But in 1993, the elder Renwand was diagnosed with beryllium disease. Company records show he was frequently exposed to high levels of beryllium dust - some amounts five times the federal safety limit. He quit work and urged his son to leave too. But Gary Jr. decided to stay. Earlier this year, a routine medical test found that Gary Jr. had a blood abnormality.
Experts say beryllium disease affects people differently.
A third die of the disease, a third become disabled, and a third remain relatively healthy. Gary Jr., who is divorced and lives with his two adult children, said he does not know if he will remain a Brush employee. He is off work, studying options under a company program for ill workers. He said he does not want to work inside the plant again, and he warns current Brush workers not to think that the disease won't strike them. That's what I thought too.