Sandy Brownlow

On July 23, 2024, our father, Sandy Brownlow passed away as a result of complications from back surgery. He was 73 and is survived by: his children, Taylor and Beau; step-children Dani and Jason, their spouses Jon and Lillie and their children Adelina, Vincent, and Ava; his ex-wife and dear friend Stacey Antonellis; his sister Bette Brownlow and her daughter Stephanie; and his brother Randy Brownlow, his wife Teresa and their children, Lauren and Ben.

Sandy was born in Wilson, North Carolina as the 4th of 5 children to George “Ad” and Perrine Brownlow. When Sandy was 4 the family traded in the shaded forests and creeks of North Carolina for the sandy marshland of Pompano Beach, FL. Growing up, Sandy honed his sense of adventure and vivid imagination roaming the raw South Florida wilderness, dodging giant gopher holes and learning to surf on isolated beaches. It was here his love of golf began as well. He was winning local tournaments by the age of six and played every Sunday with his parents and brother Randy in the ‘Family Foursome’.

Sandy returned to North Carolina to attend Guilford College, where he and his best friend Billy McCarthy watched some of the best basketball of the era including Lloyd Free and ML Carr before they joined the NBA.

In 1976, Sandy’s sense of adventure took him across the country to San Francisco. There he worked as a sales rep for Moen Faucets, which let him explore the entire Bay area. It was during this time he tried sushi for the first time, learned to ski, and attended his first street festival - stories his family would come to know by heart over the years.

In 1978, Sandy returned to Pompano to help his dad run his plumbing business until it was sold a few years later. He then returned to Greensboro, where he married his first wife Kim, and became a member at Sedgefield Country Club.

Still not quite settled, Sandy moved back to South Florida in 1984, this time to Palm Beach Gardens. He and Kim divorced, and he began one of his lifelong joys - building and selling homes. It was here he met his neighbor, a single mother with two energetic young kids, and slowly fell in love with all three of them. Sandy and Stacey married in 1991 and would go on to have Taylor and Beau over the next 5 years.

This family of 6 was the center of Sandy’s life. He traveled across the state to tournaments, games and matches, shuttled kids to practices, took them on cross-country road trips, and coached Taylor and Beau in basketball until they finally asked him to stop. As a father he was our number one fan, always cheering us on no matter what sport or challenge we faced.

With the family now in Stuart, Sandy transitioned into contracting, partnering with his dear friend Richard Geisinger. In 2012, after his children had left for college, he purchased a local plumbing and air-conditioning business, Premier Plumbing and Air. Sandy worked relentlessly there, giving it his all while never sacrificing his values of fairness and generosity - always giving fair prices, and often accepting vouchers or IOUs from customers who couldn’t afford his services. In 2022, Sandy retired and sold the business and spent the last few years catching up with old friends, engaging his many curiosities, and never missing a single Sunday family call.

Throughout his time in Stuart, Sandy was an active and beloved part of the community. Besides coaching, he was a member of the Tax-Payers Association, and a regular contributor to the local School Board meetings.

Sandy will be remembered for many things - his ability to always make you laugh, even when you didn’t want to; his relentless curiosity and ability to spout knowledge about a staggering array of topics with ease; long road trips soundtracked by never-ending history tapes; his silly jokes; his warm hugs; and most of all - his boundless love for his family and friends.

A gathering of friends and family for Sandy will be held Wednesday, July 31, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. A celebration of life will occur Wednesday, July 31, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM. A reception will occur Wednesday, July 31, 2024 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.