"We were honored to have Dr. Brown on the Board of Society for Academic Achievement. His honesty, wisdom and initiative were invaluable. My condolences to the family of this special man."
In loving memory of
Dr. Robert Brown
July 21, 2018
Holding the hand of his wife, Robert Brown stepped peacefully into eternal rest at 4:47 A. M. Saturday, July 21, 2018 at his home.
Robert, only child of Robert Brown and Susan Marshall Macfarlane Brown, immigrants from Scotland, was born October 23, 1925, in Windsor, Canada.
The family moved to Detroit, Michigan when he was young, and there received his early education and graduated from Redford High School. Bob was baptized and confirmed in the Presbyterian Church. Being guided by his faith was always an important part of his life.
Bob was drafted into the U. S. Army in January 1944. After basic training he was deployed to European theatre of W.W.II and served as a guard of German prisoners of war in Wales and England, attained rank of Corporal Tech 5 and earned expert marksmanship medals and victory medals. He was among the 16,000 soldiers, who upon returning to the U. S., on the liner Queen Mary, were greeted in the early morning mist by the Statue of Liberty. They were to be trained for war in the Pacific, but Japan shortly surrendered.
In a large class of returning veterans, Bob attended Adrian College, Adrian, Michigan, on the G. I. Bill, majoring in Economics and sang in a barbershop quartet. Leadership skills began to develop as he was an athletic letter winner in baseball and track and was a member and president of Chapter Alpha Mu of National Fraternity Alpha Tau Omega. He served as President of his senior class and was elected to Who's Who.
After employment with Massey Ferguson and General Motors in Detroit, Bob began his life work in higher education, as he joined the administrative staff at Adrian College as director of admissions. He later directed alumni services, headed the P. R. and Communications, special events and initiated innovative programs. The last 13 years were as Vice President for Development, spanning 25 years of service and served as a trustee from '96-'08. He was recipient of the Outstanding Alumnus and was honored with the Alumni Achievement award.
Furthering his education, he earned his Masters of Arts degree, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in administration of higher education in 1965, both from Michigan State University. He was also recognized with honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from both Adrian College and Culver-Stockton College.
In 1978, Bob accepted the challenge of presidency at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, a position he held for 11 years before becoming Chancellor. In that time he held a variety of leadership positions: chairman of Independent Colleges and Universities in Missouri, chairman of College presidents of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), President of Missouri Fund and President of Heart of America Athletic Conference presidents. He was a guest in Japan and Taiwan with Asian Studies Institute, and served as a trustee for the Society for Academic Achievement and the Community Foundations of Quincy area. He was honored in 1992 with the naming of the Robert W. Brown Performing Arts Center and in 2017 with the dedication of the Carolyn L. and Robert W. Brown Residence Hall both on the Culver-Stockton campus.
Upon retirement in 1992, Bob and Carolyn moved to their home (near the Spring Lake golf course) in Quincy, and continued to be lifelong supporters of scholarships and attended campus events.
Robert had a strong work ethic which found him in the office early until late at night. He had a collaborative leadership style which was the basis of successful enrollment, program and faculty development, and financial growth and stability for the college, generated by his staff through intensive campaigns.
Student development was always his passion, and he welcomed them regularly into his home for popcorn and ice cream, or at his office, and made them feel valued, while expecting their best efforts. He supported them in all their activities and was known to sit in on classes, and became a student with them in stained glass work, helping to create the beautiful large window in the Johann Library.
Bob and the former Carolyn Berry of Blissfield, Michigan, were united in marriage on June 24, 1956, at the Blissfield Methodist church by the Rev. Dr. John H. Dawson, president of Adrian College. They recently celebrated 62 wonderful, adventurous years. They are the proud parents of Stephen, Susan, and Jennifer.
As a couple, they enjoyed traveling and meeting new friends, cruising the Mediterranean historical sites, visiting the Hawaiian islands, taking Caribbean Island tours, and seeing several Asian and European countries. As a family, they visited the U. K. and Scotland for ancestral history, as well as Spain and North Africa.
Bob enjoyed penning quick poems, and wrote poems or messages for each young grandchild. He was enormously proud of his children's and grandchildren's achievements in all their personal life, academic, sports, and creative talents. The yearly gathering in Florida for all the family to enjoy games, beach time, and crab leg feasts was tradition.
He was a member of Vermont Street United Methodist Church and Spring Lake Country Club, where they both played golf. He experienced 3 holes-in-one, and with a partner in 1999, won a golf trip to Aspen. A lifelong dream was fulfilled in 2007 when he and his son were invited to attend the Masters Golf tournament in Georgia.
Michigan winters allowed him to build an ice rink in the back yard for the neighborhood. Bob loved sports and played racquetball on the Culver-Stockton Charles Field House courts, and softball until age 72. At age 83 he went ice skating at the new hockey arena at Adrian with the college president.
