Gary Brown
1955-01-06 1985-05-15Born January 6,1955 in Cleveland. Gary and Judie married on March 17, 1984.
Gary was a 1973 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Cleveland. He graduated from Miami University of Ohio in 1977 and from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL in December, 1984.
Gary was the director of Christian education at Evangelical Presbyterian Fellowship. He had formerly been a Lake County probation officer and counselor at Teen Challenge in Perry, OH.
Survivors are his wife Judie and daughter Jenna; parents William and Mary Ann Brown of Madison; brothers Michael of Painesville, Douglas of Madison, Dennis of Columbus, and David of Akron; and grandmother Margaret LaDove of Mentor.
Services will be at 7:00 PM Friday at Mentor Baptist Church at 7500 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Mentor. There will be no calling hours. The Rev. Hugh Gowman will officiate at services. Arrangements are being handled by Brunner Funeral home, Mentor. The family suggests memorial donations to the Evangelical Presbyterian Building Fund
I knew Gary quite well, from grade school and on to St Joe's, spending much time with him running track and cross country. Senior year, Gary was co-captain of the cross-country team. He spent a lot of time senior year as a key staff member, helping produce our Viking yearbook, which has been a joy to look through, as we recall our years at that wonderful Catholic high school on the lake. I didn’t stay in contact with Gary in the years after graduation, but I understand he was very happy upon meeting his wife, and getting married, not much more than a year before his passing in 1985. When I was in town for the 50th reunion weekend (which was just great!) I visited with Danny Nealon and we laughed as we recounted numerous memories of our friend, Gary Brown. One of the funnier memories was when about ten guys from cross country/track, among them Dan (Neals) Nealon, Frank (Zabeeg) Zbiegien, Mark (Rye) Ryan, and others, did a 24-hour relay around the St Joe track, .... just for the challenge, … just for the "fun of it". I didn't run but stopped by to visit during the evening when a dance or some event was going on in the gym. By then the relay team was totally exhausted, from both running and lack of sleep, and serious doubts were creeping in about whether the team would stick with it, and complete the whole difficult 24 hour endeavor. Gary, exhibiting his leadership and sense of humor, decided it was time to liven things up; ..... while people were coming and going out in the parking lot, Gary decided to take his next turn with the baton, going 2 miles (8 laps), wearing nothing but his running shoes. It was dark, but the parking lot lights made part of the track visible. I'm not sure how many people may have gotten a glimpse of Gary, ..... but it was NOT a pretty sight, ... Gary, maintaining a steady 2 mile pace, in nature's full glory, flopping around the track. All laughed, ..... the relay team was reenergized, ..... and completed an exhausting memorable 24-hour relay. A tip of the hat and a heartfelt salute to Rev Gary Brown: A good guy. A fun guy. Our friend.
tribute by Bob Zyck