Obituary of William Franklin Brown
It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of William Franklin Brown, on Saturday, February 21st at 77 years of age. Bill, as he was known, was born on April 8, 1948 to W. Franklin Brown and Dorothy Pape in Jersey City.
Bill first met Violet Sumerano, the love of his life and his wife of 57 years, at Bethel Gospel Chapel in Union City, which both of their families attended. When he was 14 years old, Bill told a friend of his he was going to marry Violet, which he eventually did, on November 9th, 1968, when he was 19 and Violet 22, at Valley Bible Chapel in Washington Township.
After finishing high school, Bill served his country in the National Guard of New Jersey, United States Air Force, in the Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. After six years, he was honorably discharged having attained the rank of SGT R-4.
Bill had a brilliant mind for numbers. He worked for eighteen plus years in corporate accounting at Coopers and Lybrand in their Computer Auditing Group, which brought him and Violet and their daughter Melissa to the Philadelphia area. He then went on to manage a successful property investment business which he named Greenwood Terete Realty. Bill was a co-founder of the Lansdowne Economic Development Committee and a driving force in the renovation of the historic Lansdowne Theater.
Bill had an unwavering dedication to his family and those he loved. He savored good food, grappa, the home he and Violet enjoyed in Alberobello, Italy, fast and antique cars, real estate, all things related to numbers, and gardening. He was witty, generous, understanding, and kind, and loved giving valued advice to anyone he could help. He was highly organized and detail-oriented and took great pride in doing things the right way.
He is survived by Violet, Melissa and her husband Ezra Nielsen, his brother Tim, his sisters Joan and Janice, and many nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.
Bill was one of the founding leaders of the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). Lansdowne was where Bill and Violet lived for 33 years and where Bill established his property management business. Before moving to New York City, Bill made a gift that allowed LEDC to establish an endowment at the Foundation for Delaware County. In recognition of Bill’s leadership and generosity, the LEDC Board has voted to rename this fund the LEDC Board voted to rename the fund the Forever Lansdowne Fund in Honor of Violet and Bill Brown.
Bill’s family has asked that those wishing to honor his memory consider making a contribution to the fund to help continue the work he cared about so deeply. (Link to the left)
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