John Tormay Brown

John was born November 6, 1935, the oldest of nine children to Tormay and Mary Brown of Uniontown, PA. He graduated from St. John High School in 1953 and often reminisced about his teammates and years playing basketball for the Eagles.

He moved to California in the late 50’s and graduated with a degree in civil engineering from UC Berkeley.

He was a land surveyor in Orange County for over 30 years and went on to teach mapping and surveying at Orange Coast College and Coastline Community College for many years.

John travelled throughout South America, Puerto Rico and Mexico and spoke fluent Spanish. He was outgoing and enjoyed having conversations with anyone he met. He also loved Jazz and was an avid Steelers fan.

John loved his family dearly and was instrumental in moving his parents and younger siblings to California in 1963.

In addition to his parents, John is predeceased in death by his sister Susan and brother Henry. He is survived by his brothers: Charles (Gail) Goodyear, AZ, Jim (Terrie) Glendale, AZ and Tom (Christy) Willis, TX; sisters: Willie Crownover, Phoenix, AZ, Lyda (Stephen) Gordon, Tustin, CA, and Judy (Sam) Cortes, Huntington Beach, CA; several nieces and nephews, and his dear friend, Norma Nielsen and her daughters.

Mass to celebrate John’s life will be held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Tustin on November 21, 2025.