Survivors include, besides his wife, Carolyn, their children: Stephen (wife Susan) Brown of Yorktown, VA, Dr. Susan Sheridan-Boult (husband Dr. Chad) of Boise, ID, and Jennifer (husband Greg) Leftwich of Palmyra, MO. Seven adored grandchildren: Lindsey (Reese) Cagle of Newport News, VA, Matthew (Jordan) Brown of Williamsburg, VA, Cal Sheridan of Denver, CO, Mackenzie Sheridan of Portland OR, Bailey Leftwich of Orlando, FL, Taylor and Gage Leftwich of Palmyra, MO, and 4 great grandchildren, Makenna and Rhett Cagle, and Skylar and Beckham Brown.
Other family survivors include 2 sisters-in-law, Alice Crosby of Livonia, MI, and Marian (Sherald) Haynes, Blissfield, MI, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Bob was greeting in Heaven by his parents; Robert and Susan, Carolyn's parents Dewey and Mildren Berry, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Don Bleam, son-in-law, Patrick Sheridan, and niece Annette Crosby.
He has chosen cremation with distribution at a later time. His life will be remembered with visitation on Friday, July 27, 2018 from 4 to 7 P. M. at Hansen-Spear Funeral home, and Saturday morning from 10:30 A. M. until time of service at 1 P. M. at Vermont Street Methodist Church.
Memorials may be made to the named Scholarship Funds at Culver-Stockton College or Adrian College.
The family is grateful to all the medical and care giving personnel who gave treatments and comfort during his brief battle with cancer.
www.hansenspear.com
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.
Tributes
"Dr. Brown was a godly man who led young adults to becoming what God designed them to be. Dr. Brown was down to earth, and always cared for each of us as individuals rather than a number. He expected the best of us, supported us and shared our educational journey with us not just as a professional but as a friend. I am thankful that I knew him."
"Dr. Brown was a rare jewel given to us all. Thank you for sharing the love within your family to those of us in the C-SC family. He was a blessing to each. He wrote a recommendation letter to Thunderbird for me, which I'm convinced is the only way I was accepted. A precious man. God bless you all during this time."
"Carolyn and children, Hugs and prayers to all of you in this difficult time. We will miss Bob as was such a genuine and outstanding person. We remember Bob so fondly from his time at Adrian College, both as an executive there and later on the board of trustees."
"Dr. Brown really bolstered the confidence of me as a young lady leaving home for the first time in Fall of 1979. I remembered he bragged on me in a public forum and said students, like myself, from a small rural area make great leaders. Dr. Brown made every student feel special and he had a love for the CSC community. My condolences to Mrs. Brown and her family. We know Dr. Brown is in a far better place but it is hard for the loved ones left here on Earth. God bless and pouring out prayers."
"My deepest sympathy to Carolyn and family. Dr. Brown was a welcoming President when my daughter, Susan, was an incoming freshman in 1979. I really appreciated his words and sincere thoughts. Later to be his neighbor on College Street. Many memories. May God bless you all. Barbara Nelson Haupt (Walz, Drews)BB"
"The men of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wish to express their deepest sympathy to the family of Dr. Robert Brown. Not only was he a fellow fraternity Brother, but mostly importantly, a friend. Brother Brown was hired by C-S-C at a time when enrollment was going down. I was a junior. As a result of Dr. Brown's leadership, he put Culver on sound financial footing. Soon after I graduated in 1979, enrollment was over 1,000. He was the right man at the right time. Now, we take time to celebrate his life on earth, and rejoice that he is now experiencing life eternal in Heaven."
"Just told my wife the other day how welcoming Dr. Brown was to me when I was in the process of selecting a college to attend back in the spring of 1981. When I arrived on campus for my initial visit, Dr. Brown personally invited me to his office, then we walked together over to the campus cafeteria to have lunch together. I was completely blown away that a college president would take the time to do this for a high school student. I can honestly say this was pretty much the one thing that convinced me that CSC would be the right school to attend, and as I reflect on that 37 years later, realize this was one of the best decisions I ever made regarding my education. Not only did I receive a very high quality education in my time there, Culver also assisted in my finding my first career accounting job. God bless you Dr. Brown, and may your family find peace and comfort during their time of loss. What a great mentor Dr. Brown undoubtedly was for thousands of students just like me!"
"I first met Dr. Brown at the Student-Faculty Reception my Freshman year. I asked him if he golfed. He indicated that he did and that I should come by his office and we could discuss that sometime. So I did just that. Dr. Brown looked over his schedule, selected a day and time, asked me if that worked for me, and then picked up the phone and made a tee time. I was humbled that he took time out of his schedule to play golf with me. I would later learn that he took the time for all of his students, and I found the door to his office, and home, always open. It saddens me that he is gone and my thoughts are with you all."
"A credit to Culver-Stockton College."
"Integrity, compassion, encourager, visionary are just a few thought that come to mind when I think of Dr Brown. He was a father to many at Culver, myself included. My family is blessed by knowing the Browns, memories are cherished ."
"Jennifer and family. So sorry to hear about the passing of your dad. What a wonderful life he lived. I know you have so many special memories of him and all the family trips you had together. May God comfort you and give you strength in the days ahead. Hold on to the beautiful memories of man who touched so many lives. Hugs and prayers to all of you."