George Garvin Brown III

Brown, George Garvin
September 20, 2010
George Garvin Brown III, a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and great friend, died on September 20th, 2010, in Milan, Italy, after a valiant fight with cancer. Garvin was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and grew up on Sutherland Farm, in Prospect. He was a former long-time member of the board of directors (1971-2006) of Brown-Forman Corporation, which was founded by his great-grand father, George Garvin Brown. Garvin Brown III's two sons, Campbell Brown and Garvin Brown IV, both continue the tradition of family service at Brown-Forman.
After a short career at the company in his 20s, Garvin set out on his own, moving to Los Angeles. From there, he became involved in entertainment and media, and ultimately auto racing for many years. His life's pursuits took him from Los Angeles to New York and Milan; and from Montreal to Miami and Montego Bay. Along the way, he built lifelong friendships with his first wife Susan Casey Brown, of Montreal, the mother of his sons, and with his former second wife Antonella Mandelli, of Erba, Italy, with whom he discovered that country.
He also remained philanthropic in his birthplace of Louisville. Most notably, Garvin helped his sisters create the Garvin Brown Preserve, a preserve along the Ohio River named in honor of his father, and the Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series for The Filson Historical Society in honor of his mother. In addition, he supported the Kosair Children's Hospital, and made possible the completion of a new University of Louisville Rowing Center on the Ohio River. Garvin was also a Director and great benefactor of Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut, the boarding school from which he and his sons graduated.
Garvin is survived by his sisters Laura Lee Brown and Dace Brown Stubbs; sons Campbell (Sarah) and Garvin (Steffanie); and grandchildren Madison, Chandler, Ryan, and Isabel.
Everyone who knew Garvin will miss his love of life and his generous and joyous spirit. In lieu of flowers, his sons would be most grateful for donations made in his memory to the pediatric oncology unit of the Kosair Children's Hospital. A memorial service will be held for him at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday, September 30, at 4 p.m.