Jim Brown

Service Information

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday April 12, 2pm at the Skagit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Mt Vernon, WA (behind the Mt Vernon Post Office).

Donald James Brown was born December 1st, 1934, in Seattle and died March 29, 2014 in Bellingham, Washington of natural causes.

He was a graduate of Cleveland High School. He was a lifelong volunteer; a BoyScout, a member of the Ski Acres Ski Patrol, the Washington Alpine Club, Seattle Mountain Rescue, and the Seattle Sailing Association. In recent years he was a valued participant with many groups including the Skagit and Anacortes chapters of the Hearing Loss Association of America, the Out of Sight Skagit County Low Vision Support Group, San Francisco Pelican Viking Fleet III, and the Skagit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship where he was faithful, rain or shine, traveling the miles to church on his bright yellow Cab Bike.

He worked for Seattle City Light and Seattle Engineering Dept. then retired to a home he built himself in Skagit County. He loved to travel and took thousands of photos of his many adventures. He instilled a love of the outdoors in all of his kids. He became passionate about bread making after he traded a digital camera for his first bread machine.

He is survived by daughters Jennifer DeShong, of Carson, WA, and Blythe Brown of Kodiak, AK, sons Ian Brown of Ellensburg, WA, Murray Brown of Carson, WA, and Hugh Brown, of Hood River, OR; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, ex-wife Jo Brown of Kodiak, AK, and their spouses and extended families.

He was predeceased by his son, Keith and brothers Larry and David.

Remembrances or donations may be made to any of the volunteer organizations he so passionately supported.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday April 12, 2pm at the Skagit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Mt Vernon, WA (behind the Mt Vernon Post Office).

Memories

From mike harper

The harp is broken but the wind continues.
Good memories of sailing and racing the San Francisco Pelican with Jim.
Best to all.
Mike Harper

Apr 06, 2014

From Jean Gosse

Remembering Jim:
Hiking around the hills looking for a place to build his home. Checking out the various bikes and worrying that he would be hit on the roadway. Remembering that one should never sail to windward of Jim when racing Pelicans. He could sail closer to the wind than anyone and still keep the boat moving forward!! Taking the trail around Skagit Island to check out all the trees and plants. The year he did not go, remembering to check on the red current near the beach, as he was sure to ask about it. Opening up the latest Roster which he had so carefully compiled and printed for all the Pelicaneers. It is hard to imagine the world without Jim Brown!

Apr 06, 2014

From Stephen Ruhl

Jim Brown was a complex individual who both entertained us with his unique personality, devotion to the perpetuation of Pelican Sailing and left many to feel bewildered, annoyed, perplexed, appreciated, thankful, amazed, and deeply grateful for his sincere and immense contributions. Jim's love of the outdoors, reflected in his hiking, charting maps, biking and certainly his robust love of Pelican Camping was a major center of his universe. When his name is mentioned everyone can relate to a unique experience . I share in the sadness of his departure and reflect on the multiple adventures I experienced with him.

Apr 06, 2014

From Chris White, O.D.

One heck of a sailing guy!

When SSA existed in the 70's and 80"s, Howard and I would visit JIm in Seattle or stay overnight so we could race the next day on Green Lake in Toros. My father in law Tony Eder, Howard Whtie, Jim Corkery, the Harris family, the Olsen family and many others shared the drive to sail on Green Lake in El Toros on Sundays every other week out of the SSA facility. Jim always was tweaking his rig, squeaking out a few more degrees to wx, more boat speed with flat sails (which is now the norm) in the Toros and the Pelicans. I suspect Jim was one of my greatest motivations for optimizing boat speed. JIm was one of those sailors who motivated many folks into sailing regularly. Well done Jim.

My condolences go to out the family and JIm RIP.

Apr 07, 2014

From Terry Gosse

The unstoppable Jim: I have many memories of Jim over the last 34 years. He invented the dolly to get the El Toros out from under the AquaTheater at Greenlake - just try to get a boat out of a regular door my yourself! His unique rig on his Pelican, that drove the rest of us nuts during the fleet championships, … The joy the choclear (sp) implant brought so he could hear us (though it didn't stop his yelling from years of hearing impairment). His comment some years ago, when he was ahead of everyone on the race course "why is the deaf, blind, old goat (his terms) in front of everyone?". The time he, George Corkery and Dave Gosse were standing around at Greenlake talking - and we never figured out how: Jim couldn't hear, George had a VERY soft voice and Dave didn't talk much - the mysteries of life. Jim so wanted everyone to try his new trike at the Christmas party - I declined - thinking I had time in the spring - one of many regrets. I will remember Jim for the good times, for his joy in life, and indomitable spirit. May we all keep it alive in our own lives to remember Jim.

Apr 07, 2014

From Bill Mokin

I was very sad to read of Jim’s passing. Jim may have been a “DBOG” (his words), but to me, he is the generous man who ushered me into the world of SF Pelicans. Remember this ad in the POUCH???... "TO SAIL: I have: S.F.Pelican 2480, HD trailer, tow vehicle, overnight Skagit lodging, 30 years Pelican cruising experience, 20 years Pelican racing, 10 years teaching sailing. All are available FREE for Pelican Fleet events in exchange for a driver/crew (skipper trainee)." . I am one of the many lucky people who took Jim up on this offer. I wonder how many of us got started this way? I couldn’t believe my good fortune – a free day of sailing and instruction in exchange for some driving. Jim personified the Pelican spirit…thou shalt pass along the knowledge and love of Pelican sailing to others as it has been passed down to you. Honestly though, the most important thing I learned from Jim had nothing to do with sailing. It had to do with perseverance. Despite his double handicap of sight and hearing loss, Jim got himself out onto the water and could teach you how to sail. He could have stayed home and waited for the Access bus to pick him up and take him to town, but instead he chose to get himself a recumbent bike and take himself where he needed to go. I know what that involved because I got on that bike and rode it down the 2 lane highway near his house, my butt barely 2 inches off the pavement! He did it on a regular basis in his 70s! That’s what Jim’s memory means to me. Thank you brother. – Bill Mokin

Apr 12, 2014

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