Al Brown

Al Brown (Lorenzo Parker Brown III) passed peacefully on January 15, 2022 under the excellent care of Transitions LifeCare Hospice Home in Raleigh, NC. Al was born April 14,1941 to the late Lorenzo Jr. and Varcellas (‘Toss’ Pulsifer) Brown in Livermore Falls, Maine. He was a 1959 graduate of Livermore Falls High School and attended Burdett Jr. College in Boston. On October 16, 1971, he married the former Ann DeSimone at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Niagara Falls, NY. Al began his career with the US Air Force in 1962 and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command in Plattsburgh, NY. His tours of duty included Vietnam, and he was honorably discharged in 1966. His work experience comprised manufacturing and quality control as an electro-mechanical technician. His contributions were wide, including working at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Combustion Engineering, ITT Cannon, Millidyne, Hunter Industries, and Bell & Howell. He lived in Maine, Connecticut, upstate New York, Arizona, and, lastly, North Carolina. Al had a unique perspective on life given his experience growing up above the L. P. Brown Funeral Home, a family business run by both his father and grandfather. He was known for his friendly demeanor, good humor, willingness to lend a hand, eagerness to share his knowledge of all things mechanical, and particularly for his love of Maine lobster. Many men considered him a mentor. Al was a passionate guy with many interests. In his younger years, he loved to water ski and participate in amateur boat races. He was a classic/muscle car guy who owned many classic cars and trucks over the years and whose favorite activity was tinkering in his garage. Al was a long time member of the Piedmont Classic Chevy Club and attended numerous car shows and cruise ins. He enjoyed building and flying radio-controlled model airplanes including ¼ scale. Deer hunting with a rifle and/or bow& arrows were also favorite pastimes. He is survived by his loving family including his wife of 50 years, Ann DeSimone Brown; his sister Meredeth Michaud of Maine; his niece Laurie Ewing of Maine and her two children, Danielle and Caleb Ewing; and his sister-in-law Lisa DeSimone. He also leaves behind close friends including Larry ‘Bo’ Collins, Eric Freas, Brian Anzak, Jeff Grote, his ‘adopted’ niece/caregiver/partner-in-crime Paige Johnson; and a host of wonderful neighbors and friends. Besides his parents, Al was also predeceased by his nephew, Christopher Collins. We are incredibly grateful that Al lived his life to the fullest despite having Parkinson’s for almost 20 years. We express our sincere appreciation to his long time doctors PCP Michael Gagliardi of Duke Primary Care Waverly in Cary and his Parkinson’s Specialist Nina Browner of UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, along with the excellent compassionate caregivers from Rex Hospital Comfort Care and Transitions LifeCare Hospice Home. If desired, donations can be made to Parkinson’s Foundation, Transitions LifeCare Hospice Home, 200 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or a charity of one’s choice. A memorial service will be announced in the Spring.

Al Brown

April 14, 1941 - January 15, 2022