Oregon veterinarian who cared for Keiko of 'Free Willy' fame dies at 62
NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) — Dr. Steven Brown, a veterinarian who cared for the killer whale Keiko at the Oregon Coast Aquarium after the orca starred in the Free Willy films of the 1990s, has died at 62.
Brown's work with Keiko was part of his long-time association with the Newport aquarium, where he made weekly rounds.
Keiko, pronounced KAY-koh, spent more than two years at the aquarium and drew more than 2 million visitors.
He was moved there from a Mexico City amusement park. In 1998, he was sent home to Iceland, eventually to be freed and to die at about age 26.
"Keiko's bond with people was obvious," Brown said at a Newport memorial service in 2004 that drew 700 people. "The bond went both ways."
Brown's wife, Marian, said Monday that her husband loved whales and was involved with the aquarium from its conception. It opened in 1992.
"He considered it a real honor to work with Keiko," she said. "It was such a gift for Keiko to be at the aquarium."
Brown had a general veterinary practice, and, "He never said no," long-time friend Dick Fowler told The Oregonian, recalling that he once called at dinner time about a sick dog.
"I apologized, but he said he'd meet us at the clinic. He came in and was there until 9 that night," Fowler said. "He couldn't do enough for you."
Last year, Brown was awarded the state veterinary association's most prestigious award and led a team in performing a bladder bypass surgery on a 12-year-old sea otter, Aialik.
Brown died Friday of cancer and is survived by his wife and four children. A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at Atonement Lutheran Church in Newport.
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
