Richard M. Brown

Growing up in Cleveland OH, he loved to play chess and all sports, spending free time at Euclid Beach Park. He learned to work hard at an early age, helping support his family and himself since the age of 12, delivering newspapers and working part-time jobs while he was in school and then joining the United States Air Force after leaving Collinwood High School. In the Air Force, he served 12 years during the Korean War and traveled the world. His adventures made for many unforgettable experiences and fascinating stories he loved to share with his children and grandchildren over the years. After the Air Force he worked at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base until he retired.

He met the love of his life, Sandra Spieth, in September 1963 and their whirlwind courtship led to their wedding in Andover OH on May 9, 1964. The couple eventually moved to Reynoldsburg OH where they raised three children, made lifelong friends, and settled into the community they loved for 50 years.

Pa loved Clark bars, peanuts, John Grisham novels, Frank Sinatra, and The Eagles. He also loved the Cleveland Browns and inspired generations of future fans in his children and grandchildren. Pa was a great storyteller and an excellent chef. He owned a pizza restaurant and bar briefly in the 1970s and loved spending time in the kitchen cooking for his entire family, especially Italian dinners with Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett playing in the background. He loved the racetrack and he learned how to use a laptop just so he could watch the ponies online, devoting hours to reviewing racing sheets—a pastime he thoroughly enjoyed throughout his golden years.

Most of all, Pa adored his grandchildren. His favorite holiday was Christmas because he was surrounded by family and children during the holiday season. He lovingly played the part of the Baby Whisperer to every child and grandchild who came along. He knew all the tricks to get infants to sleep and was a miracle worker when toddlers refused to finish their dinner. His grandchildren cherish the memory of how he hit his head on the roof of the car every time they went over speedbumps, just to get a good belly laugh from the kids in the back seat.

He was preceded in death by his father Richard Brown, his mother Caroline Friedman Brown, sisters Marilyn Brown and Caroline Brown, brother Jay Brown, and grandson Zachary Scott.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Sandra Brown of Bexley OH, and his three children Dee Scott of Howard OH, Matt Brown (Kristin) of Bexley OH, and Michael Brown (Erin) of Cincinnati OH. He has eight grandchildren: Kait Sager (Erik) of Chicago IL, Samantha Piland (Andrew) of Nashville TN, Alex Scott (Arianna) of Columbus OH, Jacob Brown of Bexley OH, Emma Brown of Cincinnati OH, Morgan Brown of Bexley OH, Abigail Brown of Cincinnati OH, and Tyler Brown of Bexley OH. He recently and excitedly welcomed three great-grandsons to the world: Odin Scott of Columbus and Lukas and Blake Sager of Chicago. He is also survived by many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was so proud of his family. He loved cheering on his ponies and his Cleveland Browns. He was the best at making spaghetti and telling stories after dinner over glasses of Cabernet and Sambuca. We’ll miss you forever, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to Luminary Hospice at https://www.luminaryhospice.com/about/compassion-collective/ or call 855-546-1540.