Amemorial Mass for the Rev. Robert A. Brown will be celebrated onTuesday evening, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Seas onHighway 12 in Buxton.
“Father Bob,” as most folks called him, died on Dec. 27, 2012, from complications of pneumonia.
He served as pastor of Our Lady of the Seas Catholic Parish in Buxton from 2006 until the time of his death.
He was a priest with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales for 45 years.
“FatherBrown was a remarkable priest, known for his commitment to those whowere poor and marginalized and for his gentle approach to anyone heserved,” Rev. James J. Greenfield, OSFS, provincial said. “I think thatpeople appreciated his big-hearted approach to everything, frombuilding a new church to counseling someone in need.”
FatherBrown, son of the late and Anne R. (Cannon) and James F. Brown, Sr.,was born in Allentown, Pa., in 1934 and was the youngest of eightchildren. He graduated from St. Catherine of Siena Grade School andthen Allentown Central Catholic High School in 1952. He attendedMuhlenberg College and graduated from Niagara University in 1961 andreceived an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S.Infantry. In 1961, he entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales,making his first profession of vows in 1963. He continued histheological studies at De Sales Hall School of Theology, Hyattsville,Md., and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Gerald McDevitt, onOct. 21, 1967, at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.Additionally, Father Brown completed graduate degrees at The CatholicUniversity of America and Temple University in politics and socialwork, respectively.
Father Brown’s teaching assignments includedFather Judge High School, Philadelphia, Pa., and Salesianum School,Wilmington, Del. From 1969 – 1972, Father Brown also served as aninner-city counselor for Glen Mills Schools. While in the Philadelphiaarea, he founded and directed three group homes for troubled teens. In1972, he was the founding director of Some Other Place, Inc. forcourt-committed youth, serving in that capacity until 1983.
As aparish priest, Father Brown served as parochial vicar at St. CeciliaParish, Fort Myers, Fla., (1984-1986) and later as pastor (1986-1991),during which time he directed the expansion of the church. In 1991, hebecame pastor of St. John Neumann Parish, Reston, Va., and served until2005. While pastor of the Reston community, he managed the completionof a new church and religious education facility for 1,400 children.During that time, the parish grew from 1,700 to 3,600 families. From2005-2006, he was parochial vicar at Blessed Pope John XXIII Parish inFort Myers, Fla.
His last assignment was here in Buxton.Father Bob loved the beach and shared it with his favorite canine,Molly, his boxer. He had many other interests . He liked to fish, huntand go boating. Because of his love of the water, he joined the localFlotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
In addition to themembers of his Oblate religious community, Father Brown is survived byhis sister, Susan Reinhold of Covington, La., and many nephews andnieces. He is predeceased by his brothers, James and Hugh, and sisters,Kathleen and Grace Brown, Mary Moleseed, and Anne Lobst.
