James "Jim" Brown

Born in Centerville on October 6, 1932 to Esther Pease and James Brown, Jim would always be a Cape Codder at heart. He loved to tell of his escapades growing up on the Cape- there was much to offer an active boy with a mischievous streak.

In high school, inscriptions from classmates indicate French was not his best subject, but he “livened up the class”. There seems to be a theme here, as others noted he was “the most handsome joker of the class”, “the funniest boy in the class”.

But Jim was also industrious. At the young age of seven, he helped both parents in their employment as domestic cleaner and stone mason. From there, he went on to hold a variety of jobs: Merit Shoes, Wianno Club, H.P. Hood & Sons, Fuller’s Centerville Market, licensed hackney driver in Boston, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute- shipping out as an ordinary seaman on research vessel “Atlantis”, and more. In North Miami Beach, FL, Jim worked at the Green Heron Hotel.

Jim started his banking career at the Rockland Atlas National Bank of Boston: he held progressively greater responsibilities in this sector, ending as the Executive Vice President of Hancock Bank and Trust Company in Quincy. After banking, Jim became Treasurer and Board Member of Johnson Corrugated Products of Thompson, Connecticut.

He and Irene raised their family in Cohasset, MA. They made lifelong friends here, relationships they cherished. Active in Hockey Boosters, the Sailing Club, Racing Committee, Little League, and other civic groups, they supported the community and gave their children a loving, solid foundation from which to grow.

He had many endeavors: was granted a U.S. patent, owned part of a Hockey Pro Shop, bought a company that manufactured water debris screens, held a real estate license. Jim’s passion was golf, he loved musicals- regaling the family on their many car trips to relatives, campgrounds, sporting events.

Jim graduated from Barnstable High School in 1950, and was awarded the Washington and Franklin Medal for excellence in the study of U.S. History. He attended Northeastern University College of Engineering 1950-1, and graduated from UMass Amherst with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1957. While at UMass, he became a member of the Theta Chi Fraternity. A highlight of his Amherst days occurred at the Lord Jeffrey Inn, where he enjoyed a tete a tete with Robert Frost.

Jim was predeceased by wife Irene (Gahagan), parents Esther Pease, James Brown, Gerald Pease, sister Sirii. He leaves behind daughter Donna of Centerville; son Matt and wife Karen of Scituate; daughter Heidi (Silverstein) and husband Mark of Stamford, CT; son Mark and wife Tanya of Topsfield; grandchildren Abigail, Kelsey, Jackson, Emily, Colin, Lauren, Charlotte and Freya. He also leaves brothers Don, Jerry, and sister Vicki.

Memorial Visitation on Monday, 14 September 2020 from 11:00am – 01:00pm at Doane Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 160 West Main Street, Hyannis. Interment will follow (1:30pm) at Beechwood Cemetery, Centerville. Donations in his memory may be made to: Association to Preserve Cape Cod and mailed to APCC at 482 Main Street Dennis, MA 02638.