Rachael Korcha's Obituary
Rachael, 51, passed away at Stanford University Hospital surrounded in love on October 30, 2019. Rachael was the youngest of six children, born on December 5, 1967, in Palm Springs, California, to Gail and Edwin Korcha.
As a child, Rachael grew up in the desert of Yucca Valley, California where she stirred the pot, pushed the boundaries, and generally enchanted everyone around her. Camping trips with her family and road trips to visit extended family in Minnesota are just a few of the many highlights from her happy childhood.
Rachael attended the University of San Francisco, graduating with a degree in psychology and later completed a master’s degree at San Francisco State. After college, Rachael married John Brogan and joyfully welcomed Olive in 2000 and then they were blessed with Ginger in 2004.
Rachael dedicated her professional life as a research scientist to assisting people battling addiction. Her accolades include several published studies in the areas of alcohol and drug addiction, treatment, and outcomes. She joined her fellow research scientists at Alcohol Research Group in July 2009 and remained employed there throughout her fight with breast cancer.
Rachael loved her daughters immensely. As a mother, Rachael was adamant that her daughters pursue their passions. Rachael spent countless hours encouraging and supporting Ginger in all her horseback riding endeavors. Rachael beamed with pride when discussing Olive’s pursuit of law and her successes both large and small at Georgetown University.
Rachael spent much of the last two years traveling the world with her loving partner Ken Birdwell to exotic locations such as The Cannes Film Festival, Amsterdam, Japan, and most recently Greece.
Rachael’s “tribe” was her beloved sisters Kim, Rhonda and Rebecca and her cousin Kristin. Their annual “sisters trip” always proved comical and unpredictable whether ambushing brother Kyle, or blindly following him to the depths of the Grand Canyon. Brother Kevin was no doubt one of the first to greet her at the gates of Heaven for her next adventure.
Rachael is predeceased by her parents Gail and Edwin Korcha; brother Kevin Korcha; and brother-in-law Frank Witt.
Rachael is survived by her daughters, Olive Brogan and Ginger Brogan; siblings Rebecca (Mark) Peterson, Rhonda (Ken) Fort, Kyle (Virginia) Korcha, and Kim (John) Huebner; sister-in-law- Karen Korcha; partner Ken Birdwell; daughters’ father John Brogan; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service at which all are welcome will be held on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland. A rosary will commence at 10:00 am followed by a service at 10:30 am.
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