William F. Brown, Jr.
Batavia - died Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Rochester General Hospital after a brief illness.
Mr. Brown was born October 25, 1923 in Batavia, the son of the late William F. Brown, Sr. and Monica Sellinger Brown. He was a 1941 graduate of Batavia High School and a graduate of Canisius College. He also studied at Yale and Fordham Universities and was an Army veteran of WW II where he worked for the Armed Forces Radio Service in Kokura, Japan. He worked as public relations director for Batavia Downs and Buffalo Raceway for several years before becoming co-owner and manager of WBTA Radio in 1968. He was well known for his daily outspoken editorials dealing with local issues and humorous vignettes about family life. He won sixteen State-wide “Best Editorial Awards” in his career from the New York State Broadcasters Association. Mr. Brown was a member of the United States Harness Writers Association for over 55 years where he served as secretary for several years and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
Mr. Brown served as the first chairman of the Board of Trustees when Notre Dame High School became an independent diocesan high school in 1991. He also is a past President of the Board of Directors of the former St. Jerome Hospital, Trustee Emeritus of the Jerome Foundation, a member of the Board of Catholic Education of the Diocese of Buffalo and lay chairman of the Bishop’s Lay Advisory Council. He was a lector and Eucharistic Minister at Resurrection Parish and a knight of St. Gregory and a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was an author and wrote several books on local history including the popular Linden Murders and wrote columns for the Batavia Daily News. Until his death he was a Genesee County correspondent for the Buffalo News. He also was active in many local civic organizations throughout his life, including the Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus and the Elks. He was a lifelong member of Stafford Country Club.
Mr. Brown married the former Elizabeth Farrell in Stamford, Connecticut in 1947. She died in 1993. He is survived by four children: William F. Brown III (Deborah) of Roswell, GA., Elizabeth A. McGee (John) of Batavia, Robert F. Brown (Katherine) of Batavia and Bonita M. Peacock (Robert) of Summit, NJ., thirteen grandchildren, Christopher, Courtney, William, Benjamin and Catherine Brown; Patrick, Michael and Molly McGee; Phillip, Brendan and Natalie Brown and Lauren and Erin Peacock. Also surviving are two great grandchildren, Caroline and Natalie Brown; a brother, Joseph G. Brown of Rochester, two sisters, M. Julianne Brown of Buffalo and Sheila Place of Marstons Mills, MA., several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was the brother of the late Margaret B. Krantz and John S. Brown.
Friends may call on Wednesday, December 3rd from 3 to 7 pm at the H. E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 E. Main St., Batavia. His Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, 9:30 am at Resurrection Parish, St. Joseph Church, 303 E. Main St. Batavia. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The Knights of Columbus will hold a prayer service on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Notre Dame High School, 73 Union St. or the Jerome Foundation, P.O. Box 249, both Batavia, NY 14020
