David "Sparty" Brown

David Scott Brown passed away on May 23, 2024. Three years after suffering a brain aneurism and subsequent health issues that lead to a life cut short. He was just a few weeks shy of his 70th birthday. He was our brother, uncle, friend, and local community leader/advocate particularly for the green and white of Michigan State University (MSU) where he rightfully earned the name David “Sparty” Brown for his loyal and devoted service throughout the years.

In his youth, Dave enjoyed being the neighborhood paper boy in Haslett’s Hillbrook subdivision where he got to know all his neighbors and they him. He also worked summers at Lake Lansing Amusement Parks alongside his two sisters Kathy and Lynne until the park closed in 1973.

Dave graduated from Haslett High School (’72) where he was in the marching band, helped build the school’s first radio station and was a photographer and editor of the yearbook. He was also a proud alum of Michigan State University (MSU) were he earned his master’s degree.

Dave started his professional career with WJIM Channel 6 TV, hosting the Town and Country Almanac TV show in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He also worked with MSU Public Relations Office, producing many of the promotional videos for the University. Dave rounded out his 35-year Spartan career working with MSU’s Alumni Association, positively impacting thousands of Green Bloods throughout Michigan and beyond. No matter if he was behind a camera or smiling in front of it, Dave was a consummate ambassador for the University. This was most evident with his faithful volunteer work with WKAR TV where he did pledge work and fundraising for nearly 4 decades.

You may have also heard Dave’s voice if you were going to a basketball game or special event at the Breslin Center, where he was the public address announcer welcoming visitors to the games and the guest voice for convocation. After retirement, Dave enjoyed part-time work as a radio news host with MacDonald Broadcasting.

Dave is preceded in death by his parents Franklin S. Brown and Jeanne Esper Brown. He is survived by his two sisters, Lynne Brown (Ann Hill) and Kathy Brown Simon (Joe Simon) and many nieces and nephews, Anna Simon, Kate Simon (Brandon Grafius), Tessa Simon (fiancé Michael Dodge), Andrew Simon, and Lauren Brown Denescu (Devin Denescu)

There will be a private graveside service held for family and close friends later this summer. Contact Lynne Brown if you are interested in attending.

In Lieu of flowers please donate to WKAR Student Experiential Learning in Memory of David Sparty Brown. At the following link:

https://givingto.msu.edu/gift/?sid=18648