Gerald "Gary" Brown

On April 24, 2024 a sweet, long-awaited reunion took place as Gerald (“Gary”) Edward Brown peacefully completed his mortal journey on earth and was reunited with his sweetheart, Janice, after being separated for over 18 years. Gary was the second of five children born to Lois Ashton Kjar Brown and Victor Lee Brown, Sr., on August 28, 1939 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gary spent his early childhood in Utah, Chicago, and Virginia before his parents settled in Aurora, Colorado, during his early teenage years. It was there that he met the love of his life, Janice Bradford, at a church youth activity when he was 16 and she was just 13. During his teenage years Gary spent weekends and summers working on a ranch outside of Denver—an experience that proved formative for the hard-working man he was becoming. Gary initially chose to study animal husbandry at Colorado State University for two years before serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil from 1960 to 1962. After his mission, Gary enrolled at Brigham Young University and decided to study Portuguese and Spanish.

While completing his degree at BYU, Gary proposed to his high school sweetheart at a New Year’s Eve dance on December 31, 1962 and the two were married on September 11, 1963 in the Salt Lake City temple. They were blessed to have five children born to them between 1965 and 1977: Michael, Kristine, Glen, Alan, Earl. While teaching Portuguese to Peace Corps volunteers in Sacramento, California, Gary joined his class on a trip to Southern California where he visited the Los Angeles county education office and applied for a job teaching Spanish in Claremont. This visit was life-changing and gave rise to what would become a rewarding 33-year career teaching Spanish and Portuguese at Claremont Junior High and High School, with stints at Mt. San Antonio Community College. As a pillar of the foreign language department, Gary was well loved and respected by students, colleagues, and administrators alike. There never was a dry moment in Sr. Brown’s classroom as his lessons were full of silly antics, crazy voices, and authentic props. 

Throughout their lives, Gary and Janice faithfully participated in their church’s local congregation in Alta Loma. It was during a church service project that Gary first wielded a chainsaw while leading an earnest and inexperienced band of volunteers in the removal of a fellow member’s tree. As one who relished manual labor, Gary enjoyed tree work and soon had established his own side business of trimming and removing trees. His tree work got him out of the classroom and gave his boys an opportunity to earn money, while also providing him exercise. At nearly the same time Gary began his tree business, he also played his first game of handball on the outdoor courts at Mt. SAC in Pomona, which became his preferred form of exercise for many years thereafter and led to a long-term membership at The Claremont Club. After his wife was diagnosed with cancer in 1999, Gary had the opportunity to care for her until she passed away in March of 2006. Four years later, Gary married Josie Miller and enjoyed her companionship for 10 years. Finally, this life sketch would be incomplete without mentioning Gary’s inclination to serve. As a true Christian, he was energized and found deep purpose in doing what he could to offer his talents and means to help others. There are far too many names and too many acts of service to mention here. Needless to say, service is what those who knew Gary well will most remember about him, which is just as it should be! 
 
Gary is survived by his five children (Mike, Kristine, Glen, Alan, Earl), two brothers (Victor and Stephen ), and one sister (Patricia). He was preceded in death by his  wife (Janice), his parents (Lois and Victor), his sister (Joanne), and his grandson (Ashton).

The funeral will be streamed at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/99429926859