William D. Brown, 40, 10 Year Veteran of Lorain Police Department

He was born January 12, 1963 in Lorain and had been a life-long resident of the city.

Bill was an active participant in the Lorain Youth baseball program and was a 1981 graduate of Admiral King High School where he participated on the freshman football team. An inductee of the National Honor Society, he also served as President of the school’s Student Council as well as a member of its championship WEWS T.V. 5 Academic Challenge team.

Patrolman Brown graduated from the Lorain County Community College Nursing Program and subsequently received his license as an Ohio Registered Nurse. He was employed by the former St. Joseph Hospital first in the orthopedic department and later in the emergency department where he was ultimately elevated to the position of charge nurse. In September of 1993, he changed his career path and became a member of the Lorain City Police Department after completing studies at the Cleveland Heights Police Academy. He served as a field training officer on the department as well as a member of its Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Team; he was also a member of the Police Department’s Honor Guard and treasurer of Lorain Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #3.

In his off-duty hours, Bill took great enjoyment in volunteering his time in Operation Open Heart; he served as a private security officer at numerous athletic and social events throughout the city and specifically Bingo nights sanctioned by St. Nicholas Byzantine Rite Catholic Church. He also competed in adult softball programs in North Ridgeville, and Avon Lake and served as an umpire for Lorain Summer Youth Baseball Program.

A member of the American Slovak Club, his interests included boating and motorcycling.

He is survived by his daughter: Brittany Nicole Brown of South Amherst, his mother: Mary Ann Brown (nee Tomko) of Lorain, brother: Bob Brown of Lorain (A Sergeant on the Lorain Police Department), sisters: Mrs. Jeff (Cindy) Laeng of North Olmsted and Mrs. John (Debbie) Gresh of South Amherst, a niece: Amber Gresh, and nephews: Adam Laeng, Brian Laeng, Eric Laeng, and John William Gresh.

He was preceded in death by his father, William M. Brown in 1979, by paternal grandparents: William and Marie Brown and maternal grandparents: Steve and Anna Tomko.

Visitation will be Sunday, August 31, 2003 and Monday, September 1, 2003 from 3 to 9 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway, Lorain. Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 2, 2003 at 9:15 a.m. in the funeral chapel and will be followed by funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. in Nativity B.V.M. Catholic Church, 1454 Lexington Avenue. The Reverend Daniel O. Divis, pastor of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church and Chaplain of the Lorain City Police Department will officiate. Burial with full police memorial honors will be at Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.

In lieu of flowers, the family strongly requests memorial contributions to the Bill Brown Memorial Fund to benefit the college education of his daughter in care of any branch of the Fifth-Third Bank.