Dr. Jerome W. Brown

He was born December 29, 1941, in Jamestown, NY, the son of Hubert Winslow and Martha Jane Akin Brown.

He was a 1960 graduate of Clymer Central School and held a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from Cornell University, a Master’s Degree in Education from SUNY Buffalo, and a Doctorate in Education from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.

Dr. Brown was a good-natured and kind individual, who was mechanically gifted, a talented organization leader and a creative problem-solver. He used his jovial wit, consulting skills and calm patience to help others achieve their goals. He held a wide variety of interests in public service, education, practical applications for human skill sets, marine transportation, recreational property development and management, and mental health counseling.

Dr. Brown’s early professional career from 1964-1976 was spent teaching vocational agriculture and special education in Adams Central School in Adams, NY, special education in the Detroit, MI, public schools, special education and vocational rehabilitation at Wayne State University, and special education at Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Following a move back to Chautauqua County, Dr. Brown established and became a General Partner of Pine Hill Resort on Chautauqua Lake in Ashville, NY, from 1976-2021. During his residence in Chautauqua County, he served as an EMT for the Ashville Fire Dept. from 1978-1988, and as a Commissioner from 1980-1985; served on the Town of North Harmony Planning Board from 1985-1990; and served on the Chautauqua Central School Board from 1988-1996.

From 1993-2016 Dr. Brown served on the Erie 2, Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) Board. Upon retirement from the board, he was awarded a Certificate of Meritorious Service.

He joined the Board of the Chautauqua Lake Historic Vessels Company as President and Director of Vessel Operations from 1994-2003. Those passengers who rode on the restored Chautauqua Belle or Stow Ferry were treated to Capt. Jerome’s entertaining and enjoyable tours filled with the history and anecdotes of 19th century paddlewheel steamboat activity on the lake.

Dr. Brown’s maritime licenses consisted of: New York State Public Vessel Master & Steam Engineer – 1996; US Coast Guard Master, Great Lakes, Inland Waters and Western Rivers – 1999; and US Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer, Master of Steam or Motor Vessels upon Inland Waters – 2004.

Following a move to South Carolina in 2011, Dr. Brown established a psychotherapy practice using cognitive behavioral techniques to treat individuals with mental health ailments and disabilities, specializing in the alleviation of schizophrenia without drugs. He also taught interns and treated patients at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

In 2016, he was invited by a client to accompany her to China where she introduced him to some fellow patients. They established an office for him in Guangzhou, which led to an appointment as a visiting scholar in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Sun Yatsen University where he taught for two years prior to the 2020 pandemic.

He is survived by his wife, Wang Xiaoyu of Murrells Inlet and Guilin, China, whom he married June 17, 2019; one brother, Daniel F. Brown of Fort Myers, FL; one sister, Jane E. Brown of Basking Ridge, NJ, and several cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Tamara K. Brown, of Pawley’s Island, SC.

Interment will be in Magnolia Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Ashville Volunteer Fire Dept., 5338 Stow Road, Ashville, NY 14710.