Obituary of Alan Brown

BROWN, Alan S, of Cedar Knolls, NJ was gathered to his kin on March 19, 2016. Born in Boston on October 8, 1933, Alan was a loyal and patient Red Sox fan. Alan is survived by a few good friends, and those who knew him in his various volunteer efforts: as facilitator of the Survivors of Suicide group, the Post-Polio Support Group, the defibrillator support groups of Morristown and Beth Israel Hospitals, Mended Hearts chapter 56 Visitors and The Compassionate Friends. Alan proudly served his Country for 23 years as a U.S. Naval Officer, and was a highly decorated veteran of the Viet Nam War, having been awarded the Bronze Star medal with combat “V” for valor under fire, and the Navy Achievement medal, among several citations, foreign decorations and campaign ribbons. He was a ‘double plankowner”, having had the distinction of placing both USS Mullinnix (DD944) and USS Claud Jones (DE1033) into commission and served in them throughout shakedown and beyond. He served as advisor to the Vietnamese Navy’s member to their Joint Chiefs of Staff, and ACTOVLOG Program Coordinator where he received copious exposure to Agent Orange. After retirement from the Navy, as Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistic at Commander, Naval Forces, Caribbean/Commander, Antilles Defense Command, he was employed by GPU Nuclear Corporation as HQ Manager of Administrative and Information Services for the maintenance, construction and repair of Nuclear Plants, for 18 years. Although assigned at HQ in Parsippany, he served at the Boiling Water Reactor at Oyster Creek, and the Pressurized Water Reactor at Three Mile Island, Unit Two, during and after the accident and recovery phases. Alan was a member of AEPi fraternity, Disabled American Veterans, VFW, Jewish War Veterans (where he served as Post Commander), Temple B’Nai Or (where he served on the Board of Trustees) and conducted dozens of Shiva services, the Beth Israel Cemetery Association Board of Trustees, Navy Supply Corps Foundation, Tin Can Sailors, Destroyer Escort Sailors, and Military Officers Association. He also assisted the Jewish Chaplain in conducting Sabbath services at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital. Alan attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tulane University, University of Rhode Island, and was graduated from Boston University, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and University of Northern Colorado, with a Masters of Arts in Public Administration. Services including the traditional chanting of the first verse of ‘The Navy Hymn’, will take place at Temple B’Nai Or at 11:30 am on March 22, 2016; and interment, with Military Honors at Beth Israel Cemetery, Ridgedale Avenue, Cedar Knolls, where his earthly remains will be put to rest next to those of his beloved son, Henry. Instead of a Shiva Service, which he had conducted so many for friends and strangers alike, if you have a flag at home, please dip our National ensign to half-staff, briefly, in Alan’s memory. You may also light a candle, to help Alan on his final voyage home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Heart Assn, American Cancer Society, Wounded Warriors Project, Temple B’Nai Or, ASPCA, JWV, or the charity of your choice.