Marie Angela Brown

Marie Angela Brown (nee Strosser) of Havre De Grace, MD passed away peacefully on October 30, 2020 at the age of 96. Marie was born in Cleveland, OH and was the youngest of four children to Frank and Mary Strosser who immigrated to the US from Eastern Europe. Marie graduated from John Hay High School in Cleveland, OH in 1942 with training in secretarial and stenographic skills. She worked in numerous companies between 1942 and 1944 as a secretary. In 1944 she joined Lockheed and was an expediter for the P38 aircraft during WWII, then post-war worked for the Ashtabula County Welfare Department in the height of the polio epidemic. She described it as an “in-depth experience in awareness and understanding of human needs, human nature, and human concern.” In 1946 she married Raymond Brown and relocated to the Akron, OH area where together they built the Arcade Insurance Company and started their family which would grow to include 6 children.

During her life as a wife and mother in Ohio, Marie held several key positions within the family business including office manager, payroll manger, liaison with the government agencies and became a licensed insurance agent in the state of OH in 1963. As a mother she was active with her children through Holy Family Catholic Church in Stow, OH. In 1975, the family relocated to St. Petersburg, FL to pursue business opportunities and a warmer climate. As the businesses grew and life changed, Marie’s attention and focus became that of the care and advocacy for her youngest son who has Down’s Syndrome. Marie was active in Paul B. Stevens and Nina Harris Schools where her son was educated. She was a passionate and active advocate for person’s with disabilities at a time when these organizations were at a grassroots level which have led to changing the education, job training and adult living skills for persons with disabilities. She served as a volunteer and board member for several advocacy, athletic and social groups for persons with disabilities including PARC, https://admin.mem.com/sso/newde/9874533#contententry/scheduledservicesAFIRE and Special Olympics.

In 1999, in an effort to have the best future living arrangement for her son, Marie relocated to Havre De Grace, MD. Living in Maryland awarded her the opportunity to continue her work of advocacy for persons with disabilities, work to find the best group home for her son through ARC-Northern Chesapeake as well as start her own business at age of 75. The New Horizons Suri Alpaca Farm was a small yet successful venture yielding award winning Suri Alpacas. Marie participated in the care, breeding, sales and showing of the animals for 10 years. She was able to share this experience with her son as he continued learning life skills through the farm.

As she entered her later years, Marie continued to demonstrate her love of lifelong learning of new skills and expanding her knowledge. Her passions for learning included languages, cultures, classical music, Tai Chi, art, opera, theater, genealogy, self-help and natural healing. Through her long and seasoned life Marie was by far always a mother and devoted friend to many. Her love of her children was seen in her dedication to each and everyone of them. Her friendships spanned years and many miles. She is survived by her 6 children: Allyn Galloway (spouse Tom, grandchildren Valeri and Matthew, and great-granddaughter Kayla), Christine Justis (grandson Jason); Patricia Anderson (spouse Alan); Thomas Brown; Russell Brown (spouse Elizabeth; grandson Alexander) and Joseph Brown as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her parents Frank and Mary and her siblings Margaret, Edward and Rudolf.

A Celebration Gathering will be held on June 26th from 3-5 pm, at Schimunek Funeral Home of Bel Air, 610 W. MacPhail Road.

In memory of Marie’s advocacy and passion for assisting individuals with disabilities, she has requested donation to AFIRE of Pinellas County in lieu of flowers to champion their efforts for the developmentally disabled. https://afirepinellas.org/