Don A. Brown

Donald A. Brown, 81, of Camp Hill, passed away at his home on Monday, December 15, 2025, after a battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Born on April 29, 1944, in Ashland, PA, he was the son of the late William and Adele (Scanlon) Brown.

Don was a graduate of St. Joseph's Preparatory School, before receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel University, and his J.D. degree from Seton Hall University. He also received a Master of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from The New School for Social Research. Don was an internationally renowned scholar in climate change and the author of 7 books, including Climate Change Ethics: Navigating the Perfect Moral Storm (2012). Don participated in COP21, the U.N. climate conference where the landmark Paris Agreement was negotiated, and subsequently received the prestigious UNESCO Avicenna Prize for Ethics in Science (2019). Don was a former professor at Penn State University and a Scholar in Residence at Widener University, Commonwealth Law School, where he bridged the gap between scientific reality and moral responsibility. He served as an environmental lawyer for the Commonwealth of PA and the State of New Jersey, and as a program manager for U.N. organizations at the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of International Environmental Policy. He served as a guest lecturer in both Japan and China. He was a member of the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, where he started a philosophy and literature book club lasting over 40 years. He also created ethicsandclimate.org, a world renowned blog for discussing climate ethics.

Don is survived by his wife of 51 years, Linda (Henderson) Brown, his son, Benjamin Brown, and his seven siblings, William Brown, Nancy Carroll, George Brown, Richard Brown, Susan Brown, Jeffrey Brown, and Mary Lou Murray.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Jefferson Brown.

A celebration of Don's life will be held at 2 p.m. on February 7, at the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, 1280 Clover Ln, Harrisburg, PA 17113, where Don was a longtime member. A private interment will be held at the convenience of the family in the Camp Hill Cemetery's Columbarium. Myers-Baker Funeral & Cremation Services, Camp Hill has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a small but mighty organization to which Don was a founding member, the Center for Environmental Ethics and Law.

Donation Link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=B9VJ6YWHNARM2