Obituary of John Joseph Brown

Minerva/Queensbury: John Joseph Brown, 88, died peacefully overnight at his home in Queensbury on February 6, 2021. John was born in New York City on August 28, 1932, the son of Anastasia Regis Phelan and Lloyd Stanley Brown of New York City and North Creek, New York, respectively. He spent his youth in Riverdale-on-Hudson where he attended Barnard School for Boys. His secondary education was at Fordham Preparatory School and subsequently at university at Fordham College where he achieved honors. After being drafted in his junior year he served honorably in the Army during the Korean conflict. He returned to Fordham, graduated and attended Columbia Law School in New York. John pursued his career in real property and contributed to the development and city planning in the community of Riverdale. He joined the real-estate firms of Mary Walsh Real Estate and Robert E. Hill Inc. John’s encyclopedic knowledge and the history of Fieldston-Riverdale-Spuyten-Duyvil was frequently solicited, long after his retirement. He is survived by his beloved sister Anne Brown McShane Adams (John Randolph}, and nieces and nephews, Edward Lloyd (Christine}, John Buckhout {Noreen}, Stephen Plunkett (Kazue} and Elizabeth Regis {Mark}, and pre-deceased by his younger sister and brother Elizabeth Brown MacPherson (John Charles MacPherson} and Anthony Paul Brown (Michele). John married Gail Read Rau in 1963. She and her children, Michael Rau (Nancy Page Cashman), Linda Rau-Strasser (Walter Chapman}, Lisa Rau (Paul Jacobs), Anastasia Brown {William McGarity}, and Lloyd John Brown {Michele} and their children are survivors, Also surviving John are his cousins Kathy, Ann, Martha and Margo Phelan and their families. John was predeceased by their parents Ranah and Thomas Phelan who resided in Glens Falls. John is also a member of the Mayflower Ascendancy and his forebears go back twelve generations. A remembrance and celebration of his life will be planned for the Spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in John's name to the Adirondack Foundation in Lake Placid (adirondackfoundation.org). Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guest book and condolences.