Obituary for Richard G. Brown
Richard Gilbert Brown, a lifelong resident of Roxbury, was born on September 29, 1925, in Crewe, VA. He was the second son born to the late Richard Gideon Brown and Gertrude Laura Jackson Brown who made their home in Boston, MA. He is preceded in death by his siblings Merton Earl, Oliver Clarence Milo, Warren Irving, and Edith Mabel Brown Elder.
He was a product of the Boston Public Schools where he attended the Hyde, William Bacon, Asa Grey, and Sherwin Schools. He graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School. At the age of 19, he entered World War II. Upon his return, he began his collegiate studies at Boston University; but his studies were soon interrupted by the Korean War. After the war, he returned to Boston University and completed both his undergraduate and master’s degree in Mathematics.
He served as an instructor of mathematics at Tuskegee University. He was a math teacher and a Mathematics Department Head at Wayland Jr. High in Wayland, MA. In addition, he taught mathematics in the Boston Public School System at the Lewis School and the Martin Luther King, Jr. School. He was head of the Math Department at Boston Technical High School (John D. O'Bryant) and Boston Latin Academy. Also, he was the principal at the Lucy Stone School.
Under Judge Garrity's order to desegregate the Boston Public Schools, he was administrative facilitator to the first Black assistant superintendent, the late Rollins Griffith, and was appointed Coordinator of Minority Recruitment. Richard implemented and maintained a liaison position between the Boston Public Schools, community groups, and educational institutions. He served as a catalyst to increase the number of minority teachers and administrators, as well as the number of non-professional minority employees in the Boston Public Schools.
It was also during this time that Richard was able to sharpen the mathematical skills of many prospective Boston Police Officers. He was the recipient of a Sloan Scholarship for an MBA at Northeastern University where he received his MBA. He also taught at Roxbury Community College’s Summer Enrichment program.
Richard was co-founder and first President of RUFC (Roxbury Unites for Families and Children), an agency designed to enhance the well being and mental health of families in targeted areas of Roxbury. He served as District 9's coordinator for the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), co-founded and was the Treasurer of the Lower Roxbury Resident Association, whose mission is to protect properties and keep rents affordable and served as a Vice President of the Council of Elders/Forward, Inc.
A lifetime member of Peoples Baptist Church, he was one of the oldest members. He served as a deacon emeritus, a trustee, financial secretary, member of the Men’s Ministry, member of the choir and the Diaconate. He was also the past president of the Boston Baptist Social Union.
Richard was a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Mathematical Association of America, the American Mathematical Society, the National Alliance of Black School Educators of Massachusetts, Boston University Downtown Alumni MBA Association, Northeastern University Diversity Committee, Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement and the National Business League.
He served as commander of the Patrick E. Toy VFW #953, now the David L. Ramsey/Patrick E. Toy #8772, and was a member of the William G. Butler Lodge #12 of the Prince Hall Masons.
Richard provided a lifetime of service to Roxbury, Boston, and neighboring communities. In 2015, he received a resolution from the Massachusetts House of Representatives recognizing him. He participated . Northeastern University’s Lower Roxbury Black History Project. He was the recipient of many awards for his service to the school communities in Massachusetts, for ensuring opportunities for minorities and others, achievements in social services and from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He leaves to honor and cherish his memory nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, godchildren, his special friend, Elaine Sutherland, her son Mark, and a host of other relatives, church family and friends.
Richard was a true hero, mentor and most importantly servant of God.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Graveside Service Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Jackson Cemetery, Crewe.
Local arrangements by W. E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home, Blackstone.
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He was a product of the Boston Public Schools where he attended the Hyde, William Bacon, Asa Grey, and Sherwin Schools. He graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School. At the age of 19, he entered World War II. Upon his return, he began his collegiate studies at Boston University; but his studies were soon interrupted by the Korean War. After the war, he returned to Boston University and completed both his undergraduate and master’s degree in Mathematics.
He served as an instructor of mathematics at Tuskegee University. He was a math teacher and a Mathematics Department Head at Wayland Jr. High in Wayland, MA. In addition, he taught mathematics in the Boston Public School System at the Lewis School and the Martin Luther King, Jr. School. He was head of the Math Department at Boston Technical High School (John D. O'Bryant) and Boston Latin Academy. Also, he was the principal at the Lucy Stone School.
Under Judge Garrity's order to desegregate the Boston Public Schools, he was administrative facilitator to the first Black assistant superintendent, the late Rollins Griffith, and was appointed Coordinator of Minority Recruitment. Richard implemented and maintained a liaison position between the Boston Public Schools, community groups, and educational institutions. He served as a catalyst to increase the number of minority teachers and administrators, as well as the number of non-professional minority employees in the Boston Public Schools.
It was also during this time that Richard was able to sharpen the mathematical skills of many prospective Boston Police Officers. He was the recipient of a Sloan Scholarship for an MBA at Northeastern University where he received his MBA. He also taught at Roxbury Community College’s Summer Enrichment program.
Richard was co-founder and first President of RUFC (Roxbury Unites for Families and Children), an agency designed to enhance the well being and mental health of families in targeted areas of Roxbury. He served as District 9's coordinator for the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), co-founded and was the Treasurer of the Lower Roxbury Resident Association, whose mission is to protect properties and keep rents affordable and served as a Vice President of the Council of Elders/Forward, Inc.
A lifetime member of Peoples Baptist Church, he was one of the oldest members. He served as a deacon emeritus, a trustee, financial secretary, member of the Men’s Ministry, member of the choir and the Diaconate. He was also the past president of the Boston Baptist Social Union.
Richard was a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Mathematical Association of America, the American Mathematical Society, the National Alliance of Black School Educators of Massachusetts, Boston University Downtown Alumni MBA Association, Northeastern University Diversity Committee, Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement and the National Business League.
He served as commander of the Patrick E. Toy VFW #953, now the David L. Ramsey/Patrick E. Toy #8772, and was a member of the William G. Butler Lodge #12 of the Prince Hall Masons.
Richard provided a lifetime of service to Roxbury, Boston, and neighboring communities. In 2015, he received a resolution from the Massachusetts House of Representatives recognizing him. He participated . Northeastern University’s Lower Roxbury Black History Project. He was the recipient of many awards for his service to the school communities in Massachusetts, for ensuring opportunities for minorities and others, achievements in social services and from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He leaves to honor and cherish his memory nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, godchildren, his special friend, Elaine Sutherland, her son Mark, and a host of other relatives, church family and friends.
Richard was a true hero, mentor and most importantly servant of God.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Graveside Service Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Jackson Cemetery, Crewe.
Local arrangements by W. E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home, Blackstone.
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