After a long race against Parkinson’s disease, Junius Flagg Brown Jr. passed away peacefully on February 20th, comforted by his family.
Born August 28, 1937, in Lawrence Kansas, Junius grew up in Palo Alto, California. He attended Cornell University where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta, Manager of the Men’s Glee Club and received a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1960. Following college, he returned to Palo Alto, and in 1961 married the love of his life, Nancy Annette Brown. Over the next 10 years, he led aerospace projects for Philco-Ford, rode his bicycle to work every day, fathered two children, and earned two Master’s degrees from Stanford University.
In 1971, after joining IBM, he moved with his young family to Wilton, Connecticut. It was from his home in Wilton that he pursued his many passions: nurturing his family, playing folk guitar, competing in racquet sports, solving the daily New York Times’ Crossword, and sailing. Between 1977 and 2010 his yacht, RATTLER, could be spotted between Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club and Nantucket. Crewed by the Brown family, RATTLER was a sought-after oasis for his many friends in need of warm hospitality and good conversation.
“Flagg” possessed a keen intellect, a sharp sense of humor, an unassuming humility, and a lust for the adventure of life. He wasn’t impressed by titles and accomplishments; only humanity and character moved him. He was the kind of man who cried in joy at happy endings and had no patience with sad ones. He put life’s disappointments behind him in his quest for a happy ending of his own.
He is survived by his wife Nancy, son Junius IV, daughter-in-law Hilary, son-in-law Tony, grandchildren Junius V, Christopher, and Camille, and the loving memory of his daughter Sarah. Friends will be received on Friday, February 23, 2018 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield.
A Celebration of his Life will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2018 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club, Great Marsh Road, Westport. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research, www.michaeljfox.org.
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