Phillip R. Brown

With deep and profound sadness, we announce the death of (Phillip) Ralph Brown who passed away at home in Altamonte Springs, FL, on July 28, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. Born January 13, 1934 in Reading, PA, Ralph was a most humble over achiever. He began receiving academic honors in high school as well as being an All-City (Miami) and All-State football player. A life-long Gator, with cherished lifelong PiLambdaPhi friends, he went on to receive many accolades for his work in the aerospace industry. (Detroit, MI; Huntsville, AL; West Palm Beach, FL; Cape Canaveral, FL). He helped establish the Jewish Community Center of Brevard, the major purpose of which was to afford Jewish children in central Brevard County with a quality Jewish Education. When devastating illness interrupted our lives, Ralph endured arduous preparation to pass his Professional Engineer exam in 1970 on the first try! He then commuted to Gainesville to earn a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering which also earned him membership in Tau Beta Pi, engineering honor society, all while being a loving husband and raising three children with amazing good humor. (He really loved a good joke and had contagious laughter.) Ralph and his wife were participants in the 3rd Young Leadership Group and served on the Board of Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. Highlights of those years were a very early morning, secret meeting with the pilot of one of the planes that had flown into Entebbe, retreats at Camp Ocala with Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, and with Sharon and Michael Strassfeld, authors of The Jewish Catalogue, among others. Ralph subsequently established American Testing Laboratories, an Orlando Consulting Engineering Firm during which time his children received their college educations. Ralph was active in the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers serving as President, the FES, (Florida Engineering Society), among a number of other professional groups. He was President of Downtown Orlando Lions Club while an active member of the Executives Association of Greater Orlando. He was always willing and available to tutor friends' or neighbors' children in science and/or math. Ralph loved to play bridge, and most recently trivia, pinochle or dominoes in the company of valued friends at the JCC. Ralph Brown will forever be a role model of courage under adversity for his wife of 57 years, Diane (Fox), son Andrew, Altamonte Springs, daughters Marci, Gainesville; Nancy (Nicholas) Abrudescu, grandchildren Meghan and Hunter Brown, Benjamin Abrudescu, all of whom he cherished and adored.

Phillip R. Brown

January 13, 1934 - July 28, 2015