I hope this note finds you well as you continue to celebrate the life of your loving father. And certainly, I wish you nothing but success as you continue with the next chapter of your life and outstanding career.
Memorial Service: Saturday, March 1, 2:00 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, Gainesville GA
Roger Henry Brown, Sr., was born on November 22, 1921 in Wheeler County, Georgia, the son of Daisy Blann and William Sloan Brown. He had five siblings -- Verna, Carrie Lee, Eva Dee, Waldo, and Dorothy Hilda. He grew up on a small farm near the town of McRae, Georgia and at age 21, entered Company A of the United States Navy’s 78th Construction Battalion (SeaBees), serving from 1942-45. His company was charged with building runways, docks and housing on a series of Pacific Islands including New Caledonia, New Guinea, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, Ponam and ultimately, Okinawa. On Ponam, the Company was charged with the daunting task of constructing an operational runway in 11 days and succeeded, foreshadowing a future signature achievement in Brown’s career.
Upon the war’s conclusion, he enrolled in the Georgia Institute of Technology and graduated in 1952 with a degree in civil engineering. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. At Georgia Tech, while still a student, he was asked to design a bridge in nearby Athens and was one of the first to use a new approach to engineering design called the “critical path method”. He liked to point out that University of Georgia football fans would often stand on a bridge designed by a Georgia Tech engineer to watch football games.
Also in 1952, Brown wed Mary Carolyn Moore to whom he was happily married for 61 years. They began married life in Rome, Georgia and moved in 1956 to Gainesville. He worked for several years for the Georgia Department of Transportation before being hired in 1963 to Southeastern Highway Contracting Company as an engineer. He was quickly named President and under his leadership, the fledgling company grew to be one of the most successful highway contractors in the state.
Southeastern built hundreds of miles of interstate highway in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and North and South Carolina. The firm also undertook a job with a biblical timetable, the construction of runways on the new Atlanta Airport over a compressed schedule of 40 days and 40 nights, while the existing airport continued to operate. Severe penalties would be imposed if the schedule was missed and bonuses awarded if it was exceeded. Perhaps having learned from the Navy experience on the island of Ponam, Brown and Southeastern completed the project ahead of schedule.
In addition to his career, Brown was generous in his service of the community. He was a member of Rotary and served as its president in 1987-88. He served as President of the Chattahoochee Country Club from 1972-73. He was appointed to the board of directors of the First National Bank of Gainesville and served from 1974-92. He received the 1977 Public Service Award from the Consulting Engineers Council of Georgia, was named Engineer of the Year in Construction by the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers in 1978, and recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Highway Contractors Association. In 1978, he was given the Silver Beaver Award by the Boy Scouts of America for his service. In 2000, he was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame.
Despite his numerous achievements, friends and family knew him as a quiet, caring, and loving person. He was generous and modest to a fault. Employees of his company frequently showed up at his door for advice, encouragement, even emergency loans, which he offered without hesitation. While talented at games of all kinds, like Scrabble, chess and poker, he was legendary for his skills at checkers. On the ship that carried his company home from World War II, another company was combined with his. The checkers champion of that company had heard of Brown’s prowess and challenged him, refusing to quit until he won. The two company champions met in single combat at first supported by large cheering sections. They competed for eighteen hours -- the other player never won a game.
Brown was a devoted and loving husband and an unconditionally supportive father. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, son Roger, Jr, daughter-in-law Linda Mason, three grandchildren, Farrell, Lucas and Gracie, and his brother Waldo.
Gifts in lieu of flowers may be offered to:
Berklee College of Music American Roots Music program (Under "Designation" choose "American Roots Music Program".)
A charity of your choice
Tributes
Leave a tributeI hope this note finds you well as you continue to celebrate the life of your loving father. And certainly, I wish you nothing but success as you continue with the next chapter of your life and outstanding career.
I am happy to continue our relationship by way of this remembrance of your dad and his excellent life. Those of us who have experienced the talent and persona of the son he bore are fortunate for sure. And ultimately, I know that he continues to be proud of you, just as I am, to have called you colleague.
Be well!
Your dad is no longer with us, and you are no longer with us at Berklee. Still, the impact that you both have shared with the world will be everlasting.
Be well!
May the memories of your beloved father be fond and plentiful for you and your family on this special day. God Bless!
Kenneth & Myran Brass
Celebrating the longevity and legacy of your Dad. Mindful of the extraordinary contributions both he and you have given to this world.
May rich memories of your Dad fill your heart and continue to feed your spirit.
