John Ralph Brown

Jack was born in Chicago, IL, on July 14, 1929, on the eve of The Great Depression, to Ralph and Marjorie Brown. The family moved west to Oregon in the early 1930’s and Jack and his sister Maxine grew up in The Dalles and in Portland. Jack attended Beaumont Grade School and graduated from Grant High School in 1947.

He graduated from Willamette University, and it was there that Jack met Jean Stewart, with whom he would spend the rest of his life. They married in 1952 and his death fell one month shy of their 63rd wedding anniversary. It was also at Willamette that Jack met many lifelong friends, including his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers.

He served as a sergeant in the US Army during the Korean War. Following his service he received his Masters Degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. Jack served as the editor of the Central Oregonian in Prineville and moved to Lake Oswego in 1960 to work in public affairs and communications for Crown Zellerbach, at the time one of the state’s largest forest products industry employers. He would work for Crown Z and its successor companies until his retirement in 1994.

Jack was a leader inside and outside the company, serving on many industry and professional boards, including Associated Oregon Industries. He also took an active role in the region’s civic life, serving as a director on numerous non-profit boards, including the Portland Rose Festival, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Oregon Parks Foundation and the Willamette University Alumni board. He was also a long-time member of the University Club.

Jack’s interests included music, tennis, gardening and his church, Lake Grove Presbyterian, where he and Jean have been members for the past 55 years. He was a talented self-taught musician, and he and Jean were 40-year season ticket holders to the Oregon Symphony. Jack also loved to attend live jazz performances.

Most of all, Jack was a caring father, loving husband and grandfather extraordinaire.

His last year was challenging, but he lived to see his first great grandchild born and to see his granddaughter, Megan, graduate from his alma mater, Grant High School.

Jack is survived by his wife, Jean, and his four children, Jim (Caitlin), Rich (Elise), Don (Andrea) and Julie Brown; six grandchildren (Kate, Peter, Megan, Andrew, Garrett and Gillian); great grandchild Caroline Evenson; his sister Maxine Kent Callinan; nephews John Kent, Steven Kent, Larry Kent, and niece Karlyn Gedrose.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of donations to the following: Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, Willamette University, Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon.

Private burial will be at Willamette National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 21 at 11 a.m. at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, 4040 Sunset Drive, Lake Oswego.