In Memory: Jack Brown, Age 92
Surrounded by his loving family, Jack Brown passed away peacefully on May 29 at his home in Rye, New York. He was 92.
Jack was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He was born August 12, 1928 in White Plains, New York to John Crawford and Cornelia Todd Brown. He is the grandson of Henry Collins Brown, the New York City historian and Founder of the Museum of the City of New York. In 1957, Jack married the former Elizabeth Ronnenberg, whom he had met at the Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains. The game of golf and a love of music informed Jack’s life. He was known for his warmth, wit, intelligence, and wide, welcoming smile. Jack is a graduate of the Kent School, Kent, CT. (1946) and Duke University (1952, B.S. Economics), where he played baseball for the Blue Devils. During the Korean War, Jack served in the U.S. Army (1952-1955) in Germany, where he mastered the German and Czech languages while serving as a counterintelligence officer.
Jack began his career in the computer industry at IBM. Later, he moved into management at the LA based Service Bureau Corp, Warner Systems, and the County of Los Angeles Information Technologies, from which he retired. In 1972, Jack and Betty, now grown to include 5 children, moved west to San Marino, California, where Jack worshiped at Holy Family Church and where he became a member of the San Gabriel Country Club. Jack gave back to his community. He is a past President of the City Club of San Marino, was an active member of the San Marino Rotary Club, and a volunteer at The Huntington Library and Reading for the Blind. Jack shared his love of baseball as a Little League coach. Jack embraced California life. He always found time for golf and played weekly with his friends. He loved to play the piano and could often be found entertaining those around him with a wide variety of songs, many of which he played by ear.
After 37 years, Jack and Betty moved back to the East Coast in 2009, settling in Rye, where they rejoined the Westchester Country Club. Jack spent many happy days there, making new memories with family and friends. Jack is survived by his wife of 64 years Betty of Rye and their children Karen Brown Lucas, Laurel Brown Elzinga, Christopher Francis Brown, Catherine Brown Yehle (Jeffrey) and Matthew Crawford Brown (Marisa). He is survived by a sister Cornelia Todd Brown of White Plains. He leaves a wonderful legacy of 17 grandchildren: Patrick (Jen), Colin (Caroline), John, and Elizabeth Lucas, Jack, Thomas, and Michael Elzinga, Finn and Callum Brown, Nicholas, Henry, Charlotte, and Claire Yehle, Ford, Luke, Gioia, and Beck Brown.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 9, from 3 to 8 p.m., at McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home in White Plains. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 10, at 10 a.m. at Church of the Resurrection in Rye. Immediately following the service there will be a graveside burial ceremony at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, N.Y. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jack’s name to Learning Ally (formerly Reading for the Blind) at www.learningally.org or to Learning Ally 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540
