice cream with his daughter and swimming at the beach or visiting the Tech Museum in San Jose. His love of British food was legendary and after visits home to the UK he would often return to the US gleefully unpacking a coveted jar of Branston Pickle or bars of Cadbury’s chocolate or a Terry’s Chocolate Orange which he often shared with his girls. He travelled with Charlene throughout Germany and Europe visiting beer gardens, castles, and rollerbladed through vineyards and actually bladed 20km with her and a friend to Frankenstein’s castle on Karfreitag in the rain. That was a moment to remember. While living in Germany he even drove her one evening to Strasbourg, France for a romantic dinner. He took Charlene and Annabel to the UK to visit family whenever possible and enjoyed having family reunions in Bournemouth, Colorado, South Carolina and New Jersey.
Adrian was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive cancer of the brain in June of 2021. Determined to fight this with his everything he stopped working and underwent brain surgery, radiation and several rounds of chemotherapy. Aidy had always been the most engaging raconteur who had so many of us in stitches over the years with his wonderful stories and infectious sense of humor. Tragically, as the cancer progressed he developed aphasia where he lost his ability to find words. This disability was profound to him and his family. Throughout this process, though, Adrian found meaning to new words he created. He battled through this and worked hard at it and with his enduring humor was able to laugh and get through it. Thankfully Elayna, his little sister, who teaches Psychology was able to be on every call and helped interpret all of the doctor’s visits and MRIs for the family. Charlene tirelessly cared for him during the 19 months he endured cancer and was at home under hospice care. He enjoyed the music therapy sessions given by hospice and both families and friends were able to sing together with Adrian to his favourite songs right before the Christmas holidays.
Everyone who knew Adrian saw his spark and zest for life. He was a brilliant man, who truly cared for his family, friends, and colleagues. His quick wit, kindness and dry sense of humor endeared him to all. We all miss him dearly.
Adrian is preceded in death by his father, Dr. Bernard Down. He is survived by his mother Lorna, his loving wife Charlene and darling daughter Annabel, his brother Graeme, sister Elayna and his loving nieces and nephew.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up here on this page in honor of Adrian. Alternatively, a college education 529 plan has been set up for Annabel where initial funding has begun from RedLine Solutions in memory and honor of Adrian. If you would like to make a donation, go to www.ugift529.com. Enter UGIFT Code U5T-X8J which links directly to Annabel’s Scholarshare529 account.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Todd and Redline Solutions for their support during Adrian’s journey. Also, for all the positive thoughts, prayers, meals, visits gifts and support from family, neighbors, friends, Centerville Presbyterian Church, coworkers, Annabel’s teachers & staff, employers and the FUN Mothers Club.
Also, thanks to hospice for the brief time and care they spent with Adrian, the Milton Marks Family Camp, Washington Hospital and UCSF which is one of the largest most comprehensive brain tumor treatment centers in the country.
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