John Crawford Brown passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on May 29, 2021, at his home in Rye, New York. He was 92.
Born on August 12, 1928, in White Plains, New York, he was the son of John Crawford and Cornelia Todd Brown. His grandfather, Henry Collins Brown, was an historian and founder the of the Museum of the City of New York.
He graduated from the Kent School in 1946 and six years later from Duke University, where he earned a B.S. in Economics and played baseball for the Blue Devils.
During the Korean War, Mr. Brown served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1955 in Germany, where he mastered German and Czech while serving as a counterintelligence officer.
In 1957, Jack Brown married Elizabeth Ronnenberg, whom he had met at Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains.
He began his career in the computer industry at IBM. Later, he moved into management at the Los Angeles-based Service Bureau Corp., Warner Systems, and the County of Los Angeles Information Technologies, from which he retired.
In 1972, the Brown family, now grown to include five children, moved west to San Marino, California, where Jack worshiped at Holy Family Church and became a member of the San Gabriel Country Club.
He always gave back to his community. He shared his love of baseball as a Little League coach. He served as 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 Brown embraced California life. He always found time for golf and played weekly with his friends. Music also informed his life, and 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 Brown moved back to the East Coast in 2009, settling in Rye, where they rejoined Westchester Country Club and spent many happy days, making new memories with family and friends.
Jack Brown was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He will be remembered for his warmth, wit, intelligence, and wide, welcoming smile.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Brown, and their children, Karen Brown Lucas, Laurel Brown Elzinga, Christopher Francis Brown, Catherine Brown Yehle (Jeffrey), and Matthew Crawford Brown (Marisa). He is also survived by his sister, Cornelia Todd Brown of White Plains. He leaves a wonderful legacy of 17 grandchildren.
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 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 in Hawthorne. All are welcome.
Memorial donations in Jack Brown’s name may be made to Learning Ally (formerly Reading for the Blind), 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.
