Alfred W. Brown

Alfred William Brown ("Al") of Chuluota, Florida, passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the age of eighty-two. Originally and for most of his life a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Al was born at Saint Agnes Hospital and grew up on Ritner Street, youngest of the four children of Alfred P. and Marion P. Brown. His brother Jim and sisters Marion Rudolph and Joan Falls predeceased him. Al is survived by his loving wife of twenty-nine years, Nancy, his sons Alfred Anthony Brown (Hai-Ye Ni) and Douglas Ryan Brown (Lauren Rose), and grandsons Timothy Alan Brown and Ryan James Brown. Al is also survived by his devoted stepfamily (including Nancy's two daughters, four sons, and fourteen grandchildren), as well as his former wife Carole Brown and her extended family with whom Al and Nancy remained close over the years. Al's stepdaughter, Peggy Kane-Spencer (Chris Spencer) was part of his immediate family and devoted to his medical care through his final days.
Al attended elementary school at Epiphany of Our Lord (11th and Jackson Streets), graduated from Bishop Neumann High School in 1961 (26th and Moore Streets, subsequently renamed Saint John Neumann High School), and attended the Philadelphia Wireless Technical Institute. He devoted most of his career to the Western Union Telegraph Company (1960-1987), where he worked in various positions, including telecommunications technician.
The Quaker City String Band of the Philadelphia Mummers, in which he played an accordion, was a big part of Al's life, and he continued to follow the Band after moving to Florida in 1998. Becoming a member in 1956 at the age of thirteen, he had many fond memories, recalling among other things his first Mummers parade on New Year's Day of 1957, the Band's "Mardi Gras" theme for that year, and a very long parade route that extended from Broad Street and Oregon Avenue in South Philly to Girard Avenue in North Philly, then south on Second Street back to Quaker City's clubhouse in South Philly.
Al also played a Cordovox in his good friend Bill Garton's quartet for many years, and enjoyed vacationing in Chincoteague, Virginia.
In his retirement, Al pursued a variety of interests, enjoying cooking, karaoke, computers, and old movies – especially John Wayne films.
A compassionate, easygoing man with a great sense of humor and good ideas, Al loved his family and was loved by them and so many others. He will be deeply missed.
Relatives and friends are invited to his memorial visitation Saturday September 6th, 10:00 to 10:50 A.M. at Epiphany of Our Lord Church, 11th and Jackson Streets. Funeral Mass to begin 11:00 A.M.
His Inurnment will be private.
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