Obituary of Robert R Brown

Robert Reading Brown Robert Reading Brown, 84, a long time resident of Bernardsville, NJ, died peacefully after a long illness on Friday, January 21, 2011. He was born March 21, 1926 in Denver, Colorado to James Schuyler Brown and Helen Reading Brown. Bob, as he was known by his friends and family, grew up enjoying the outdoors, fishing, hiking, and learning to ski in the early days of the sport at Winter Park, Colorado. After graduating from East High School in Denver, he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder as part of the U.S. Navy's V12A accelerated college education/flight training program. He graduated in 1946 with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering and served at Ottumwa Naval Air Station as a preflight instructor. After completing his active military service, Bob returned to CU and obtained an MS in Business in 1948. In 1949 Bob married his college sweetheart Suzanne Schumacher in Wilmette, Illinois and moved to NJ, living in Mountainside and then Bernardsville. He began his career at American Gas Accumulator Company in Elizabeth, NJ. The company merged with Elastic Stop Nut Corporation and then Amerace Corporation, where he was President of Elastimold Division, Electrical Group VP and later the Group VP of Technology. At Elastimold, he obtained patents for innovations in insulated connectors for underground airport and residential lighting and for use by utility companies in high voltage underground power distribution. As President of Elastimold, Bob was also responsible for establishing the Fujimold joint venture in Japan and a manufacturing plant in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Bob is remembered for his strength of character, sense of humor, sensitivity, caring, friendship, and his continuous desire to learn. His interests included science and astronomy, American history, wildflowers, birds, and classical music. Together with family and friends, he also enjoyed spending time at a second home in Winter Park, Colorado. He enjoyed many family activities such as skiing, golfing, trout fishing, and making great breakfasts at his Colorado mountain home. He enjoyed hiking in the mountains and along the Continental Divide, and at age 68 climbed the 12,804 foot high Byers Peak with his son Jim. When his sons were younger, he was active in Scouting as a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 158 in Bernardsville, leading camping trips to Sabbatis Boy Scout Camp in upstate New York. After retiring, Bob enjoyed lunches with the OFEC group at the Mendham Pub, auditing classes with friends at Princeton University, playing bridge, and golfing with long time friends at Mendham Golf & Tennis Club where he had been an early club President. He leaves a devoted family who will miss him deeply. Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Suzanne Schumacher Brown and three children: daughter Kathryn Alison Brown of Basking Ridge, son Robert Reading Brown Jr. and wife Jayne Hamlyn Brown of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and son James Schuyler Brown II and wife Suzanne Thompson Brown of Basking Ridge. Also surviving are grandchildren Kristin Elizabeth Brown of London, England, James Schuyler Brown III of Basking Ridge, and Amy Caroline Schlagel and Bradley Keith Schlagel of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. In the Denver area, Bob leaves a brother James Schuyler Brown Jr. and his wife Nancy as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 29th at 11:00 am at the Church of St. John on the Mountain, 379 Mt. Harmony Road, Bernardsville, NJ. For more information please contact the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home 908-766-0250 or visit our website www.gcfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may make donations to the American Stroke Association, a Division of the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, Ma 02241-7005 or a charity of their choice.