Blessings,
Vivian Beard
God bless you and your family as you remember your beloved Father.
I pray for comfort for you and your entire family,
John Patitucci
When I read and remember about who your father was, juxtaposed to the man you have become, I cannot help but think of two sons ". . . in whom I am well pleased."
God Bless you and yours!
--Kenn Brass
Our love to Carolyn, Roger, Linda, Farrell, Lucas and Gracie.
Sam and Mary Lou Mason
Your father and whole family story has moved me touched my soul.
specifically because i deeply resonated with the bridges building legacy he left, which you and Linda so beautifully carry on and out.
His story strongly associates to a book Noa lent me 24 years ago.
The book was Mark Helprin "Winter's Tale".
Your Late Father - Roger Henry Brown Sr. evokes the novel's character Jackson Mead, A master bridge builder and an enigmatic figure, Jackson Mead constructed many fine bridges all around the country. He is a brilliant engineer and appears to have unlimited material resources for the job. He is eventually revealed to be an exile from heaven, whose purpose is to build one last bridge that will bring forth the end of the world as it is, letting him return to heaven. As Jackson Mead puts it, his purpose is "to tag this world with wider and wider rainbows, until the last is so perfect and eternal that it will catch the eye of the One who has abandoned us, and bring Him to right all the broken symmetries and make life once again a still and timeless dream. My purpose, Mr. Marratta, is to stop time, to bring back the dead. My purpose, in one word, is justice." Jackson Mead's rainbow bridge does not take, but he is not upset by the failure and disappears to bide time until his next attempt.
here is a beautiful quote:
"The universe is still and complete. Everything that ever was, is. Everything that ever will be, is. In all possible combinations. Though we imagine that it is in motion and unfinished, it is quite finished and quite astonishingly beautiful. So any event is intimately and sensibly tied to all others. All rivers run full to the sea; those who are apart are brought together; the lost ones are redeemed; the dead come back to life; the perfectly blue days that have begun and ended in golden dimness continue, immobile and accessible.
And, when all is perceived in such a way as to obviate time, justice becomes apparent not as something that will be, but something that is.”
my most sincere condolences.
gil
Our deepest sympathies go out to you in your time of loss and remembrance. Roger, I appreciated the few quiet words we exchanged about your father at BTOT before his passing. Reading his story, I see you are carrying on a family tradition, as a builder of bridges and roads in your own right—and able to bring amazing projects to fruition on what must seem at times a Biblical timetable! As someone who grew up without my dad, I know it to be a gift to have such a father in one's life; we all share in that gift through the work you do. I was also deeply touched to see you have chosen Berklee's American Roots Music Program as one of the charitable gifts suggested for remembering your dad. I believe some music will get played to honor his memory—with scrape of bow and stomp of boot-heel!
Warmest regards, Shannon
Like so many, I am very saddened to learn of your loss. In reading the bio of your father, it is clear that he was a remarkable person who was a fine father and a man with a life full of wonderful achievements. I offer my sincere condolences to you and your family. - Jim
So sorry to hear about your loss of your father. He sounds like quite a guy.
As we reach then end of our time with them, I believe that we carry our fathers' lessons, thoughts, and feelings with us as we men pass through each stage of life. In many ways they live, and will continue to live, in us and our children.
Jimmy Kachulis
The entire Sapers family was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of your father, Roger. From all that was written about him he sounds like a truly remarkable man. We are sending you our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
Our sympathies,
Aviva, Judith, Rhoda and Bill.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you, Linda and your family. May you find comfort and peace as you live in the love and precious memories of your dad.
Fondly, Krystal
I am very sorry for your loss. Clearly, your father lived a life of purpose and contribution and, of course, that is a legacy that you can hold onto forever. What a remarkable set of achievements to look back upon with pride and affection. I hope you are holding up under the weight of your loss but know that you have many friends to lean upon or share remembrances with as you navigate this difficult transition.
My dad, who was the same age as your father, passed away a year ago. I think about him every day. Fortunately, he left me with many vivid memories and they have not faded a bit. I sincerely wish the same thing for you! It makes the loss bearable. All the best!
John
Your father sounds like he was an inspiring man. May the years of happy memories comfort you, and your family, today and in the days to come.
Warm regards,
Sharon
Your father was an amazing person who, I'm sure will live in you forever.... I lost mine and I know how difficult it is to accept our losses and allow them to go... but is it also time for great reflection, depth, meaning and love, my deepest condolences, sincerely, Mili
Thanks for sharing this story, I'm sure there are not enough words to describe what you feel for you father. What I can add is that the inspiring son he raised,who is contributing to dramatically change the world through music, says a lot of the example your father set in place. I personally thank him for that.
