Tom Brown II of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Albion, age 88, died suddenly Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC) Dancy Hall Independent Living.
He was born August 21, 1934 in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Tom Brown and Margaret (Nehls) Brown. Tom attended East Detroit public schools, graduating from East Detroit High School in 1952. He was very active in Boy Scouts, attended an International Jamboree, and was a Sea Scout, where his love for sailing began. He graduated with a BA from Albion College, Albion, MI in 1956 with majors in English and History.
After meeting her in the Albion College Choir, Tom married his college sweetheart, Patricia Louise Sanford on August 27, 1955 in Lansing, MI. They honeymooned in Paradise, Michigan. Tom celebrated their love every month on the 27th with an original poem, a flower, a song, a dance around the living room, etc.
After Tom finished his Albion College degree, they moved to Boston, MA so he could earn his Masters of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology and Harvard Theological School, graduating in 1959. There he met and studied with Martin Luther King, Jr. under professor Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman. Throughout their lives, Tom and Pat read, celebrated, and quoted Dr. King and Dr. Thurman.
A family visitation time will be held in Albion on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 1 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 3 p.m. at Albion First United Methodist Church Tennant Hall. A second memorial service will be held in Chelsea on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 1 p.m. at Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel followed by a reception in Dancy Hall.
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