She was an inspiration to many. Made my childhood full of great memories at Mt. Greenwood Park and as our neighbor on Drake Avenue in Mt. Greenwood. She was a very strict but kind instructor who taught many children tap, ballet, gymnastics, softball and volleyball classes. If you wanted to learn and made the effort she was there to teach you. I was able to learn all of the above from her along with being a pixie school helper and daycamp leader and we loved her dearly. She will be missed not only by the children she instructed but by the whole Mt. Greenwood Community. Rest in peace until we see each other again in heaven.

Ms. Brown, 
I remember you fondly. You taught me so much about sports and sportsmanship. I remember the volleyballs games and watching the gymnastics. Hanging around at the park was fun and a great learning experience because of you. You made it a home away from home. Thanks for everything.
Lisa (Lonergan) Valkenburg

I will always remember Ms. Brown as a positive motivator and highly competitive coach who fielded teams who always challenged our teams at Avalon Park.  She taught me the true essence of "It's never over until it's over."  Rest in peace Ms. Brown, you served the park district well.

How lucky we St. Sabina girls were to have Miss Brown teach us volleyball at Foster Park! I took the bus to play at Mt. Greenwood when she went there. Coached girls myself from what I learned from her. RIP

My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time!
Ms. Brown was an amazing person and it truly was an honor to have worked with her at the CPD.
Treasure the memories forever!

May she rest in peace.  Prayers for her family during this difficult time.  She was an incredible, talented teacher.  I was so lucky to grow up on the south side of Chicago and take advantage of what the Chicago Park District had to offer at Foster Park.  Because Miss Brown was such an inspirational teacher,   when she left Foster Park and went to Mt. Greenwood my sister, Carol, and I followed her so that we could continue to play/learn volleyball with her.  I hope the Chicago Park District recognized the wonderful, inspirational employee that she was.  Tap  and ballet, gymnastics, volleyball-thanks for the memories Miss Brown!

Such a wonderful lady!  Mt. Greenwood Park would have not been the same for me if she hadn't been there.  Seeing this picture takes me back over 30 years. She made volleyball a great experience.  You knew she cared about what she was doing and really enjoyed it.  I also remember that she had a good sense of humor.  Prayers and well wishes to her family.

Harriet Brown had an influence on so many.  She was ahead of her time in so many ways.  Yes, she coached many of us in volleyball, using the right mix of encouragement and criticism. She also taught gymnastics, tap, baton, tennis and anything else she thought would help children develop their talents.  She administered the summer camp program employing many local teens, teaching us leadership and responsibility.  She began adult programs encouraging physical activity before it was the trend.   I also remember preschool programs she established.  She always set a great example in everything she said, did and did not do.   I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time under her guidance.   The world has lost a great person!  Thanks Miss Brown.

Miss Brown was probably the first person to tell me that I was good at something(and by the way, I probably was not).  She told me to keep doing the shuffle ball chain during the gym show even after my tap shoe fell off and she refused to let me give up when I had to do a last minute substitution in the baton portion of the mt greenwood gym show. The pressure!  I am forever grateful and I have never, and will never, forget her.

Mrs Brown was a great coach/teacher for a number of classes I took at Mt. Greenwood. What a loss! All my thoughts... Carolyn (Geist) Wargo

Miss Brown coached us in volleyball at Foster Park. Leola drove us wherever we needed to go. Both were always so  kind, so supportive, and always gave a professional example. They affected so many young lives in a positive way. We all remember her fondly.

harriet brown was my gym instructor at Palmer Park when I went to st. willibrord high school in Chicago Illinois in the late 50's and later on in life I 
started playing volleyball with her at mt. greenwood. at night.  She was a wonderful person and knew how to party always with kindness and a great
sense of humor - we were all fond of her and have great memories of her
pat Nolan roach

I've thought of Miss Brown so many times over the years at My. Greenwood Park. She was an extension of my own family, and was the "village" who helped raise us. Such a strong woman. She never let me quit and gave me no reason why I couldn't succeed at anything. Thank you Miss Brown for giving so many young children the guidance, confidence and spirit to achieve in life. ❤

I have many memories of Miss Brown from Foster Park.  Myself and my friends spent many hours at Foster Park with Miss Brown teaching us baton, tap, gymnastics and volleyball. She was a very dedicated employee of the CPD. She made such a positive impact on so many.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Miss Brown. What a great lady and coach.  She was always upbeat with life and teaching kids with the different programs in the parks.  She touched many lives in her lifetime including my own.

She was a wonderful women who took care of all of us under her wing at Mt. Greenwood Park.  Cannot imagine how our lives would have turned out if she hadn't been such a big part of it. Rest in Peace.

She was a great volleyball coach and mentor when I was very young. I'm sure she will be greatly missed. A great lady! God rest her soul. Kathy Long- Kozlowski

The DeMink Family has many happy memories of Harriet and Lee at their Lake  Michigan cottage:  the bottomless candy bowl, goofy crafts and mechanical toys, handmade sweaters, lots of laughs.  Harriet patiently tried to give us all tennis pointers like "Pull your racket back!"  We loved visiting with her at her apartment and ordering her favorite- pizza.  We admire her gift of inspiring young and old with her teaching.  She was direct, opinionated, tenacious, and loved to joke around,  She always was interested in us and had a twinkle in her eye!  With many happy memories, Sarah and Rich DeMink

Harriet  gets a "10" in my book..she was a remarkable person

Miss Brown went out of her way for me on more than one occasion - a ride to school on a cold day, etc.  Always so upbeat and kind to kids.  Great lady.
Jim Morgan

I met Miss Brown at Palmer Park when I was around 10 years old. She was always there for the kids that hung around Palmer Park. She was always encouraging.  Even if you weren't the best at dance or gymnastics, you were still part of the group. She saw skills in me and got me involved and Softball and Volleyball which I kept up with til I was in my 50's.
I know she touched a lot of lives. She even taught my daughter at Nt. Greenwood. I remember walking in to sign her up and there she was, 'My Miss Brown' And to top it off, she remembered me 40 years later.
She was quite the lady and will be missed by all the lives she touched.
God Bless...

Miss Brown was a tremendous influence in my life- she inspired not only athleticism in her players, but a sense of responsibility and team effort. She was generous and kind. I loved her dearly - Mt. Greenwood Park was our "home away from home", and she was our "mom" in so many ways...I will miss her, but her spirit lives on in so many of us!!! See you in Heaven, Miss Brown!!!

Harriet Brown taught baton twirling, gymnastics, tap and ballet, taught and coached volleyball. She organized the day camp. I can still remember the smell of the park house-squeaky clean. She didn't take any guff. Harriet taught us to respect our surroundings, equipment and our peers and adults. It would take ten people to do the job she did. Every kid needs a Harriet Brown in their lives!R.I.P.

OBITUARY

Harriet J Brown

July 27, 1920 – January 2, 2016

Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home & Cemetery

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