Robert J. Brown

Robert J. Brown, 89, of 28 Red Pine Drive, died at his residence on Wednesday morning (Nov. 15, 2017). He was born Oct. 6, 1928, in Olean, New York, a son of the late Floyd and Gertrude Grambow Brown. On May 9, 1964, in St. Mark Catholic Church he married the late Barbara Moscato Brown. 

Mr. Brown dropped out of school at the age of 16 and joined the Merchant Marines, where he served for two years. He then went back to school and graduated at the age of 20. He was drafted into the Army in 1950 and served in Germany during the Korean War. Under the GI Bill, Mr. Brown attended several universities across the country studying economics. He then moved to Arizona, where he worked for a major grocery store chain, establishing grocery stores across that state. He moved back to Emporium and married in 1964, then started the Cameron County Echo. Over the years, he owned and operated several businesses, including the Taste-T-Freeze, Cameron County Echo, Mid Towne Market Grocery Store, Buttonwood Inn Restaurant, PSM BrownCo, and Emporium Self Storage. He was a strong supporter of many local organizations, including being a major donor to the Cameron County Library, which was named after his late wife, Barbara Moscato Brown. 

Bob is survived by two daughters, Nancy (Pete) Fragale and Julie Brown; two sons, David Brown and Steven (Staci) Brown, all of Emporium; eight grandchildren, Vincent Brown, Kacie Brown, Bobbi Fragale, Sophia Fragale, Marcus Brown, Dino Brown, Hayden Brown and Jax Brown; one great granddaughter, Ava Anne Brown; two brothers, David (Elaine) Brown of Webster, NY, and Larry (Roberta) Brown of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Gertrude Brown; wife, Barbara Moscato Brown, who died March 30, 1996; and a sister, Betty Hollingsworth.

 At his request, there will be no service or visitation. Burial will be in the St. Mark Catholic Cemetery. 

Online condolences may be placed at www.BarnettFuneralHome.net. 

Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of the Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library to contribute to general maintenance.