SPORTS

A simple man with a lengthy list of accomplishments

Terry Mosher Sports Columnist   

Published 8:00 a.m. PT Jul. 25, 2021

Don Brott was known as one of the toughest players in Bremerton during the early 1940s, and went on to be a renowned softball player when the sports commanded the city's attention. Contributed image

It wasn’t easy for Bob Fredericks to talk about the death of Don Brott. Fredericks, Brott’s former boss at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and a good friend, choked on his words. 

“I knew him from the shipyard, from many sports, knew him socially, we were with Brott’s wife (Dorothy) socially for many years – 50 years,” Fredericks said, emotions leaking out as he talked. “I coached Dale and Dean (Brott twins and Don’s brothers) on the basketball team in the (Bremerton) City League. We had nobody over five-foot-ten and nobody could rebound, but we shot the hell out of the ball. We took the best team in the league into overtime twice.” 

Brott, 95, died June 21 from a massive stroke suffered three days before, still living in the Bremerton house he shared with wife Dorothy. They were a good 95 years, with memories almost too good to be true.

Brott played football for legendary Dwight Scheyer and basketball for another legend, Ken Wills. All three are in the Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame, Brott also played baseball and was inducted into the hall for softball in 1996. 

Stories paint a vivid picture of Brott, perhaps the toughest football player in Bremerton during his era (the early 1940s) who after high school graduation in January 1945 became a solid catcher in fastpitch softball, which was all the rage back then. 

Brott’s brother, Leo, won the state 880 meters back-to-back in 1939 and 1940, so athletics reigned in the family of five, four of them boys (Lorraine was the lone female) and all with nicknames – Leo (Tody), Dean (Tiny), Dale (Fats) and Don (Sonny), the last survivor. 

Brott, who golfed three days a week in retirement, was liked by all, loved by many. He was a practical, no-nonsense guy whose quiet demeanor couldn’t hide his niceness. 

Dot and Don Brott were married for 55 years, and both left a legacy in Bremerton's athletic community. Dot died in 2001 and Don on June 21, 2021. Courtesy image

He lived 20 years after 55 years of marriage to Dorothy (Dot) Goulding Brott, who died in 2001. She left behind her own legacy, including being one of the first Bremerton YMCA swim coaches, along with her sister Bea Goulding Anderson, who married Art Anderson of Art Anderson Associates. Their names apparently were at one time are above the women’s locker rooms at the YMCA pool, a memory engraved in stone.