Bill Brown, Man of Renown
BY SAUL RESNICK
This is the first of a series the Sun will run about seniors who make contributions to a better life for all of the citizens of Haddonfield.
Bill Brown has a simple approach to life — non-stop!
For Brown, a long-time resident of Haddonfield, it takes the form of service to others.
“I’m very lucky,” said Brown. “The best part for me is that I’m still active over 8 decades. I’m healthy, and enjoying life by giving back.”
Brown, 83, still spry, some days, but full of life always has had professional careers as a journeyman tool and dye maker, an industrial engineer, an educator, a realtor and even a SAG actor. Now retired, he’s more active than ever in volunteer work, and has a number of honors to prove it.
As Haddonfield Citizen of the Year in 1997, Brown was cited for key roles in the Markeim Art Center, president of the Haddonfield Home & School Association for two years, co-founder of the Haddonfield soccer league, coach of youth football and manager in the Little League. Brown was also president of the Haddonfield Tennis Association, where he started a youth tennis program and helped add a fifth tennis court. Brown also received the Martin Luther King Freedom Award from Camden County, and the Legion of Honor Award from the Chapel of Four Chaplains.
With the Lions Club of Haddonfield, Brown helped establish a student exchange with Japan in 1977.
Brown takes special pride in organizing the Haddonfield Japan Exchange in 2006, in which he now serves as director.
“Students from Kasukabe, Japan and Haddonfield visit each other’s countries on alternating years,” said Brown. “In 2016, twenty-two Haddonfield students went to Japan for two weeks, staying with host families and enjoying Japan’s culture and lifestyle first hand.”
Brown was made an Honorary International Citizen of Omiya, Japan, for his efforts.
The Haddonfield 65 Club is now Brown’s special focus.
“I was past president of the club for two terms,” Brown said, “and I now arrange trips for members as well as guest speakers for meetings, and I’m a bowler on the club’s unofficial team.”
In his spare time Brown has donated more than 26 gallons of blood to the Red Cross over the years.
Brown and his wife Joan, married for 56 years, have three sons and three grandchildren, two of whom live nearby in Cherry Hill. Joan’s take on Brown’s active lifestyle is, “it keeps both of us young at heart. I think I may even keep him around as long as he keeps his get-up-and-go approach to life.”
If you are interested in joining the Haddonfield 65 Club, call Bill Brown at (856) 429–4368 or email him at [email protected] for further information.
