TYMOCHENKO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-08-25 published
Donald K. BROWN
By Donna-Lynn
TYMOCHENKO
Monday,
August 25, 2003 - Page A14
Donald K. BROWN
Husband, father, grandfather, salesman, friend. Born on January
30, 1931, in Toronto. Died June 11 in Sudbury, Ontario, of cancer,
aged 72.
Don BROWN was born over a butcher shop on Bloor Street in Toronto
as the only child to young immigrants from the British Isles.
Like many of their generation, his parents toiled long hours
in the shop to build a better life, yet the year after Don entered
Vaughan Road Collegiate, they purchased a fishing lodge and moved
the family north to the French River.
Never one to focus too strongly on his academics, Don commented
that "the Rhodes Scholarship people don't bother me much..."
and was happy to begin a new life in Northern Ontario.
He helped his parents run the Bon Air Lodge on the French River
for years and became an expert fisherman. But as a young adult
he eventually moved back to Toronto in the early 1950s. He always
said that it was here that a chance meeting of a young Mothercraft
nurse, named Gwen
DIZZELL, changed his life. They dated for a
year and married in November, 1954, in my mother's hometown of
Smiths Falls, Ontario I was born in 1957 in Sudbury where my
Dad was establishing himself in the sales industry. My sister,
Lu-Anne, was born three years later.
In 1963, Dad began a career in Sudbury in sales with The Mutual
Life of Canada, later Clarica Life, where he remained for almost
40 years. Initially working six and seven days a week to establish
himself, he built a reputable business in a profession he loved.
Eventually he earned such industry honours as Mutual Life's "Agent
of the Year," was a Clarica Hall of Fame inductee and was a Million
Dollar Round Table member for more than 25 years.
He also enjoyed years of public speaking within the insurance
field where he spoke passionately about his industry and the
need for a positive attitude in all aspects of life.
My parents travelled extensively and always enjoyed the company
conventions that allowed them to keep in touch with many Friends
they had made over the years. While my Dad thrived in the insurance
industry, he thrived even more so in his community.
He was a member and past president of Idylwylde Golf Club in
Sudbury for 40 years, and enjoyed helping the Sudbury Boys' Home
Charities. He was a proud Sudburian and fiercely defended his
choice to live in Northern Ontario. He loved his cottage on the
French River and remained an active fisherman.
He was very proud of both his daughters and what they had accomplished,
and never missed one of our recitals, Christmas concerts, ski
races or awards ceremonies when we were young. He always instilled
the value of hard work and an education in his four grandchildren,
whom he adored. He was the best "Bumpa" in the world.
In 1996, he and Gwen became winter residents in Sarasota, Florida,
buying a home and establishing wonderful new Friends, yet always
looking forward to their return to Sudbury each spring.
The end came quickly for him, with very little warning from an
unforgiving disease. He returned home from Florida this past
April and it was shortly after that he received the diagnosis
of his illness. His last days were spent with family and Friends,
with my mother rarely leaving his side. His sudden passing has
left us all grieving and missing his ever-present sense of humour.
Donna-Lynn is Don's eldest daughter.
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