Donald J. Brown, a longtime resident of Darien, passed away peacefully on Oct. 19 at his daughter’s home in North Carolina. He was 93.
Image by Willie Wax on Wikimedia Commons
Image by Willie Wax on Wikimedia Commons
Born Nov. 17, 1922, he was known affectionately by family and friends as “Jigger” or “Doc” and he never met a stranger.
He attended Fordham University until World War II interrupted his studies, whereupon he joined the Navy, serving in the South Pacific. His ship was among the first to enter both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki harbors after the Japanese surrender and he had many hair-raising stories about his service.
After the war, he joined his family’s manufacturing business where he worked until his retirement in 2003. He designed a number of new products, held several patents and he counted NASA, Boeing and Grumman among his clients. Parts that his company made and he personally tested with his typical exactitude, were used on the lunar lander and remain on the moon today.
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— an obituary from Edward Lawrence Funeral Home
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He was a member of the Noroton Yacht Club for 77 years, and in his younger days was an avid sailor and tennis player. More recently, he became a passionate follower of the UConn women’s basketball team and never missed a game.
He was predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Anna Brown, his brothers, William and Arthur and his beloved wife, Patricia, who he loved and cared for during 53 years of marriage.
He leaves behind his three children, Catherine Trosan (Ray), Toni Jennings (Chuck) and Donald Brown Jr ( Anne-Lise), eight grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom have a richer life for having known and loved him.
The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 from 1 to 3 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John Roman Catholic Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien on Monday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. Interment will be private.