Much love and condolences to you and your family at this time of unity and reflection.
Billy Herron
Very sorry to hear of the loss of your father. Thank you for sharing his story. Great man, great life. My sincere condolences to you and your family.
Ken
It is evident that your father was a wonderful man, and lived a good, long life. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Thank you for sharing the bio and photos of him.
My family's thoughts are with you during this time. We're so sorry for your loss. I read your dad's biography and it's truly inspiring. He must've been a wonderful father.
I wish I could have met him.
Take good care,
Tony Trischka
I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for sharing. I am lost for words for the time being. Since I've made contact with you I'd planned to visit your parents. I'm so lucky to have met him and shared some of the most wonderful memories a young man like me can ever experienced. The memories of him will be with me and my family forever.
Chan Torn Lay
I am thinking of you in this difficult time. I am so grateful for all you bring to our musical community, and it's clear from what I've just read about your father that he was a wonderful man and role model. Sending you much warmth and sympathy.
Sincerely,
Nancy
Roger and family, among all that was memorialized in writing about your father, husband, patriarch and friend.. the above words resonated with me the most. I however believe that there is no fault in generosity, or modesty as he was obviously a selfless man. I believe that he also subscribed to a wonderful exemplar from where such qualities and character stem. Clearly he was a learned man. Though, learned by the way this world would define educated, he clearly gleaned from a higher source.. evident by the way he led his life. I hope to meet him one day, and am assured that all of you also have the reality of the same hope. Possibly you may find comfort in the following words... " Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, " (John 5:28,29)
My heartfelt condolence.
Our most warmest and sincere condolences for the loss of
Your father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
During this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Bernardo, Gustavo and Altagracia Hernández
I am so very sorry for your loss. I remember you telling me about your Dad and your trips back and forth to spend important time with him. God bless you and your family during this most difficult time. Thanks also for having this place for us to read about what a wonderful person your Dad was ( and still is, in heaven).
I am thankful to know you,
God bless you,
John Patitucci
I am so sorry for your loss. I remember your father beaming with pride at your inauguration as president of Berklee. I hope you are comforted by the joy you brought to him throughout your life.. My thoughts are with you, Linda, your mother Farrell, Lucas, Gracie and all of your family. Marjorie
John, Margaret, Holly & Olivia Mason
Bev
Wishing you all the best.
I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your father,. Clearly he was a great man who lived a full life and that impacted so many. The tribute was so touching. I wish you and your family peace and comfort in your grief.
Sara Regan
My deepest condolences on the recent passing of your father. My thoughts are with you and your family at this time. I am happy that we got to speak about it for a moment during BTOT.
Sincerely, Jon Aldrich
You are in Eileen and my thoughts and we wish you well in dealing with the loss of your father. I hope that you have fond memories of him that will give you sustenance for the future.
All our best,
Bob & Eileen
Sincerely,
Alison Plante
Peter
All my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. While I never had the pleasure of meeting your father, I really enjoyed reading about his many accomplishments and devotion to your family. It was very moving to hear your remarks about his life during BTOT.
May those memories bring peace and healing to you.
With deepest sympathy,
Elena Roussanova Lucas
-Gus
Leave a Tribute
I hope this note finds you well as you continue to celebrate the life of your loving father. And certainly, I wish you nothing but success as you continue with the next chapter of your life and outstanding career.
I am happy to continue our relationship by way of this remembrance of your dad and his excellent life. Those of us who have experienced the talent and persona of the son he bore are fortunate for sure. And ultimately, I know that he continues to be proud of you, just as I am, to have called you colleague.
Be well!
Like Father Like Son
I never had the good fortune to meet your Father Roger. But I know that the greatest work parents can do is raisie young men and women who are morally, ethically solid individuals. Your works are a powerful reflection on your parents.
No matter what environment or situations we face as children, if our lives have been grounded in love and integrity we usually will make the right decisions. I know the pain of losing a Father. I lost mine one week before he was to retire. It was sudden and shocking. But he walks with me everyday. The challenges he faced as a young boy in the South were different from those of your Father, but they both raised sons who have established common ground. We hold these men in high esteem because they walked their walk and talked their talk.
I pray that you will find peace and will remember those moments when you gazed out and saw the proud look on your father's face as his son represented the family in grand form.
God bless you and your family.