Gary David Brown

Gary, the middle of three children, was born in Verona, New Jersey to Morris Norman and Anita Brown on February 5, 1949.

Gary spent his formative years in Brooklyn, New York attending P.S. 193 and Midwood High School with his best friend Danny Wallen. They looked forward to the highlight of the school year "Sing."

Although Gary had to live upstairs with his grandmother (she needed help and he was the most amiable of the three of them), he credits her for teaching him life lessons; plus, his perseverance to get jobs as waiters for Bar Mizvahs, wedding banquets and selling concessions at baseball games--all contributed to him becoming a mensch. He credits his mother for teaching him scrabble when he was sick and unable to attend school. Not only was he a good scrabble player, he was a champion and competed in tournaments across the United States.

After high school Gary attended Rider College and joined a fraternity where he found a kindred spirit and friend in Marvin Aronson. After graduation, these two backpacked across Europe. They separated when Gary decided he wanted the experience of living and working on a kibbutz. Later, he settled in Paris where he enrolled at the Sorbonne and received a Master's degree.

Gary returned to the United States where he embarked on a career in Education. While teaching mathematics at Poly High School, he met Barbara Powell, an English teacher. They fell in love and married.

Later, Gary transferred to Lakewood High School where his wife Barbara was destined to become Principal. She would tease Gary that not only was she the boss at home--but at school also.

Gary and Barbara enjoyed a wonderful life together. They bought a timeshare on the French Riviera and went to France for over ten years. Since Gary had a brother in Long Island, his sister a transplant from midtown Manhattan to Connecticut, and his friend Marvin living in Queens, they bought a timeshare at the Manhattan Club and visited family and friends there for many years. Gary and Barbara especially enjoyed cruises--Alaska twice, the Mediterranean, Caribbean, the Baltic States (Estonia) and included Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Moscow; New England and Canada. They took land trips too--Hawaii, London, Paris, Austria, Luxembourg, Ireland, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana.

Gary loved Barbara and Barbara loved Gary. They were married 36 years and always by each other's side.

Gary was predeceased by his parents, his brother Alan (Karen) and best friend Marvin Aronson (Alice). He leaves to remember and celebrate his life: his wife Barbara; sister Marcia (Barry); nephew Michael (Lizzy); niece Michelle (Michael); first cousins Aileen (Leif) and Edwin (Barbara); brother-in-law Levon (Wilma); grand nieces and nephews and best friend Dan Wallen (Jill).