Richard Frederick Brown

Born with an entrepreneurial spirit, Rick liked to call himself an “idea guy.” After graduating from Miami University with a degree in Food Management, he had a very brief stint in restaurant management before he found his calling in the advertising and marketing world.

In his 20s, he was the architect behind a number of creative ventures, including the Jar of Wishes and the Bubble Machine. In 2003, he foresaw that online marketing was the future of advertising, and, with the support of his family and some seed money from his recently deceased aunt, he started his own SEO marketing company, NetTrack Marketing. He found joy and satisfaction in helping his customers make their businesses more successful. When he recently sold the business and “retired,” he threw himself into his new passion project, 8-1-81 – the Musical, a musical about how the MTV network began, a project his family is committed to making a reality in spite of his untimely passing.

Rick, or Ricky, as he was called by good friends and family, saw beauty in the small and unusual. He would collect found objects with the hope of repurposing them for art or home projects. While traveling, he began the habit of finding heart-shaped rocks , which he would bring home to the love of his life, Ketti Finneran, a tradition also taken up by his two children. A ’75 Heights High graduate, he was a proud alumnus and supporter of the Heights school system. In addition to traveling, he enjoyed cooking, often experimenting with new recipes that were enjoyed by all. Just recently, Rick and Ketti relished all there was to experience in Hawaii: surfing, snorkeling, hiking, and swimming with the sea turtles.

Rick was full of life and energy and always made time for friends and family. His children, Gabriel and Madison, were the lights of his life. As a child, he was never especially interested in sports or camping and worried that, when his kids got older, he would have to feign interest. But life as a father offered new adventures, inspiring him to volunteer as both a little league coach and Cub Scout leader. He was the father that all of us dream of having, forever encouraging his children and attending every performance and game, regardless of how far he had to go or how busy he happened to be.

An amazing listener, Rick was the quintessential confidant and mensch who connected easily with everyone, collecting a parade of eclectic friends throughout his life. He had a quick wit but, like his sister, couldn’t remember a punchline to save his life.

Though he was never the model student in religious school, and was in fact a bit of a class clown, he became involved in Temple Israel Ner Tamid as an adult, eventually serving as President of the congregation and a teacher at the Sunday religious school.

Rick left this Earth far too soon and will be missed forever by the many people who loved him. But he will never be forgotten.

He is survived by his adoring family, including wife, Ketti Finneran; children, Gabriel Sidney Brown (Kate Rosenberg) and Madison Cleary Brown; sister, Ellen H. Brown (Don Ungemach); sister-in-law, Erin Finneran (Alejandro Bernal Navarro), brother-in-law Sean Finneran (Bonnie), best friend forever, Paul Matelsky (Robin), as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his loving father, Sidney, his mother, Anita, as well as his beloved grandmother, Mildred Levi and cherished aunt, Judy Levi.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 27th at 1 p.m. at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel (1985 S. Taylor Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44118) followed by visitation hours at Temple Israel Ner Tamid (1730 Lander Road, Mayfield Heights, OH) from 2:30-7:30 p.m. The service will also be livestreamed and archived for those who are unable to attend in person. To view Richard's service at 1 PM on Tuesday please navigate to the Services section below and click on "JOIN LIVESTREAM."

On Wednesday, the 28th and Thursday, the 29th, the family will be receiving friends at the home of Ketti Finneran at 3798 Westwood Road, University Heights, OH 44118, from 4:00-7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests friends and family make charitable contributions to Temple Israel-Ner Tamid (tintcleveland.org), Dobama Theatre (dobama.org), FRIENDS of the Heights Libraries (friendsheightslibraries.org), or the charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bkbmc.com for the Brown family.