Crichton Willoughby "Cricky" Brown

Crichton Willoughby Brown (Cricky) died at home on February 16, 2015 surrounded by his wife and son. Cricky was born and raised in New Orleans but spent some of his life in both Houston and San Francisco. As a graduate of St. Martin's Episcopal School in 1976, he attended Stanford University on scholarship as a decathlete on the track and field team. He completed coursework in Industrial Economics at University College, Oxford University, while attending Stanford-In-Britain at Cliveden, England. He graduated from Stanford with a bachelor's degree in an individually designed degree program in Engineering Management/Business Administration. From Stanford he went on to obtain his M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he also received the Frederick H. Gloeckner Award for Entrepreneurial Studies. Cricky was a seasoned venture capitalist with more than thirty years of direct investing experience. He was Founder of C.W. Brown & Company. He was a Managing Director at MSB Fairway Capital Partners, Investment Arm. He served as a Senior Venture Partner at Advantage Capital Partners. He served as a Director and a Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at The Reily Companies, Inc. Cricky served as a Principal at Criterion Venture Partners, Criterion Investments, where he was involved in the full spectrum of venture investments from first-round financings to growth equity and leveraged buyout situations. In his early career, Cricky was associated with Ernst & Young LLP in the Management Consulting Services Practice Group and with International Business Machines Corporation's General Systems Group, both in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also served as an Advisor to the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation. Prior to his venture capital activities, he served as a Senior Management Consultant at Ernst & Whinney, Ltd. Cricky had been associated with various venture capital organizations and privately-held companies. He sat on the Boards of Turbo Squid and BizCapital, several other entities and investment companies, and several not-for-profit operations in the healthcare sector. He also served as a Director of the New Orleans Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital Foundation and the Loyola Business School. Cricky was very proud to have served as a Director of Fleetcor Technologies Inc. He served as a Director of Omni Energy Services Corp. In 1998, Mr. Brown was presented an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for being a supporter of entrepreneurship. He was a Member of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Young President Organization (YPO), the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, and the Houston Venture Capital Association. He was a Member of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development for the State of Louisiana. In addition to his professional accomplishments, he was a member with many New Orleans social organizations and carnival krewes, including the Rex Organization, the Boston Club, the Louisiana Club, the New Orleans Country Club and the Southern Yacht Club. Cricky was a gifted athlete and outdoorsman, and he particularly loved snow skiing in Colorado with his family, riding Penton motocross bikes with his brother and father, taking long walks in the woods of Sandy Run Farm with his grandfather, eating his mother's gourmet dinners and either beating up or saving his baby sister. Cricky was truly loved by many and will be remembered for his love of family, his amazing blue eyes, his contagious smile, his quick wit, his deep sensitivity, kindness and his strong friendships. He never met a stranger nor did he ever forget whom he met. He could have gone anywhere around the world and had a place to stay. All who were fortunate enough to know him were truly blessed and will miss him greatly. Cricky is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Margie Schwegmann Brown; his adoring son, Jack, his loving mother, Penny, and his loving sister Adair. He is preceded in death by his father, B. Temple Brown, Jr. and his hero brother, Temple (Timmy) Brown. His niece Charlotte Brown, nephews, Robby and Peter Brown, and his brother-in-law John F. Schwegmann also survive him. The family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude to Dr. Ray Decorte at East Jefferson Hospital for his friendship and unrelenting care. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral home on Monday February 23, 2015 at 2:00. Visitation will be from noon until 2:00. Followed with interment at Metairie Cemetery. There will be a celebration of Cricky's life at the home of Christy and Kia Brown at 416 Vincent Avenue following the burial. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, Post Office Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to the charity of your choice. Our dear friend, Charlie Eagan of Greenwood Funeral Home (GreenwoodFH.com) 504-486-0880 is in charge of the services.