John Findley Brown Dr.

Dr. John Findley Brown, Son of John Moor Findley Brown and Gladys Esther Beckwith, was born June 24, 1924 in Aurora, IL, and the hospital bill was $24. He grew up on the south side of Chicago and in Pittsburgh, and graduated from Perry High School in 1940. He studied one year at Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, Which he described as undistinguished. He enlisted in the Navy rather than be drafted, was sent to Norfolk, VA, and trained as a Pharmacy Mate, 1st Class at Norfolk Naval Hospital. Because he had one year of education, the V-12 Department sent him to Denison University in Denison, OH. Fortunately, the war ended, and the V-12 program enrolled him in the Wayne State University College of Medicine in Detroit, MI. He graduated in 1949. In 1948, he met Patricia Grace McAdams and they married on December 17th. Another war brought him to serve at Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, MI. There his first two daughters Janice Elizabeth and Julia Anne were born. He received his post-graduate education in Internal Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital and Eloise State Hospital in Detroit, MI. The family settled in Redford, MI, where Kathleen Patricia and John Beckwith were born. He served in the Medical Department at the Chrysler Corporation, when unions were a thriving component of American society. Dr. Brown established a private practice in Livonia, MI from 1960 to 1980. He served on the medical staff of St. Mary's Hospital, was instrumental in the foundation of its first emergency department, and later became Chief of Staff. In 1964 his family moved to Northville, MI, where the children were educated and the birth of their granddaughter was celebrated. Bouncing between two wars, he soon realized that education was more formidable but less profitable than killing, and thus became something of an anti-war activist. His family is proud of his courageous and moral actions during the Vietnam War. He put his four children through college and has watched them thrive and do the same for their children. In 1980, they relocated to Las Cruces, NM, where he practiced at the Student Health Center at New Mexico State University. His years at NMSU were among his most rewarding, both professionally and personally. He continued to practice medicine until he was 81 years old. While in Las Cruces, they welcomed 6 grandsons and their first great-grandchild. They spent their summers on Lake Huron in Northern Michigan. Throughout his brief retirement, he maintained his medical license and continued to provide care to people in the spirit in which medicine was intended. He would like to be remembered as an advocate of universal healthcare. In addition to being a beloved son, brother, husband, father and friend he pursued his interests in painting, pottery, piano, furniture making, gardening and unrelenting editorializing against public greed. His wish was to let people know that his wife Patricia contributed much more to his success than any of the above would indicate. He was preceded in death by his only brother, William Beckwith (Billy) Brown. He is survived by his beloved and loving wife of 59 years, Patricia Grace Brown, his four children, Janice Elizabeth Brown and husband Stephen Lewis, Julia Anne Hansen and husband Stephen, Kathleen Patricia Marotta and husband John, and John Beckwith Brown and his partner Jose Adolfo Quesada Beer; seven grandchildren, Gia Elena Hoosien and husband Michael, John Anthony Marotta, Anthony Joseph Marotta, Paul Channing Lewis, Matthew McAdams Lewis and partner TaNeshia Crenshaw, Zachary John Hansen, and Walker James Hansen; one great grandchild Olivia Nicole Lewis, and his beloved pets Shorty and Bitty. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his name to Mesilla Valley Hospice, Dona Ana County Humane Society, Community of Hope, or Shakyamuni Buddhist Center. The family invites you to join them in a celebration of his life and legacy at the home of Julia and Stephen Hansen, 3150 McDowell Road, Mesilla Park, on Saturday, January 26, from noon to 4:00 pm. PDF Printable Version