Oliver Sell Brown

Oliver Sell Brown was born in Pittsburgh, PA on April 30, 1928 to George Reynolds Brown and Ada Mae Swan. He was the youngest of five children that included: George Milton, Ada Louise, Robert Thomas and Elizabeth Grace. The family attended St. Peter's Parish.

Pittsburgh was a busting and growing city with immigrants mostly from Europe, hoping to establish their American dream. Despite the ethnic enclaves, Oliver was surrounded by and exposed to diverse cultural heritages that would shape his interest in and respect for people from all backgrounds.

Oliver attended Columbus Elementary School before going off to - yes - Oliver High School. While he held high hopes of following in his siblings' footsteps and graduating Oliver High, life circumstances changed his fate. With his two brothers drafted and sent to serve in Europe during WWII, Oliver was left to aid his parents in the health challenges of his sister "Betty" who was afflicted with polio. The family moved to Southern California where it was widely thought that the warmer weather would improve the health polio victims.

Once in Los Angeles, Oliver attended Manual Arts High School where he came to meet life-long friends. He graduated January 21, 1946. An avid believer in higher education, he attended Los Angeles City College before transferring to UCLA. Along with his studies, he and his brothers established Brown's Rug & Upholstery Company. Unfortunately, the Korean War began and Oliver enlisted in the U. S. National Guard. The Guard soon activated and mobilized to protect and defend America in the battle overseas. Oliver spent the next three years in proud service to his nation, ironically, serving in what was then a segregated United States Army.

Oliver was honorably discharged in 1953. Upon release, he purchased a home for his mother and sister, Betty, and enrolled in Loyola University to complete his bachelor's degree. While attending college and working for Brown's Rug, the biggest blessing in his life happened. On a carpet job with his dad, "Pop" at 7th and Hope Street in Downtown Los Angeles, Oliver met a beautiful young receptionist, Geraldine, at Dohr Optical where he was laying carpet. Being the gentleman that he was, he offered to drive her home. Both were enthralled with each other. The two married on October 13 and spent nearly 60 cherished years together, sharing in good times and bad, but always together as one.

Oliver was an involved father from the start. He not only taught each of his sons the family floor covering trade, but made extraordinary efforts to attend all of his sons' and daughter's sports events, school award ceremonies and countless other activities. He was a driver to school, to high school dances, sleep overs, errands or whatever was needed. But he was never a cook. That duty thankfully fell to his wife Gerri. And she made sure that her husband, family, and friends had the most absolute, homemade, delectable meals. Throughout their marriage, Oliver was in constant praise of her culinary abilities.

To say that Oliver was a hard worker would be an understatement. During his business career, he had worked every day of the year, including Christmas, 4th of July, New Year's, Easter, Memorial Day, his birthday, you name it. To him, his responsibilities to his family exceeded everything else. He prioritized his family and his children's education over his own pleasures.... except maybe his love of football.

Born in Pittsburgh, he remained a loyal Steelers fan. Two things he would never miss in the year, were watching the Super Bowl and the UCLA-USC rivalry game. For him and his family, these events were and remain a cherished celebration.

Apart from football, his other life joy was found in the sweet notes and composition of jazz music. For Oliver, jazz was the ultimate expression of the human experiences and the jazz greats were masters at lifting the human soul through music.

As a husband and a father, Oliver was comparable. His devotion to Gerri and his kids was evident to anyone who knew him. He was very proud of their individual accomplishments and loved to share them with extended family and friends. When his kids made mistakes, he was always there to help pick up the pieces and used those opportunities to explore life lessons. He was always focused on helping his children become better ethical and moral individuals.

Everyone who met Oliver liked him. He was engaging, positive, pleasant, genuinely kind, and unwaveringly supportive of those who he met. He always appreciated the specialness of each of his children's friends and made sure that they knew it. He was a father, not to just his own kids, but to several nephews who he took in to raise. He showed kindness and generosity to strangers, particularly those in need. And he had an ethical attitude that never judged but always sought the moral high ground.

Oliver Sell Brown lived an honorable and ethical life and lived out Christ's basic command to love one another as yourself. Oliver's soul is now eternally with our creator.

Oliver S. Brown is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Geraldine; sons Mark, James (Karin), Rork (Zonnia), and Peter (Julie); and daughter Shelise (Mike). He leaves behind 17 grandchildren - Lauren, Hoku, Camila, Oliver, Chance, Gadiel, McKenna, Matthew, Natalie, Samuel, Aleena, Norah, Nathan, Keeghan, Olivia, George, and Lucas - all of whom he profoundly loved. He also leaves extended sons, Ronan, David and Juan; and many extended family members and cherished friends that he dearly loved. We were all as much a gift in his life as he was in ours - especially you Gerri, his loving, faithful wife!