Robert William Brown Jr.

Obituary of Robert William Brown Jr.

Robert "Cork" William Brown, 77, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 19, surrounded by his family and his devoted wife, Judy. Born on May 8, 1948, in Manhattan-on the site that would later become Rockefeller Center-Bob was lovingly known as "Cork," a nickname bestowed by his grandfather, who invented the cork pop gun. The name stayed with him for life.

Bob spent his early years in New York before moving with his family to East Lansing, Michigan, in the third grade. He remained a loyal New York Yankees fan, later adding the Michigan State Spartans to his devotions. He attended East Lansing High School, where he played on the football team that went on to win a state championship. He is honored in the State of Michigan Hall of Fame. Bob and his wife Judy were both members of the extraordinary East Lansing High School Class of 1966, where he forged friendships that lasted a lifetime.

A born enthusiast of engines and speed, Bob owned 32 cars during high school-fixing them, racing them, and often winning at Spartan Speedway. He also owned a slingshot dragster, foreshadowing a lifelong passion for racing.

Bob attended medical school briefly at Michigan State University before being drafted into the U.S. Army and deployed to Vietnam. During his service, he earned six Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, and a Silver Star, marking him as a highly decorated war hero.

Upon returning home, Bob started a family and was so very proud of his daughter Jennifer and son Ryan, and his four beautiful granddaughters.

Bob served the Lansing, Michigan, community as a firefighter and paramedic for 13 years. In recognition of his military service and honors, he will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery this spring. A memorial service will also be held in East Lansing around that time.

Racing remained central to Bob's life. From childhood go-karts to top-fuel dragsters and the Trans Am series, his love of motorsports never waned. After stepping away from racing competitively, he worked for NASCAR, securing sponsorships and collaborating with CEOs, celebrities, and sports figures. He worked with Bobby Allison Motorsports before opening his own race-car marketing firm, representing major sponsors such as Pennzoil and Raybestos Brakes. He truly loved the racing world.

In retirement, Bob returned to another lifelong passion: art-a gift inherited from his father. He studied in Manhattan, San Francisco, and at the Boca Raton School of Art for three years before opening his own gallery, Bob Brown Art, on Anna Maria Island, Florida. His artwork drew admirers, including Neil Young, Fergie, and Chris Evert; actress Minnie Driver had contacted him to commission a piece just as symptoms of his illness began to appear.

Bob and his wife, Judy, moved to Colorado after their life together in Florida, where he continued showing his work in Denver galleries. He was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, caused by Agent Orange exposure during his Vietnam service. His condition progressed into Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). For the last four years, he lived in a veterans' long-term care facility. In his final months, as his health declined, he remained surrounded by love. After a two-week stay in the ICU department and a return to his care facility, Bob's long struggle came to a peaceful end.

Bob cherished his family and friends deeply and considered himself profoundly blessed by the people in his life. After his marriage to Judy, he had a very deep, respectful, and loving relationship with the members of her daughter's families, Karlie and Lindsay's husbands and children.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert William Brown Sr. and Rose Meredith.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Judy; brothers Hal Brown, (Olympia) and Ed Brown (Bernie); sister Chris McKearney; nephews Blake Brown (Lindsay), Ben Brown (Katherine), Brady Brown, Abby Brown, and Travis McKearney (Darci); daughter Jennifer Pyle (Ron) and grandchildren Ella, Tyler, Quinlan, and Avery; son Ryan Brown (Kristen); and stepdaughters Karlie Kranz (Dave), grandson Logan, and Lindsay Selig (Matt), grandsons Ari and Nolan.

In honor of Bob's life, donations may be made to Wounded Warriors.

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