| Jeremy Brown (MSM, OStJ, MD, CM, FRCP(C), FACP) 25 March 1951 - 24 February 2003 |
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December 2002 - Vienna, Austria
| "In the summer of 1998, Jeremy Brown, Senior Medical Attach at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya, provided medical assistance to the wounded following a bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy, located less than a kilometre away from the Canadian Mission. Setting aside his personal safety, Dr. Brown tended to the personnel in the bloody smoking rubble, providing care to the injured and comfort to the dying. He responded to the crisis situation in the hours, days and weeks following the bombing that killed 200 and left over 4,000 injured. Through his compassion and dedication, Dr. Brown brought great honour to his profession and to Canada." BROWN, Dr. Jeremy MD, CM, FRCP (C), FACP OSt.J MSM Medical Attache Canadian Embassy Austria It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden death of our beloved Jeremy, in Vienna, Austria, of a cerebral hemorrhage, at the age of 51. Much loved husband and best friend of Judy (nee Stokes). Wonderful dad of K.C. (Kathleen Claire) and dear step-dad to James Stark. Devoted and beloved son of Kathleen Brown and the late Donald Brown (Jan. 21, 2003), of London, England. Jeremy will be fondly remembered by Judy's family John Stokes and his daughter Kaitlyn of Dunrobin, Jerry and Lucy Stokes and sons Nelson and Christopher, who was Jeremy's godson, of Douglas, ON, and Jayne and Jim Leveck and Catherine and Nathan of Arnprior. Also will be missed by his mothers family in England. Jeremy will be missed and remembered with love and great memories by family and good friends worldwide. Friends may call at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Road (between Bayshore and Baseline Road), on Monday March 3, 2003, and Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Mass on Wednesday at St. Patrick's Basilica, 281 Nepean Street, Ottawa at 10:00 a.m. Cremation. For those who wish a donation to ICROSS Canada, c/o William Willbond President ICROSS Canada Inc., Box 3, Saanichton, BC, V8M 2C3, which is a charity that Jeremy was involved with when posted in Nairobi Kenya, would be appreciated by the family. Condolences, donations or tributes may be made at Tubman Funeral Homes "Jeremy Brown was a member of The Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and of the MCpl Mark Isfeld Memorial Chapter; he also, was the Medical Advisor for ICROSS Canada in regards to Africa. Although he held many honours and awards in his short life, Jeremy was most proud of his "CPSM" which he earned by doing medical reconnaissance in places like Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Sierra Leona, Ethiopia, etc. Following the bomb blast in Nairobi in 1998 Jeremy waded into the fray to assist with the wounded, and because of his selfless actions he saved many lives. Canada is very proud of Doctor Brown and Governor General Adrienne Clarkson awarded him with the Meritorious Service Medal for these heroic efforts. Doctor Brown is known for his adult Maasai HIV/AIDS end stage ulcer treatment programme with ICROSS. He was very much the ultimate humanitarian!" Dear Judy, James and KC, I knew your dad for such a short amount of time it would be nave to assume I could tell you what you don't already know. Just look around and see the outpouring of respect and affection from the hundreds who have called and came to honor him. He was a very special man. Others will write of his accomplishments and more will tell you of his generosity. I can only speak of the friend I knew during these brief 18 months as neighbors.  Christmas 2002 I first heard of Dr. Jeremy Brown during a short visit to Vienna to inspect our future apartment. I asked about the other neighbors from the departing occupant and heard the usual descriptions, with the exception of one, referred to as the "rather peculiar" doctor who lived on the second floor. They said he was "somewhat" opinionated and with that I couldn't wait to meet him. I love a good argument and he became my perfect foil. He baited me our very first meeting. Stating his piece, he sat back and grinned with that one one eyebrow of his nearly flying off his forehead in anticipation of my response. I immediately felt that whatever answer I might give, I would always find an open door and a ready drink in the future. So I took the bait and the games began, never really ending in all of those 18 months, for even after exhausting our original positions, we seamlessly flipped sides to advocate the others previous stance. Your dad tested me that afternoon. As he called upon his vast knowledge of history, he forced me to counter with whatever I could muster up. As his vocabulary expanded, opening yet another front, he dueled in a fashion that would have made Webster and the Devil proud. I called it a night when he referenced TS Elliot. His parting grin saying, "to be continued, my new friend, now study up" To say he was one of the smartest people I have ever met wouldn't do him justice. My circle is not that large. To say he was my greatest teacher would be truer to the mark. For even when I could barely kept pace with him, he never made me feel uncomfortable or outclassed, he just steered me back on course. Jeremy could have devastated me at anytime but he knew there was more to life than just winning an argument. There is the joy of learning and he taught me so very much. He talked about you, his children, in nearly every conversation we had. A prouder father one could not find. He convinced me to get off the 8am-9pm treadmill so not to miss my own daughter's childhood. He did so by telling me of the times he had with his children and never prefaced it by telling me about the career he gave up. He talked of you so much that I was left ignorant of his many professional accomplishments, a fraction of which would have given anyone else a lifetime of bragging rights. He didn't teach by his citing his life's examples as most people do but rather he let one draw one's own conclusions from one's own life. We all wish to leave something lasting behind. He left so much it's hard to believe we are talking about just one man. As a doctor, the lives he saved and the people he helped and comforted are countless. He brought up a daughter for us to cherish and a stepson to behold. And in the end, he gave us all one final lesson; never give up. His desperate months in rehabilitation after the first calling to G-d taught us the value of time, life and of courage. His peers confessed that according to all known medical science, he should never have been able to rise from his bed, let alone walk and go back to work again, but he did all those things. The second time, we were told he wouldn't last the week; that he would never awake. But with you, his children, hours away from a departing flight, we saw him literally pull the tubes from his chest and fight off the drugs to open his eyes so he could talk to you just once more. He fought all through that final week to tell his wife and mother he loved them and all would be right in the world. And He gave us, Jeremy's friends, a little extra time too, so that we could be with this cherished soul just a little bit longer. Maybe He wanted a debating partner, maybe He needed someone to discuss the mess that we mortals seem to have created of late. I couldn't think of a better advocate to have. Jeremy will be quite a match. Of all the philosophies he could call upon, his favorite was John Lennon's stance for peace. He could not be swayed that war was ever an answer. Wars are the options of poor thinkers he would say. You have pain now and that is all right. As hard as it is to believe, it will pass with time. What will remain are the wonderful memories you have and it will be those memories that will bring you comfort and guidance later on. Revel in them for they truly reflect the life of a great man, your father. |