Anthony Brown

Anthony Todd Brown, aged 66, of New York, NY, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2024, after a heroic and long battle with numerous health foes. He leaves a legacy of laughter, love, integrity, excellence, resilience, and optimism.

Born on July 17th, 1958, at Harlem Hospital, Tony spent his early years in Harlem with his parents, six brothers, and - after his mother died when he was fourteen - his aunt. Tony loved school and believed education was the way to get ahead. In junior high school, he was determined to be first in his class. His foresight paid off when he earned a football and academic scholarship to Horace Mann School. After graduating from Horace Mann in 1976, he received a partial scholarship to Harvard University. During the school year and the summers, he worked hard to pay down his school loans, resulting in Harvard reducing his financial aid package and forcing Tony to take a leave from school. Tony headed west and found joy in building barns in Utah. He returned to Harvard to complete his junior year and graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering and applied sciences in 1981. He later earned an M.B.A. from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford. He excelled academically, but more important to Tony was that from each school, he had a large and treasured group of lifelong friends.

Tony began his career in Colorado at Cobe Labs, a high-tech biomedical device company, then became a trader at Lehman Brothers, where he was quickly promoted to vice president and helped initiate the firm's derivatives business. After graduating from Stanford, he joined the Financial Institutions Practice at McKinsey & Company, then moved to Bankers Trust as Managing Director of its consulting group. After six years in consulting, Tony determined that Executive Search combined the perfect outlet for his business acumen, interpersonal skills, and commitment to increasing diversity at the executive level. Tony spent the rest of his career in senior leadership roles at both large and boutique executive search firms. He served his communities as a Board member of the Academy of Finance in NY, the NY Chapter of the March of Dimes, the Abyssinian Development Corporation, and the Macaulay Honors College. Tony excelled professionally, bringing to his work and community not only his knowledge, skill, and strong work ethic but also his warmth, sense of humor, compassion, and ever-present laugh. He was beloved by both colleagues and clients.

Tony had many interests and passions, including playing the piano, watching movies from the 1940s, woodworking, studying politics, reading, and being a good friend and family member. He loved a great meal, a good conversation, and "cracking jokes." His greatest joy was being Jason and Julian's father. He loved spending time with them and could (and did) happily talk about them for hours.

Tony was preceded in death by his mother, Esther Grant; his father, Samuel White; his aunt, Lillian Grant; and his brothers, Stratford Grant, Amin Nasreddine, and Samuel Brown. He is survived by his sons, Jason Brown and Julian Brown, of New York, NY; his brother, Rodney Brown, and sister-in-law, Kris Brown, of Renton, Washington; his brother, Peter Brown, and sister-in-law, Heidi Brown, of Toledo, OH; his brother, Theodore Grant, and sister-in-law, Denise Grant, of New York, NY; numerous nieces and nephews; and his ex-wife and devoted friend, Cynthia Brown, of New York, New York.

Tony formed close, lasting friendships wherever he went, attracting people with his warmth, curiosity, infectious laugh, and exceptional intelligence. Despite facing significant health challenges over thirteen years, his optimism, hope, integrity, and determination remained unshaken. His legacy will endure in the hearts and minds of those who had the privilege of knowing him. We will gather to celebrate Tony's wonderful life this spring. To share memories of Tony and be apprised of the date for Tony's Celebration of Life, join https://www.facebook.com/groups/564523279506453.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Tony's honor to KidneyCure: https://www.kidneycure.org/donate/.